THAMES ESTUARY Kent, Essex, Greater London Internationally important: Dark-bellied Brent goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank Nationally important: Little Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, European White-fronted Goose, Wigeon, Pintail, Pochard, Golden Plover, Sanderling, Curlew, Turnstone Site description shoreline, whilst Pintail exceeded the threshold for national importance in both November and The Thames Estuary, for the purposes of WeBS, January. There is likely to be some interchange is usually taken to include the coast between of many species, including Pintail, between the Rivers Medway and Crouch. The coverage adjacent estuaries such as the Medway and achieved during counts in 2002/03 was partial Swale. Pintail were concentrated off Coombe and concentrated on the southern shoreline Bay and between Egypt Bay and Lower Hope between Shorne Marshes (Gravesend) and the Point further to the west. Isle of Grain power station. No counts were Most Oystercatcher were found towards the made along the northern shore of the Thames, mouth of the estuary, particularly around the Isle nor within the inner part of the estuary. Most of of Grain, between Allhallows and Grain. Ringed the intertidal habitat is muddy in character, with Plover were scattered along all of the shoreline extensive areas of saltmarsh around Canvey covered, whilst Golden Plover were mostly Island. The narrow strip of saltmarsh along the concentrated around Cliffe Pools. Conversely, north Kent coast was once more extensive, but the greatest concentration of Grey Plover was embanked to create coastal wet grassland. occurred in Egypt and St Mary’s Bays, with the Much of the area is surrounded by sea walls, highest count of 1,222 birds in December. The due to the relatively low-lying adjoining land counts of Lapwing showed marked fluctuations coupled with rising sea levels. Land claim has during the winter, the majority distributed from removed about 12% of the Thames Estuary, Allhallows westwards. The maximum count of mostly before the 19 th century. Much of the site over 11,000 Knot occurred on the shoreline is heavily industrialised with major ports, between Egypt Bay to Grain in February. Dunlin chemical works and extensive areas of housing, were ubiquitous throughout, albeit in lower apart from the north Kent coastline, which is densities between Lower Hope Point and Cliffe more rural. Particular issues of conservation Pools. The peak count of 28,880 occurred in concern include port developments and February, and this figure represented just over proposals for a new airport at Cliffe Marshes half of the Core Count peak for the whole (Davidson 1998). estuary. Of the two species of godwit recorded, Bird distribution 2002/03 Bar-tailed Godwit was the scarcer, with a maximum count of 161 individuals. In contrast, Cormorant were generally distributed within the Black-tailed Godwit peaked at 953 birds in main channel, whilst most of Little Egret were November. The majority of the Black-tailed recorded from Cliffe Pools. Relatively small Godwit were found on the flats from Egypt Bay numbers of Dark-bellied Brent Geese occurred to St Mary’s Marshes. Both Curlew and between Lower Hope Point and Allhallows. The Redshank were widely distributed, including greatest densities of Shelduck were noted within the Cliffe Pools complex. A single Spotted between Lower Hope Point and Egypt Bay, with Redshank was recorded in February. Small smaller numbers along the coast to Grain. The numbers of Turnstone were mostly confined to peak count of over 600 Shelduck was made in the shore between Allhallows and Grain. February. Wigeon numbers peaked at more A total of nine species of gull were noted, than 7,000 birds in January and were mostly with Black-headed Gull the most abundant, found between Lower Hope Point and peaking at over 4,100 individuals in December. Allhallows, with a small concentration also Great Back-backed Gull (peak of 1,236 present at Higham Bight. Most of the Gadwall individuals) and Herring Gull (peak of 808 recorded also favoured the area around Higham individuals) were the next most numerous Bight, whilst over 500 Teal were concentrated species. Common and Lesser Black-backed between Lower Hope Point and the Bight. Gulls were also present in good numbers. Mallard were widely scattered along the 260 Low Tide Counts Figure 98. WeBS Low Tide Count distributions of Pintail and Grey Plover at Thames Estuary, winter 2002/03. (Al=Allhallows, CB=Coombe Bay, CP&M=Cliffe Pools & Marshes, EB=Egypt Bay, GPS=Grain Power Station, HB=Higham Bight, SMB=St Mary’s Bay, SMM=St Mary’s Marshes) Low Tide Counts 261 TRAETH LAFAN (LAVAN SANDS) Gwynedd Internationally important: Redshank Nationally important: Red-throated Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher, Curlew Site description absent from the Anglesey side of the estuary, Traeth Lafan is an extensive intertidal area with the exception of the Menai Strait. Up to 77 situated at the northern end of the Menai Strait, Pintail were confined to the central area of the between Bangor and Llanfairfechan. Three sands off Abergwyngregyn. There was an freshwater streams flow across the flats at low increase in Goldeneye from December tide. There are a variety of habitats including onwards, with a January peak of 134 individuals. both exposed and sheltered areas of sand, Most of the Goldeneye were found within the mudflats with an area of shingle, and mussel inner zones, particularly on the main channel off beds near Bangor. Some relatively small areas of Bangor. The peak count of Red-breasted saltmarsh have developed along the shore, Merganser (59 birds) was much lower than the particularly at the mouth of the Rhaeadr-fawr five-year mean peak Core Count figure of 217. and south-west of Llanfairfechan. The intertidal The mergansers mostly occurred off flats support an abundance of invertebrate Llanfairfechan. fauna, which in turn attract large numbers of Peak numbers of Oystercatcher occurred in waterbirds. Industrial activity is limited, December, when 7,000, concentrated in three however, recreational and leisure use occurs. main areas. These were the Bangor Flats, the For example, boating, sailing and windsurfing sands off the Aber-Ogwen Reserve, and the flats take place in the channel, whilst walkers and off Llanfairfechan. Smaller numbers were also dogs can cause some disturbance to high tide scattered along the Anglesey shoreline and on roosts along the mainland coastline. the northernmost part of Traeth Lafan. During Wildfowling, along with commercial and small- December and January, the highest numbers of scale cockle gathering is another feature of the Ringed Plover were present, at around 60 estuary. individuals. The birds were confined to the shoreline north of Beaumaris on Anglesey and Bird distribution 2002/03 the shingle spit off Penrhyn. The flats close to Abergwyngregyn were the most important for Great Crested Grebe counts peaked at 97 birds Lapwing, with most of the Knot occurring off in January, which was substantially lower than Llanfairfechan, a little further to the west. The the maximum Core Count total of 308 recorded greatest densities of Dunlin were present off the in March 2003. Cormorant mainly occurred Aber-Ogwen Reserve and along the shore north around Dutchman Bank, at the eastern end of of Beaumaris. Similarly to Lapwing, all the Snipe the sands. Small numbers of Little Egret were recorded were on the flats off Abergwyngregyn. confined to the south-western area, along with Curlew were found throughout, with the odd up to 63 Greylag Geese, particularly off Penrhyn Bar-tailed Godwit. Most Redshank were Castle. Conversely, all the Canada Geese concentrated on the Bangor Flats and the peak frequented the Menai Strait between the count of 1,525 birds in February exceeded the Britannia and Menai Bridges. Brent Geese, in threshold of national importance. Greenshank small numbers were recorded on the Anglesey were present in small numbers and the peak of coastline between Beaumaris and Penmon. The 8 individuals in January was typical for the area. small groups comprised up to eight Light-bellied Turnstone were mostly found along the and a single Dark-bellied. The densest numbers Anglesey coastline between Beaumaris and of Shelduck occurred off Bangor, with more Penmon, with a few birds on the southern side than 500 birds present in December. Wigeon of the Menai Strait off Upper Bangor. distribution was very similar to Shelduck, with Five species of gull were recorded, of which the shingle outcrop off Penrhyn especially Black-headed and Herring were most common, favoured. Teal were recorded in low numbers with Common, Lesser and Greater Black- from December onwards, with the majority of backed also present. the birds between the two bridges over the Strait and a few west of Llanfairfechan. Mallard were widely distributed, although they were largely 262 Low Tide Counts Figure 99. WeBS Low Tide Count distributions of Goldeneye and Oystercatcher at Traeth Lafan, winter 2002/03. (BB=Britannia Bridge) Low Tide Counts 263.