Birds in Lincolnshire
Goldeneye on the Humber
Goldeneye on the Humber by Graham Catley
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There appear to be no historical records of flocks of Goldeneye wintering on the inner Humber between Killingholme and Barton. During the late 1980’s and through the 1990’s Goldeneye has become a regular wintering bird in large enough numbers to qualify the estuary as being of National importance for the species. Goldeneye occur not only as wintering birds but as migrants during the autumn when substantial numbers are sometimes observed moving west up the estuary often at great height. North Sea gales in late October and November may produced large influxes of wildfowl in the inner estuary and Goldeneye may feature prominently. On November 16th and 17th 1977 a total of 128 Goldeneye flew west past Goxhill Skitter and on October 21st 1995 87 flew west high over the Humber Bridge. Lesser numbers have been recorded in most years with 50-60 birds per day being fairly regular. |
Goldeneye
( Male) November 2001 |
Wintering flock
During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s a small flock of Goldeneye started to winter off Barrow Haven with 40 in February 1978 and a peak of 55 in March 1981. The opening of the New Holland Bulk Services grain and animal food import and export terminal at New Holland in 1984 had a remarkably sudden impact on the wintering wildfowl on the estuary. A flock of diving duck, mainly Pochard, Tufted and Goldeneye, quickly formed to take advantage of spilt foodstuffs that accumulated in the estuary. A new peak of 156 Goldeneye was counted in February 1985 increasing to 209 in January 1986, 270 in January 1987 then 400 in February 1991. Winter numbers have shown some variation since then with the 1991-92 winter being relatively poor recording a peak count of just 125 birds and 220 being the maximum in 1992-93. Since then however, the winter’s peak has not fallen below 350 and reached a new all time high of 584 in December 2000. Winter peak counts are usually recorded in either December or January with a rapid decline in numbers taking place through February and few being present in most years by early March. The flock tends not to build up until late November or even early December. In some years a good number of Goldeneye move onto the Barton-Barrow Haven clay pits from February through March, after the close of the shooting season. Normally 20-50 birds are counted at their peak in March but exceptional numbers occurred in 1999 when up to 135 were feeding on pit25 at Barton. The flock usually declines rapidly by early April but in some years a few birds are noted through to mid May and odd immatures have summered. The first returnees often appear in July but seldom stay for more than a few days. September seems to be a particularly Goldeneye free month with most of the autumn migrants appearing from mid-October.
The sight of 4-500 Goldeneye, there is usually a high percentage of adult drakes, in the county is very impressive and on a clear, calm and sunny day in mid winter the site is well worth a visit. The duck flock feed to the east of the New Holland pier between there and Goxhill tilery but on a falling tide groups of birds will drift right down the estuary as far at East Halton Skitter. Mass feeding usually occurs in the hour or two after high tide and this is usually the best time to view the birds although getting an accurate count is fraught with problems as the birds constantly dive, drift down the estuary and fly back into the feeding throng.
Goldeneye ( Male) Noveber 2001 © Graham Catley 2001
Goldeneye November 2001 © Graham Catley 2001
Goldeneye November 2001 © Graham Catley 2001
Goldeneye ( Male) November 2001 © Graham Catley 2001
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