What birds can I see around humberside

[moozy]

I visiting Withernsea sands humberside this next weekend, I would apprieciate any WAB members could reccommend any good places for bird watching in the area.
Hope you can help.

Ian moozy Moore

[RKB]

Go to Hornsea Mere (large lake on the coast), just up the road. Or Paull Holme Strays reserve just along the Humber (lagoons and mudflats). Both within half an hour/20 mins drive. Slightly further (30-40 mins) is Bempton Cliffs RSPB, which is spectacular (400 ft cliffs, breeding gannets, puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes), and you can finish the day with fish and chips on Bridlington seafront (beach is 10x better than Withernsea).

Closest place is Easington lagoons (coastal lagoons, breeding terns, waders), and a bit further is Spurn point (famous migration observatory). Spurn is worth visiting for the scenery alone, but will be a bit quiet for birds at this time of year.

Also not far away is Tophill Low reserve (lagoons, reservoirs, marshes).

Google them all for more info.

At Withernsea itself you'll get seabirds passing, and there are pipits, fulmars and sand martins on the low boulder clay cliffs.

btw, Humberside doesn't exist (abolished years ago) - Withernsea is in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The county of Humberside was very unpopular with locals and they'll wince if you mention it - they're Yorkshiremen, tha' knows!

[moozy]

Thanks very much thats really helpful, my caravan holiday will be much better now (If I can persuade the family) thanks again and promise never to mention the Humberside again.

Ian moozy Moore

[Tringa]

Agree with RKB.

Spurn Point is definitely worth visiting, even without any birds it is a brilliant place.

Dave

[shenk1]

On your way back call in at Whitby to see the fish (battered with chips of course)

[RKB]

Hornsea Mere is very much a family place - you can get rowing boats and there's a cafe and lots of ducks/geese to feed (inc a Whooper Swan). But it's also great birding - it's a magnet for Little Gulls and terns in late summer. You can then walk through Hornsea town to the beach - Sullivans fish and chips are good on the seafront (look out for Med gulls). Withernsea town is a bit poor, Hornsea is much better for a walk around. Hornsea Mere has two access points - there's Kirkholme Point in the town, which is where all the boats and cafe are, and then you can drive round the corner to Hull Road and walk through the fields along the south side of the mere for better birding. Birding from the rowing boats aint bad either.

Bempton is also very family friendly (the chalk cliffs are stunning http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/...749c8779b5.jpg), and you're literally feet away from the seabirds at times. If you stop off at Bridlington on the way back then it's a traditional seaside town (arcade, good beach, fish and chips) that should keep the family happy. That would be a good day out if the weather's nice.

Spurn has WW2 bunkers and pill boxes being swallowed by the sand dunes - a good playground for kids, and the Bluebell pub in Kilnsea (nearest village) does great food. Tip: pay the car fee and drive to the end of the point, otherwise it's a 4 mile walk there and back!

You can also drive the half hour to Hull, which has good attractions (The Deep aquarium, marina, pleasant cobbled old town, market arcades), and you can stop off at Paull Holme Strays on the way.

15 mins from Withernsea is Burton Constable Hall: BC Homepage which is a stately home with good lakes and grounds for birds (a white-tailed eagle wintered there 10 yrs ago!)