Record numbers of birds

This winter has seen a record number of birds using RSPB Cliffe Pools with one species, the black-tailed godwit, topping the 10,000 mark.

Confirming this enormous number of birds presented a challenge until wildlife photographer John Witting managed to catch most of the godwits in the air at the same time in this picture - then three volunteers counted them.

400 teals, 3,000 lapwings, 4,500 wigeons, 8,000 dunlins and 10,000 black-tailed godwits have spent the winter using the site as a high tide roost.

Andy Daw, RSPB warden, said, “If ever there was any doubt that the Thames Estuary is the wrong place to build an airport, this winter’s record number of birds at RSPB Cliffe Pools is another clear demonstration of the area’s unsuitability.

"I have never before seen so many of these birds in the air at once. Fully one third of all the black-tailed godwits in the UK this winter could be found at Cliffe Pools."