The Contrasting Fortunes of Two Winter Visitors

The Contrasting Fortunes of Two Winter Visitors

The Contrasting Fortunes of Two Winter Visitors
8 January 2024

In the following article, the ecology and conservation of two important waterbird species in North West England is considered. Both species are qualifying species for at least one special protection area (SPA) in the region, making them the subject of many Habitats Regulations Assessments.

The pink-footed goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) is an icon of autumn migration. They are harbingers of dropping temperatures and shorter days, signalling their arrival with honking couplets as the flight formations of arriving skeins paint huge arrowheads across the sky. North West England has historically been a place of opportunity for these conspicuous birds; large numbers gather to feed on our farmland, wetlands and coasts.

Teal (Anas crecca) , on the other hand, are not as attention-drawing as their long-necked relatives; they are our smallest native duck species and their habit of ‘hunkering down’ on the water gives the impression that they are even smaller than they really are. Teal are also sensitive to disturbance, often being amongst the first birds within an assemblage to take flight at the hint of danger. They are very much wader-like in flight, moving quickly and acrobatically in the air with rapid wing beats, banking, keeping tightly packed and flying low. These movements can give the impression of a collective nervousness – perhaps little wonder, as their diminutive size places them on the menu of many a hungry predator. The same physical and behavioural traits cause teal to also evade the prying eyes of ecologists and birdwatchers alike, resulting in them all too easily being under recorded.

The Mersey Estuary SPA covers an area of 5,023.35ha. It comprises large areas of intertidal sand and mudflats and supports large assemblages of wildfowl, waders and other waterbirds. Teal is a Qualifying Species of this internationally designated site, with 11,723 individuals (2.9% of the non-breeding Northwestern Europe population) representing the average number of teal recorded across five survey winters (1993/94 – 1997/98 five-year peak mean). However, nearly 30 years later the outlook for this beautiful species on the Mersey Estuary is less assured; the most recent five-year peak mean (2017/18 – 2021/22) was just 3,140 individuals. This represents a decline of 73% over 28 years.

In stark contrast, pink-footed goose numbers have increased dramatically within the Mersey Estuary SPA over the same period. The five-year peak mean for this species was just 51 individuals (1993/94 – 1997/98) but increased to 7,673 geese by 2022 (2017/18 – 2021/21 five-year peak mean). This represents a greater than 15,000% or 150-fold increase.

The reasons behind the contrasting population trends of these two migratory species is complex. Furthermore, their respective ecologies differ considerably and thus a common solution is not obvious. Pink-footed goose have certainly benefitted from concerted conservation efforts and the good practice of environmental consultants but they are also a species that exploit the feeding and roosting opportunities inadvertently provided by humans. As a result, we can be tentatively optimistic about their future in the region. Teal though have clearly not been the beneficiaries of large-scale farming practices and are perhaps more vulnerable to the disturbance associated with an increased human presence. Opportunities certainly exist to create or enhance supporting wetland habitat around the Mersey, which could be crucial in securing a bright future for teal in the region.

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We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.
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As Biodiversity Net Gain becomes an increasingly important part of the planning system, local authorities are exploring how their land assets can play a greater role in supporting nature recovery while creating long-term environmental value. To help inform its approach, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council commissioned TEP to assess the Biodiversity Net Gain potential across approximately 500 Council-owned landholdings. Using bespoke desk-based software the project sought to establish a robust baseline of biodiversity value, identify opportunities for habitat enhancement and provide strategic recommendations on how the Council could utilise its land assets to support the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain .
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We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.
19 August 2026
As Biodiversity Net Gain becomes an increasingly important part of the planning system, local authorities are exploring how their land assets can play a greater role in supporting nature recovery while creating long-term environmental value. To help inform its approach, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council commissioned TEP to assess the Biodiversity Net Gain potential across approximately 500 Council-owned landholdings. Using bespoke desk-based software the project sought to establish a robust baseline of biodiversity value, identify opportunities for habitat enhancement and provide strategic recommendations on how the Council could utilise its land assets to support the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain .
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We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded Investors in People Gold accreditation, recognising our continued commitment to creating an exceptional workplace culture and supporting our people to thrive. Investors in People is an internationally recognised accreditation and framework for improving workplace culture, leadership and people management. Since its launch in 1991, it has helped organisations across the world to lead, support and develop their people more effectively. Today, the framework is used by organisations in over 100 countries and provides a robust benchmark for assessing workplace culture and employee experience. Achieving Gold status is a significant accomplishment and places TEP among a select group of organisations demonstrating outstanding people practices. Only around 28% of Investors in People accredited organisations achieve Gold, highlighting the strength of our culture and commitment to continuous improvement. The assessment process includes an independent evaluation of leadership, communication, employee engagement, learning and development, organisational culture and wellbeing. Colleagues are invited to provide confidential feedback through surveys and interviews, ensuring the accreditation reflects the real experiences of people across the business. This achievement is particularly meaningful because it is based on direct feedback from our people and recognises the positive, supportive and collaborative environment we continue to build together.
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TEP colleagues joined industry professionals for an afternoon of rooftop exploration across the capital, discovering how London's elevated spaces are helping to create greener, more sustainable urban environments. Associate Tom Young and Principal Green and Blue Infrastructure Consultant Maggie Fennell Wells attended the London Rooftop Tour hosted by the Green Roof Organisation (GRO), created by rooftop expert Fee Brydon of Where's the Rooftop? and supported by the Liquid Roofing and Waterproofing Association (LRWA). The tour took participants on a journey across four distinctive rooftop destinations, showcasing how rooftops can be transformed into valuable green infrastructure, social spaces and biodiversity hotspots within densely populated cities. The itinerary included visits to The Garden at 120, cloudM Tower of London, The Culpeper and concluded with networking at London Bridge Rooftop Bar.