Rosper Road Pools
Parish: South Killingholme
OS: 113 • GR: TA 172168 • Map ref: 39
9.80 hectares (24.30acres) • Leasehold 1980
Habitat type: Marsh/Wetland
Location and Access
The reserve is situated about 2 km (1.2 miles) north-west of Immingham, just inland from South Killingholme Haven. Take the A160 road from South Killingholme towards the Haven. Shortly after a roundabout is a railway bridge followed by a turning to the left. This is Rosper Road and the reserve is a short distance on the right. No access is possible to the reserve but it may be easily viewed from the road.
Description and Management
Consisting of a flood-relief reservoir with associated wet grassland, the reserve has become of great ornithological interest in recent years. Ninety bird species have been recorded. Teal, which are abundant in winter, often stay late into spring. Pintail and garganey are frequent visitors. The site is particularly good for wading birds, the greatest variety of which are to be seen in autumn when muddy margins suitable for feeding are exposed. Snipe, little stint, wood and green sandpipers, spotted redshank and greenshank are all regular visitors. Up to 70 ruff have been recorded in winter, and in some years a few remain to display in spring, along with migrant black-tailed godwits. Lapwings sometimes nest in the marshy grassland.
Grazing to provide optimum conditions for migrant and nesting birds is the main management aim.
