A walk along the river Hull to Victoria Dock

A mild, gloomy and breezy morning, I walk towards Wilmington Bridge, then south along the urban river Hull to the Humber. At Barmston drain, a Grey Wagtail drops to the recently cut bank and starts feeding. It will be the first of three today. Near the river, a Kestrel hovers briefly. I pop at the car park at the end of Fountain Road. A young Moorhen is negotiating the mud along the river and a group of gulls is bathing, amongst them an adult Great Black-back Gull, the first in the patch this year.

Kestrel.

Great Black-backed Gull.

River Hull, looking south

The Great Black-backed Gull in flight.

Black-headed Gull.

Moorhen.

I carry on as close to the river as I can and have a stop at Chapman Street bridge. There are Redshanks above and below the bridge, and two Pied Wagtails. Good number of Redshanks by the Museums Quarter.

River Hull, looking north from Chapman St bridge.

Pied Wagtail.

Street Art.

River Hull shipyard.

Redshank by the Barmston Drain outfall.

A drake Mallard takes a bath.

Dunnock at Great Union Street.

A new shipwreck at the museums quarter.

The second Grey Wagtail.

Sea Aster.

I have a nice surprise at Plimson Way, where a female Teal is feeding. Then another, with a Tufted Duck and the Half-tide basin. The big reward comes at the end, at Corinthiams Way, where a Black-tailed Godwit (number 103 for the 100 species in Hull challenge) is feeding with the wonky legged Curlew, both finding plenty of ragworms and not visibly squabbling with each other. The godwit goes to wash ragworms in little puddles before swallowing them, just like the redshanks.

Teal at Plimsol Way.

Tufted Duck, half tide basin.

The third Grey Wagtail at the half-tide basin.

Black-tailed Godwit.

The wonky legged Curlew. 

Another curlew by the Deep.

Black-headed Gull.

Three days walking around Hull

I had a relatively low key few days after having travelled quite a lot. On Sunday, I took advantage of the extra light in the morning for a walk to Sculcoates. On Monday, I postponed my walk to Welwick as I thought being too exposed it would be too windy, so I headed to Oak Road lake and the River Hull and it paid off. Today an early morning walk to East Park and Rockford fields before a Zoom meeting.

Sunday: Sculcoates

It was high tide when I got to Wilmington Bridge, on a cold morning with sunny spells. The Redshank, 11 of them, were at their roost on the river wall.

Spiked Shieldbugs mating. The sunshine brought out some invertebrates out.

Green Meshweaver spider.

A record shot of Goldcrest, there seem to be plenty around. This one was hanging with a group of Long-tailed Tits.

Moorhen.

Monday: Oak Road Lake and River Hull

On Monday, I headed for Clough Road, then I did a circuit at Oak Road Lake and continued by the river to the Kingswood reservoir.

 Two Pied Wagtails were sat at the Bingo roof.

Long-tailed Tit.

The Mute Swan family at Oak Road lake. The remaining juvenile was at the river.

A Buzzard mewing at Ennerdale.

The reservoir has water after the rain in the last couple of months, but it is quite shallow, the crows happily landing on it and wading amongst the gulls. There were a few Shoveler, about 20 Teal and a large group of mixed gulls, and the ever present Grey Heron.

Teal, now in full breeding plumage.

An immature Great Black Backed gull, number 101 for the 100 species challenge.

The biggest surprise was a Green Sandpiper, who was feeding to the left of the reservoir, by the reeds, but after being flushed by a crow, it approached after flying low. This was number 102 for the 100 Birds in Hull challenge, but also the first time I have this species in Hull, which was very nice. The light made for good photography too.

There were two Lesser Black-backed Gulls hanging out at the reservoir.

Tuesday: Rockford Fields and East Park

A mild day, reaching 13oC with sunny spells. I headed to East Park, but my aim was to have the last orthopterans of the year at Rochford fields. At Stoneferry, a Buzzard was flying south, estorted at close range by a group of Carrion Crows.

Buzzard.

A Sparrowhawk soaring at East Park.

Grey Heron.

Black-headed Gulls are always very interested in Goosander activities.

Four female Goosanders were at the park.

One of the two Grey Wagtails on the splash boat.

A drake Shoveler moulting into breeding plumage was near the boardwalk.

Cormorant.

After East Park, I moved to Rockford Fields hoping for a sunny spell. I had this, and more!

A Peregrine powering over Rockford Fields.

Female Roesel's Bush-cricket.

Some male Long-winged Coneheads were still calling, This female was cleaning her ovipositor from the base to the tip.

I was suprised to spot a Lesser Marsh Grasshopper.

To top the three days in Hull, a Curlew at the playing fields at the Sculcoates patch on the way back.

Blending in amongst the loafing gulls and the Jackdaws walking around between them. As I walked away, I heard the curlew calling, feeling totally out of place, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it!