Wild at Hull: Tophill Low ducktastic

Monday 27 January 2014

Tophill Low ducktastic

As it is becoming routine, much to my pleasure, the forecast poor weather with heavy rain failed to materialise, and there was just a very brief shower during my visit to the north side of Tophill Low this morning.
A large flock of Chaffinches were feeding around the car park with Collared Doves, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed.
The D reservoir was teeming with ducks: Wigeon, Tufted ducks, Pochard, Goldeneye, Gadwall, a sprinkle of Teal, two Shelduck and a pair of Mallard that looked out of place.
There was a strange and fascinating spectacle going on by the dozen feeding Mute swans, clouds of ducks (mainly Wigeon and Gadwall as far as I could see) and coot surrounded each pair of swans like flies. The ducks and coot were very busy feeding, so I presume the swans were disturbing or releasing something (seeds? invertebrates?) which the ducks seem to enjoy.
Here is a short clip:

In D woods the feeders were busy too: Goldfinches, a Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh tit, and Blackbirds and Dunnock underneath.
I spend half an hour in North Marsh hoping for an otter encounter. The highlight is a Kingfisher flying away as I open the window, but other than a pair of Moorhens and a Wren on the reeds, there is little else.
No sign of Barn Owls on the scrub either, but as I walk towards the hide on Helmpholme meadows, two Roe Deer cross the path in front of me, just 10 m away. In the flooded meadows, a pair of Mute Swans resting contentedly, a pair of Mallard and Teal. A Kestrel hovers in the distance, and a large flock of Teal fly overhead.