Tuesday 15 April 2014

Hull River bank by Bransholme

A sunny, warm and pleasant day, I went for a walk by the river bank between the A1033 Twin bridge and Sutton Road Bridge. Although the river is still tidal there, the banks especially the west one, is well vegetated with an almost continuous reed belt and occasional willows. On the East bank, there are still some fields, wooded patches and the reservoir of the Bransholme Water treatment works, which currently pumps surface water from Bransholme to the River Hull. This reservoir is an interesting birdwatching site. Today there were Lesser Black-backed and Herring gulls, a few Tufted ducks, Coots, Mallards a Mute Swan and three Gadwalls. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were singing.
 The views were beautiful, with the new reeds starting to show at the base of the golden, old stems. Coots, Moorhens and Mallards fed on the river itself. I heard a Magpie singing from a tree, first time I hear it singing, most curious.
 As I arrived by the Sutton Road Bridge, three Swallows were flying and singing by it and under it.
Long-Tailed tit on Willow
The start of the walk on the twin bridge over the river Hull on the A1033.
A Magpie collected material to line its nest from the grassy banks.
River bank view
There were many butterflies on the wing, most Small Tortoiseshells feeding on dandelions, but also Peacocks and a few Small Whites
Feeding mallards
A bend of the river with reed beds and horses
Many Yellow Dung Flies, Scathophaga stercoraria on horse manure
Rabbit
Male blackbird
One of three Swallows flying by the Sutton Road Bridge
Sutton Road Bridge
Another view of the river
An unlikely pair: Coot and Woodpigeon
tethered Horse
Moorhen
Spider, Larinioides sp.
A view of the lagoon of the water treatment plant.
Location map



Bird list
  1. Black-headed Gull
  2. Blackbird
  3. Blackcap
  4. Blue Tit
  5. Carrion Crow
  6. Chaffinch
  7. Chiffchaff
  8. Coot
  9. Cormorant
  10. Dunnock
  11. Gadwall
  12. Great Tit
  13. Greenfinch
  14. Herring Gull
  15. House Sparrow
  16. Lesser Black-backed Gull
  17. Long-tailed Tit
  18. Magpie
  19. Mallard
  20. Moorhen
  21. Mute Swan
  22. Robin
  23. Feral Pigeon
  24. Swallow
  25. Tufted Duck
  26. Woodpigeon
  27. Wren

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