Wild at Hull: February 2014

Monday 10 February 2014

Balmy february at South Landing

We headed to South Landing today, the sea was calm and the sun shone most of the time. Out of the breeze was very pleasant. Once on the beach, we saw some Oystercatchers and a young Greater Black-backed gull. The tide was half way up, but there was no trace of the patch of seaweed to the left of the bay, so we saw no waders, other than the Oystercatchers and a couple of Curlew.
We headed south towards Danes Dyke, lured by a Fulmar circling by the cliffs and a mystery pigeon. The fulmar turned out to be one of seven that were sitting on the ledges of the cliff, some already in pairs and noisily complaining when the flying individual passed too close.
The mystery pigeon was to be a Stock Dove, one of two who flew together. I had never seen this species by the coast.
A male Kestrel hovered over the cliff and we flushed a couple of Rock Pipits.
After turning round before the tide was too high, we went up the path to the walk around the little wooded valley. A very kind gentleman showed us the location of three roosting Woodcocks, my first chance to see this species at rest and take some photos.
In the wood, there were Chaffinches, Great and Blue tits, Robins, a Treecreeper, some Crows and many Grey Squirrels.
Atop the cliff we watched the sea, still, and watched a seal who seemed to be eating something. A lovely end of a great day out.

Oystercatchers

Young great-black backed gull feeding on seaweed

Fulmar calling

A pair see off a third individual

Male Kestrel hovering over the cliffs, and a few more shots of the fulmars

South Landing looking north

Cormorant

Woodcock

Another Woodcock, both looking awake.

Overwintering garden snails.

Grey seal.

Bird list

Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Cormorant
Curlew 2
Fulmar
Goldcrest 1
Goldfinch
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Tit
Herring Gull
Kestrel
Linnet
Oystercatcher
Pheasant
Redwing
Robin
Rock Pipit
Shag
Stock dove
Treecreeper
Woodcock 4
Woodpigeon
Wren
unidentified diver, possibly Red Throated Diver

Monday 3 February 2014

Hedon Haven and Paull Holme Strays

We tried, and failed, to get to the Easternmost side of Hull this morning. The entrance to the area through the Chemical works plant was gated and we were told there was no access to the public footpath, and later we tried from the King George dock, but access to the path seemed difficult without knowing our way, so we went to Hedon Haven instead, which was a new place for me.
On the little beach by Paull village, a turnstone and a few redshank sat on a derelict wooden barge. A group of shiny black Cormorants crowned the posts marking the canal to Hedon Haven.
The tide was ebbing revealing the brown-pink mud of the Humber, and flocks of bird started to fly onto the mudflats: Redshank, Curlew, Shelduck, Dunlin and Black-headed gulls. The wind was relentless, but when we sat on the sheltered bank, the sun was shining and overall was a much pleasant morning that I was expecting. The haven itself is fringed by marsh and patches of reeds. Teal, Redshank and Curlew fed upstream, and a Skylark chirped briefly from the field behind us. It was very tranquil, and despite being right next to a large industrial works, a beautiful place.
A pair of Great-Black Backed Gulls were flying about and at some point a large flock of Lapwing manoeuvred towards the coal depot and back over us.
Afterwards, we headed to Paull Holme Strays and took the path west to the lighthouses. A massive flock of Golden Plover with some Lapwing steered like a murmuration over the saltmarsh and it was unclear what whas the cause of the flushing, although we did see a Marsh Harrier flying over the strays.
Overall, a great day out, and made more interesting for the company of Robert and Gui.