Walking the Humber. Stage 4. Hessle Haven to the River Hull

I have to run to make the 8:26 train to Hessle. It's a cold morning, but not frosty. It is almost high tide at Hessle Haven and the Humber is almost completely flat. I walk on the chalky beach on the haven: a Curlew, a few Redshank and some Black-headed Gulls feed by the pier. Chaffinches and Song Thrushes sing from the playing fields.
 To carry on, I need to retrace my steps and navigate around the industrial estate, find a narrow path flanked by high metal fences and strewn with rubbish and then rejoin the Trans Pennine Trail by the Humber.
 A flock of Lapwing sits on a spit by the reed bed waiting for the tide to ebb.
The path now runs just by the A63 and it is very noisy. For quite some stretch, a wooden fence separates the path from the motorway and it is scary that it has been smashed in several places. In a wooded area a flock of Long-tailed tits and a Goldcrest feed on the elder trees.
There is a wide strip of reeds before reaching the boundaries of the city of Hull. As I reach the corner by the Makro brownfield site, snows starts to fall, and the wind ruffles the Humber. A shag flies onto the water, it is wearing a blue ring, but I can't read it. It dives a few times and then flies east.
 The next stretch is on St Andrews Quay. The dock was filled and is now an urban shopping centre. The easterly wind is blowing the acrid smell of linseed oil from the Hull factory.
 There is an abandoned and infilled dock, St Andrew's dock, with pools and reeds by the derelict dock buildings at the eastern side of St Andrews Quay. On the sea wall, a 180 strong flock of Dunlin, with a smattering of Redshank and a lone Turnstone. They are flushed by a dog walker and settle ahead, giving me a chance for some photos.
I had never walked by Albert Docks. Large boats are moored in it with very exotic names such as Ocean Wanderer, Polar Surveyor and Toisa Explorer. On the estuary side the posts of an old pier serve as roosting sites for gulls, mallards and a Turnstone. A pipit flies over. The Trans Pennine trail then leads to some steps and a rooftop walk, offering a rare chance of a view over the city of Hull. Then it is just a short walk across the Marina and to the River Hull. The Deep (top) marking the begining of next stage.

Song Thrush.

Hessle Haven.

Curlew and Black-headed gulls at Hessle Haven.

The entrance to the old Ferry Boat Inn by Hessle Haven, it is now a gym.

A patch of flowering Winter Heliotrope, Petasites fragans

Roosting Lapwing.

Looking back to the Humber Bridge.

The path by the A63. Looks tranquil, but the noise is deafening.

A beached boat and rubbish by the strandline.

Shag. 

Signs warning of ongoing wildlife survey.

Moorings by St Andrews Quay.

Dunlin flock flying over the Humber.

Humber Pilots heading towards the bridge.

Dunlin and redshank flock.

Linnets.

Infilled St Andrews dock, now with pools and reedbed.

Derelict dock buildings.

Dunlin.

Dunlin, Redshank and Turnstone.

One of the large boats moored at Albert Dock.

Old pier.

Turnstone.

Stairway to heaven.

The view from the dock rooftops.

Albert Dock locks.

Roosting Black-headed gulls by Hull Marina.

The Deep and tidal barrier on the River Hull.

Today's walk. 11 km.