A breezy walk along the urban Humber

I walked to Albert Dock today and then East until the Siemens factory along the urban Humber and then returning along the same route until the River Hull. A stiff southerly wind with occasional drizzle made the walk hard going at times. As I was crossing the lock gates at Albert Dock I had a lovely surprise when I  found that the Yorkshire Belle was docked there. I mentioned it to a passer by, who said it comes to Hull for a yearly inspection, the further it travels from Bridlington.  

Yorkshire Belle.

The roman numerals indicating water height just outside the Albert Dock lock gates.

Threatening clouds and low tide at Ha'penny Bridge.

The river Hull.

Tufted Duck pair at Half-tide basin.

Pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls back at the Half-tide basin.

Curlew foraging on the sea wall near Half-tide Basin. It kept probing in the cracks between the rocks.

Another Curlew, this one by Corinthians Way.

A Blackthorn starting to bloom near Corinthians Way

Young Herring Gull with stick.

A very nice surprise to end the walk, with an Oystercatcher feeding on the mudflats by Siemens.

This Redshank was quite close on the Half-tide basin on the way back.

The pair of Mute Swans were not together today. One, I believe the cob, was at Half-tide Basin and the other (this one) at Plimsoll way, feeding on the plentiful underwater vegetation.

Curlew near Scale Lane bridge.

Some Redshank dispute upstream of Scale Lane bridge.

A sunny February walk around Sculcoates

The day was sunny, cold and frosty, my favourite winter weather, but there was a strong spring feeling, the greening vegetation, tree buds swelling, there was even a blackthorn in bloom. I did the usual circuit and could return via the now opened cycle track.

Chirping sparrow, already on their nesting site.

A female Sparrowhawk displaying over the drain.

Long-tailed tit

Blackthorn in bloom.

Singing Song thrush.

Two Greylags already looking for nest sites?

I spotted this hedgehog on the grassy triangle by Abbey Way, in the same spot I saw one last year with the same feature, an almost chewed off head.

A linnet and a Greenfinch singing at the North Cemetery.

Linnet singing.

Cormorant.

A Great Black-backed Gull at the bathing site in the river. Three Redshanks were also about.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

I almost missed this skein of Pink-footed Geese flying over to the West.

Little Grebe, one of two seen.

A walk to Oppy Wood and Orchard Park

 
After the three named storms in quick succession within the period of a week, the weather had becalmed somewhat today and it dawn sunny and not too cold. I took a walk to the NW corner of Hull at Orchard Park via Bricknell Avenue and Hall Road.

Starling bath time at Greenwood Avenue.

Nothing says spring is coming like an enthusiastic Starling singing.

I soon enough got to Oppy Wood, two Song Thrushes singing on the way there. I climbed the slippery, muddy ramp by Oppy Wood and watched four Roe Deer feeding, seemingly unaware of me, they wouldn't even glance in my direction. The two bucks' antlers were in velvet (top shot).

Roe Deer buck crossing the path.

I didn't enter the wood itself as I wanted to explore the area north of it. A multi-use flood defence scheme has been created, including a fishing lake in two levels and paths allowing for recreation. The mature trees in the area have been kept and the marginal vegetation appears to be establishing. A Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed, my first one drumming this season. 

The 'aquagreen' by Orchard Park.

Greenfinch. Some of the willow catkins are opening.

Kestrel.

The Kestrel territory. I often see a pair of Kestrels from Reich Carter Way in my walks up the river Hull, nice to see them up close.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

A rainbow appeared in the horizon, and a shower materialised shortly after. The walk home was much faster than the way there!

A walk to Noddle Hill LNR via Bransholme

Despite the not so pleasant weather ahead, with showers and windy weather forecast, I tackled my longest walk this year, a 20k walk to Noddle Hill LNR. I used pedestrian/cycle lanes across Wilmington and Bransholme. Braved a shower once on the reserve and didn't add any new species for #localbigyear, but had Goosander, Little Egret, Buzzard and a beautiful flock of wintering Lapwing 

My first Canada Geese on the drain on the way there. The photo also illustrates the usual conditions of the drain, with a large amount of litter on the water and banks.

It was quiet when I got to the fishing lake at Noddle Hill, no fishermen or dog walkers. A Little Egret was resting on the banks, but it quickly moved on.

Little Egret in flight.

A Goosander, and later a Cormorant, were doing the fishing.

This might be the last flock of wintering Lapwing in the Hull city boundary, but how to count them? I guessed 300, but counted them individually from photo: 646! (plus stragglers). The flooded fields by the solar panels suit them, they finally settled to feed

A Buzzard was around on the northern fields.

And two Kestrels, here is the female...

...and later, when the weather improved, the male

 

Usual small birds on the feeders, but I saw no Reed Buntings or Linnets on the reserve. A flock of Goldfinches were feeding on Teasel...

...and alders.

After a couple of hours and a circuit of the reserve, it was time to head home. On the way there I connected with another pair of Kestrels, each on its little shelter on the sunny side of the building.