Urban River Hull and Barmston Drain with Hull Nats

I get bus 5 north early in the morning and I start my walk at the top of Beverley Road, then I cut across by the path along the field to Raich Carter way bridge. I'm joining Hull Nats later at Ennerdale, but I want to walk the whole of the urban stretch of the river Hull. A skein of Pink-footed geese fly calling overhead. It is cloudy, but calm. Their early commute to their day-time feeding grounds, flying north in the morning, has been a daily occurrence in the last couple of weeks.

Pink-footed Geese.

Another reason I started the walk early, is to check the Bransholme reservoir for migrant wildfowl. Unfortunately, the water level was very high, with no marginal vegetation exposed, so there were not many birds about. A mixed gull flock roosting in the centre, some Tufted Ducks and Cormorants resting on the pumping station building were the only highlights.

Cormorants.

Looking south from the floodbank of the river Hull by the reservoir. It is almost high tide.

Some soft vegetation rafts move quickly up river with the tide. The photo also shows the thick belt of reeds along stretches of the river. In the spring, these are noisy with Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting's song, but not today.

A pair of Jackdaws inspect this hole in a poplar trunk. The same hole is used by Stock Doves at times.

A very vocal Buzzard is perched on a lamp post just north of Ennerdale.

I flush a Roe Deer doe on the grassland by Ennerdale. She gazes at me for a few seconds before bounding away.

A young Grey Heron by the river.

A view of Sutton Bridge.

Eleven members assembled in Ennerdale car park and started the walk along the west bank of the river. The route, planned by Richard Middleton, involved a couple of strategic shortcuts across some of the most industrial meanders of the river, which also allowed to walk along green stretches of the Beverley and Barmston Drain.

The empty cocoons of the zigzag elm sawfly Aproceros leucopoda, an invasive species that is spreading north. The larvae feed on elm leaves creating a characteristic zig-zag pattern. As they grow the eaten patches increase and in some conditions they can defoliate trees. The cocoon was like a silken lacy cage and had an opening on one side. We found several cocoons, and no larvae. This patch of elm suckers on the corner of Air street cemetery holds the only known colony in Hull so far. 

We continue along Bankside and then take the cycle track towards the drain. We have our lunch there, by the recently mowed banks of the drain. It is warmer and we've got some sunny spells. Coneheads are calling from grassy patches along the cycle track. Afterwards, we continue along Bridlington Avenue and join the river again at Wincolmlee. We follow the river until the Humber from then onwards.

A pair of Green Mesh Weaver, Nigma walkenaeri, mating on an ivy leaf.

A Redshank just north of Scott Street Bridge.

A lush Lady Fern growing in the space between two walls at Scott Street Bridge.

The Humber, and the view towards The Deep earlier in the walk (top shot).