Holderness: Skirlaugh to Wawne

The sun came out after a couple of weeks of gloomy cloudy cover. I took the East Yorkshire bus 24 to the village of Skirlaugh and then walk eastwards towards Benningholme along the Lamwath stream. Skirlaugh sits on a rise, about 13 m OSL. The meandering course of the stream runs through the north side of the village, lined with trees and bushes, and forming a wider flat bottom course as it leaves the village. So far, the stream had followed its natural course, and due to the incline of the land and the depth of the bed of the stream it was not embanked, however, it has very steep banks, and looks heavily deepened (top shot). A couple of Rabbits groom and sun themselves on the edge of a field, whilst a Fieldfare calls from atop a bare ash.

At Benningholme, at about 4 m OSL, banks appear on the sides of the at times straightened stream course. It is here that the Lambwath leaves its well defined valley and as the pattern of drainage becomes less clear. The monks of Meaux, the Lords of the Manor of Sutton and the Nunnery of Swine contributed to the drainage of the area by cutting ditches and drains. As early as 1210-1220, a channel was cut from the Lambwath between Arnold and Benningholme to Meaux Abbey. This, so called the Monkdyke, was navigable and also fed a water mill, and directly communicated the Lambwath with the river Hull. This drainage appears to have led to the disappearance of Lambwath Mere upstream.

I flush two Grey Wagtails by Lambwath bridge near Benningholme Hall.

The stream by Lambwath Bridge.

Later, on the gardens of the cottages before Benningholme Grange, there are Tree Sparrows. The thin, urgent call of a kingfisher comes from under the bridge, I can't spot it, but two Mallard watch me in the distance.

Tree Sparrow.

I walk along the road towards Meaux. Flocks of Redwing and Fieldfares are flushed from the hawthorn hedges. 

The pinkiest Howgeed I've even seen.

Drewery Sock Dyke.

A Grey Heron fishing at Drewery Sock Dyke.

Buzzard.

I was planning to get nearer to the old site of Meaux Abbey, but there is no public access and the road passing by it is busy, so I have to skirt around it. Two Buzzards call from trees on the edge of the site.

Meaux, hamlet.

From then onwards I walk quickly on the busy road towards the village of Wawne. It's a relief to leave it and take a public right of way shortcut to the village. I'm getting hungry and this was the end of my walk, but instead of getting the bus here I walk to the river by Greens Lane and sit on the river bank to have my lunch in the sunshine.

A young  nursery web spider basking

The river Hull at Wawne.

It is such a beautiful day that I decide to walk by the river to Beverley road to get my bus home. I am rewarded by a male Stonechat by the river bank.

Male Stonechat.