Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay walk

I've been walking the coastal section of the Cleveland Way in stages and I was looking forward to doing this section. We were staying in Whitby for a few days, so we decided to walk to Robin Hood's way and catch the bus back. A mostly bright day with some cloud and barelya breeze, with a falling tide. We started the walk proper at the bottom of the famous 199 steps to Whitby Abbey. The walk ascends slowly until near Hawsker, with some ups and downs on steep ravines, then descends to Robin Hood's Bay. During the walk we're treated to stunning views and some otherworldly landscapes. A bare stack, Saltwick Nab, black, flat-topped rock with a light cover of guano, and peppered with Herring Gulls and Cormorants was one of the best (top shot). The path follows the coast closely, with some light detours when erosion has affected the old path route. The haunting three note begging calls of Guillemot chicks calling their parents on the water are the soundscape.

Looking back towards Whitby at the top of the steps.

Saltwick Nab.

Saltwick Beach. The beach can be accessed by a steep footpath.

Looking back to Saltwich bay, Whitby Abbey in the distance.

A flock of Oystercatchers at roost.

Curlew at roost.

Black Nab. 

Fulmar circling over the clifftop fields.

Whitby Lighthouse. The cottages are now on rent.

A small colony of Kittiwakes between the fog horn and the lighthouse.

One of many styles.

Wall Brown Butterfly.

Common Blue.

You get the feeling of how dry the spring and summer have been. Dry, golden grass.

A group of Bottlenose Dolphins just north of Robin Hood's Bay. We saw dolphins every day from the coast. Apparently, they come close to the coast to feast on mackerel breeding.

Descending to Robin Hood's Way.

Robin Hood's Bay.

We get to Robin Hood's Bay at low tide. A broad expanse of rocks is exposed across the bay. We get a coffee and icecream at the National Trust visitor centre. Afterwards, it's time for a picnic in the beach before getting the bus back to Whitby. It took us four hours to walk this section of about 11 km.

King's Mill with Hull Nats

A breezy, sunny and mild day, I take the train to Driffield and walk along The Bottoms between the young river Hull and Driffield Navigation. At Riverhead, a family of Moorhens relaxes in the sunshine. An adult briefly grooms a juvenile, and the juvenile reciprocates with a long grooming session. Two Little Grebes are chasing, running along the water surface like tiny coots. Little Grebes are plentiful today, I see at least 4 pairs, some with juveniles during the day. By the canal, there is some Himalayan Balsam, a plant that hasn't invaded the river Hull yet, despite being plentiful elsewhere.

The footpath by the canal is a bit enclosed, with poor views both to the canal or the river due to the marginal vegetation. I hear a Kingfisher beeping as it zooms past over the water, but I don't even get a glimpse. There is a slight elevation in the path and I get a view of a bend in the river: Mallards, Little Grebes and a wader resting on the shore: a Green Sandpiper!

Moorhens preening.

Himalayan Balsam.

Green Sandpiper.

A view of a bend in the river Hull from the footpath.

Pair of Mute Swans, one has angel wing, I wonder if it is the juvenile I saw in the same area in 2017 when I walked the River Hull. It is the left wing too. A Grey Heron is behind them.

A nymph of Blue Shieldbug.

Two Roe Deer running towards the river.

I retrace my steps towards Driffield and go to Bell Mills. Another pair of Little Grebes, these with two large chicks.

Little Grebes trilling.

It's time to head to the meeting point for the Hull Nats meeting. Before that, I have a coffee at Roberto's and visit All Saint's Church. I take my picnic lunch at the benches in King's Mill. A Kestrel briefly lands on a bare branch, but quickly leaves as it is getting more windy.

House Sparrow male and juvenile in Driffield.

We start by the pond near the entrance. Completely dry, which allows us to examine the aquatic plants on the bed of the pond and some interesting invertebrates. 

Cinnamon Bug.

Phasia hemiptera, a fly that parasitises shieldbugs, swiped by Bill.

A view of the central pond, also dry.

Common Green Grasshopper.

Common Groundhopper.

Common Emerald.

Common Field Grasshopper.

Long-winged Conehead.

 

An August walk to Victoria Dock

A mild day with light drizzle showers, and a low tide, I head towards Victoria Dock, hoping to see some waders to add to my year list. On the way, I watch two Sparrowhawks over the city centre and another over Ha'penny bridge. The Feral Pigeons at Queen Victoria Square are enjoying the reopened fountain and are bathing enthusiastically, displaying their curious habit of exposing the underside of their wings to get it wet. There are many Lesser Black-backed fledglings begging to parents around Princes Quay, with plaintive whistles and crouched stances. At Victoria Pier, a Lesser Black-backed gull feeds on a dead woodpigeon, it is a young one, its back open.

Sparrowhawk.

Feral Pigeon bath time.

Begging Lesser Black-backed juveniles chasing a parent.

A Lesser Black-back Gull feeding on a young Woodpigeon.

A second Sparrowhawk.

Young House Martins getting ready to fledge.

Young coot chick being fed by parent.

No waders at the Half-tide basin, but many House Martins around, some in their nests almost ready to fledge. A surprise are three Mute Swans, which are feeding on the foreshore near Corinthians Way. All three have small bill knobs and one of them has brown fringes in its wings, so probably they are yearlings moulting. The limping Curlew is still there, still limping, but actively feeding.

One of the Mute Swans. 

The limping male Curlew. 

I scan the mudflats at the end of Corithians Way. The Curlew and some Black-headed Gulls are there, but no Oystercatchers. After a short spot, I turn round. A flock of Starlings feed on the exposed seaweed, turning it like Turnstones and using their open bill probing technique to hunt for invertebrates.

Starling open bill probing on seaweed.

Young pied wagtail.

I get to the Half-tide Basin. There are two juvenile Pied Wagtails now. I watch them as they chase and flutter after insects on the mud, when the House Martins start alarm calling. The wagtails immediately fly off, and I scan the sky, hoping for a raptor. A Hobby! It's flying low parallel to me, and soon it's going to fly behind the buildings, so I'm lucky to be able to take a couple of record shots. I haven't had a Hobby in Hull since 2022, and the last time was on Myton Bridge, powering towards Victoria Dock. This time of year the young House Martins are on the wing, and it must be easy pickings for Hobbies.

Hobby.

I follow the Hobby as it flies NE towards the trees by the A63. Hobby is number 96 for my Birds in Hull, so a very nice outcome for the walk.

A male Vapourer landed on the path in front of me. It appeared to be struggling against the wind, and I acted as a windbreak.