Three days walking around Hull

I had a relatively low key few days after having travelled quite a lot. On Sunday, I took advantage of the extra light in the morning for a walk to Sculcoates. On Monday, I postponed my walk to Welwick as I thought being too exposed it would be too windy, so I headed to Oak Road lake and the River Hull and it paid off. Today an early morning walk to East Park and Rockford fields before a Zoom meeting.

Sunday: Sculcoates

It was high tide when I got to Wilmington Bridge, on a cold morning with sunny spells. The Redshank, 11 of them, were at their roost on the river wall.

Spiked Shieldbugs mating. The sunshine brought out some invertebrates out.

Green Meshweaver spider.

A record shot of Goldcrest, there seem to be plenty around. This one was hanging with a group of Long-tailed Tits.

Moorhen.

Monday: Oak Road Lake and River Hull

On Monday, I headed for Clough Road, then I did a circuit at Oak Road Lake and continued by the river to the Kingswood reservoir.

 Two Pied Wagtails were sat at the Bingo roof.

Long-tailed Tit.

The Mute Swan family at Oak Road lake. The remaining juvenile was at the river.

A Buzzard mewing at Ennerdale.

The reservoir has water after the rain in the last couple of months, but it is quite shallow, the crows happily landing on it and wading amongst the gulls. There were a few Shoveler, about 20 Teal and a large group of mixed gulls, and the ever present Grey Heron.

Teal, now in full breeding plumage.

An immature Great Black Backed gull, number 101 for the 100 species challenge.

The biggest surprise was a Green Sandpiper, who was feeding to the left of the reservoir, by the reeds, but after being flushed by a crow, it approached after flying low. This was number 102 for the 100 Birds in Hull challenge, but also the first time I have this species in Hull, which was very nice. The light made for good photography too.

There were two Lesser Black-backed Gulls hanging out at the reservoir.

Tuesday: Rockford Fields and East Park

A mild day, reaching 13oC with sunny spells. I headed to East Park, but my aim was to have the last orthopterans of the year at Rochford fields. At Stoneferry, a Buzzard was flying south, estorted at close range by a group of Carrion Crows.

Buzzard.

A Sparrowhawk soaring at East Park.

Grey Heron.

Black-headed Gulls are always very interested in Goosander activities.

Four female Goosanders were at the park.

One of the two Grey Wagtails on the splash boat.

A drake Shoveler moulting into breeding plumage was near the boardwalk.

Cormorant.

After East Park, I moved to Rockford Fields hoping for a sunny spell. I had this, and more!

A Peregrine powering over Rockford Fields.

Female Roesel's Bush-cricket.

Some male Long-winged Coneheads were still calling, This female was cleaning her ovipositor from the base to the tip.

I was suprised to spot a Lesser Marsh Grasshopper.

To top the three days in Hull, a Curlew at the playing fields at the Sculcoates patch on the way back.

Blending in amongst the loafing gulls and the Jackdaws walking around between them. As I walked away, I heard the curlew calling, feeling totally out of place, I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it!

Urban birds at Hull. 56. Green Sandpiper

The Green Sandpiper is a small wader, dark above and bright white above, the contrast between these tones and the white rump makes it also very distinctive in flight. It wades up to chest height or along muddy shores, picking the small invertebrates it feeds on, and slowly covers ground There is a short white eye stripe and eye ring and tiny glitter-like spots on its wings. A wader of freshwater habitat including ditches, slow flowing rivers, flooded fields and reservoirs.

Status and distribution in Hull

It is mainly a scarce passage migrant in the Hull area, most notable in the long autumn passage, peaking in August. It breeds in Scandinavia and the Sub Arctic, unusually for a wader, nesting in trees. Records are from Bransholme Reservoir, Noddle Hill LNR, Priory Fields, Willerby Carr and Springhead Golf Course.

Green Sandpiper, Bransholme Reservoir, 27/10/2025.

Conservation and Management

The Green Sandpiper is Amber listed due to the small populations breeding in Scotland. Being a scarce migrant, there is little local management that can benefit the bird conservation status, although the presence of flooded fields, and muddy ditches might attract individuals to settle for a few weeks during migration. The species has benefited from milder UK winters, with more individuals wintering in lowlands, so suitable local habitat like shallow muddy edged temporary ponds might encourage individuals to settle for the winter. 

Green Sandpiper, Bransholme Reservoir, 27/10/2025.

More information

BTO Birdfacts. Green Sandpiper.

Broughton, R.K. 2002. Birds of the Hull Area. 

Holderness: Sigglesthorne, Goxhill, Rolston, Hornsea

Today's walk was a broad skirting route around Hornsea Mere. I started at Sigglesthorne, a pretty village on the bus route to Hornsea. The morning started gloomy and mild and the showers forecast for mid morning never materialised, the sky growing brighter with occasional sunny spells. I walked around the village, admired the church and then took Wassand Balk, a single lane road towards Wassand. A Buzzard sat on a distant hedge. I walked on the track through the woods at Wassand and then took a footpath across a ridge and furrow pasture field with sheep towards Goxhill. A Yellowhammer called atop a hawthorn.

Blackbird at Sigglestorne.

Pied Wagtail.

Sigglestorne St Lawrence's Church.

Buzzard.

Pastures near Wassand.

The only, distant view of Hornsea Mere I got today.

Yellowhammer.

Two very large fields were next in my route, offering very little interest. The occasional Skylark flew over. I soon got to Goxhill, a hamlet with a tiny church, St Giles.

Large field with winter wheat.

St Giles church, at Goxhill. a Grade II listed building.

Grey Squirrel, not common in Holderness, but still present.

Redwing by the Hornsea railway track at Goxhill. I didn't come across as many as I did yesterday.

Water tower by the road to Hornsea.

I take a bridleway by the golf course. It is a good track to start with, but then it turns into a very straight narrow and shady grassy path, the grass tall and wet. It is a bit of a slog until I finally get to Rolston, my socks wet through. I walk to Hornsea on the B1242 and then make my way to the promenade, where I have a coffee and my packed lunch surrounded by chatty and very tame Starlings. The bus stop is right next to me, and I take the next 24 to Hull.

A bit of an extreme threat to motorcyclers in this community woodland and nature reserve at Rolston.

Jackdaw at Hornsea.

Very tame and vocal starlings at Hornsea promenade.

This one was right next to me.

 

Holderness: Hollym, Holmpton, Patrington

A mild day, mostly overcast, with a couple of showers in the morning. I take the 75 bus to Hollym Cross Roads, and from there I walk along North Leys road. This is a quiet road, single track road around the village. Redwings' alarm calls come from the hedges as they fly off, there are also plenty of Blackbirds and Robins about. Rooks call from the trees. I have a short walk along the main road to Holmpton, and then I take the Public Right of Way along the Runnel and walk along the coastal path to Holmpton.

Many Blackbirds about today.

And also, but much shyer, Redwings.

Pied Wagtail.

A derelict bridge, across a ditch, Nevils Bridge, has been replaced by a culvert.

A new bridge over The Runnel, presumably added during the improvements to the coastal path. I don't think there was a bridge here, you just had to cross The Runnel.

Reed Bunting at The Runnel.

Looking North towards Withernsea.

A flock of Teal flying south.

The rain starts as I walk along the Runnel, lumps of clay from the field edge sticking to my shoes. The top photo shows what is left of a pill box, a single wall just at the edge of the cliff. As I get close to Holmpton, I need to cross a ditch. This is a section of the newly opened King Charles III coastal footpath, but the only way across is a wooden board, which is wet with the rain, so I decide not to risk it and walk along the field edge to the village instead. A female Stonechat feeds on the edge of the ditch. I walk around the village, visit the churchyard and take a footpath behind the Hall. The highlights in the village are a small group of Tree Sparrows and a male Stonechat by Seaside Road.

The board.

Tree Sparrow.

Male Stonechat.

St Nicholas, Holmpton.

Rook.

Some of the outbuildings of Holmpton Hall, one of them with a dovecote.

Given the rain and the mud, I opt by taking Patrington Road instead of a footpath. It is not too busy and there is plenty of interest. Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings, a Mediterranean Gull and a sprinkle of Yellowhammers.

Meadow Pipit.

Mediterranean Gull.

Roe Deer.

Roe Deer.

Sparrowhawk.

Whalebone Corner. There is no information on this whale arch, sitting on a tight bend on the road by a public footpath.

Yellowhammer.

The Old Police Station at Patrington.

I have my lunch in Patrington at Cakey Bakey Yum Yum before catching my bus back home.