Urban birding at Hull: Avenues dawn chorus

Today is International World Dawn Chorus Day, and I usually celebrate it with a very early morning rise and a short drive to Noddle Hill Nature reserve. I have been doing my daily exercise during lockdown walking in my local area, so I decided to do an urban dawn chorus walk. Blackbirds are singing and House Sparrows chirping in the garden. It is quiet, and already light when I left the house at 5:00am. It is still, cool and with some clouds. I walk the streets in the Avenues. There is no one about. Great Tits, Blue Tits, Robin, Wren, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon join the chorus.

Dunnock singing.

I make my way to Jack Kaye fields via the path by the railway track.

There is a low patch of mist over the playing field, making it very atmospheric.

I hear a Lesser Whitethroat is singing from a sycamore. It's hard to photograph, so I record it's song.

Chiffchaff is also singing from the railway line, a pair of Linnets are about and a Swallow flies north over the fields.

Linnet.

It is sunrise.

I move through the avenues to Pearson Park. I get there about 6:20. There are a couple of dog walkers about. I

This is a first, a Greylag nest with an egg in the Pearson Park island. 

The female greylag by her nest.

Is it the time of the day or the effects of the lockdown? Another first: a pair of Greylags walking along Princes Avenue.

I'm back home by 7:20, time to go for a quiet grocery shopping!

Bird List

1. Blackbird
2. Blackcap
3. Blue Tit
4. Carrion Crow
5. Chaffinch
6. Chiffchaff
7. Collared Dove
8. Dunnock
9. Feral Pigeon
10. Goldcrest
11. Goldfinch
12. Great Tit
13. Greylag Goose
14. Herring Gull
15. House Sparrow
16. Lesser Black-backed Gull
17. Lesser Whitethroat
18. Linnet
19. Long-tailed Tit
20. Magpie
21. Mallard
22. Mistle Thrush
23. Moorhen
24. Robin
25. Song Thrush
26. Starling 
27. Stock Dove
28. Swallow
29. Woodpigeon
30. Wren

Migration time at Hedon Haven

A not so good forecast for the morning did not bode well for a trip to Hedon Haven, in the outskirts of Hull with Rob Jaques. It was drizzly, visibility was poor and the tide was almost at its highest point, so waders were almost either non-existent or non-visible. A flock of Swallows sat on a ploughed field awaiting better weather conditions. There were also many Meadow Pipits, and a few Yellow wagtails on the grassy bank path. The usual cormorants perched on the wooden posts on the Humber. we reached the haven itself. The drizzle quietly stopped and it warmed up. The swallows took flight and started to feed high as soon as the clouds lifted. The white retreats of Furrow spiders (Larinioides cornutus), glistening with dropplets of water, not all of them occupied, stood out from the dried seed-heads of docks.

 We walked up Hedon Haven following the tide. Just a few mallard on the water and two teal. Robert spotted a Little Egret upstream (above shot), which was nice. We disturbed a young Roe Deer at the other side of the fence of the Salt End chemical works.

 We crossed the haven and walked downstream. On the brownfield and concreted areas of the works, we spotted two Pied Wagtails and a Grey Wagtail. 

 On the way back a Wheatear fed on the field with Linnets and Meadow Pipits. A Flock of Golden Plover circled over, seemingly looking for the mud to reappear with the retreating tide.

 While we had a bite by the little beach in Paull, a Sparrowhawk flew low over the bank and over the estuary, turning a corner over the ruined barges. It looked like it was a circuit it had practised before to surprise birds feeding on the shore.

Larinioides cornutus on dock seed head

Young Cormorant, with the Salt End chemical plant in the background

Young Roe Deer

One of the two Devil's Coach Horse beetle we saw, displaying its weapons. 

Another shot of the Devil's Coach Horse in defensive posture, a large beetle, at almost 3 cm long

Wheatear

Golden Plover flock

Swallow flock flying very low in circles over the grassy bank

Bird list

1. Black-headed Gull
2. Blackbird
3. Blue Tit
4. Carrion Crow
5. Chaffinch
6. Cormorant
7. Curlew
8. Golden Plover
9. Goldfinch
10. Great Tit
11. Grey Wagtail
12. House Martin
13. House Sparrow
14. Kestrel
15. Lesser Black-backed Gull
16. Linnet
17. Little Egret
18. Long-tailed Tit
19. Mallard
20. Meadow Pipit
21. Pheasant
22. Pied/White Wagtail
23. (Pied Wagtail (yarrellii))
24. Robin
25. Rock Dove
26. (Feral Pigeon)
27. Rook
28. Sand Martin
29. Shelduck
30. Sparrowhawk
31. Starling
32. Swallow
33. Teal
34. Wheatear
35. Woodpigeon
36. Wren
37. Yellow Wagtail

Hedon Haven and Paull Holme Strays

We tried, and failed, to get to the Easternmost side of Hull this morning. The entrance to the area through the Chemical works plant was gated and we were told there was no access to the public footpath, and later we tried from the King George dock, but access to the path seemed difficult without knowing our way, so we went to Hedon Haven instead, which was a new place for me.
On the little beach by Paull village, a turnstone and a few redshank sat on a derelict wooden barge. A group of shiny black Cormorants crowned the posts marking the canal to Hedon Haven.
The tide was ebbing revealing the brown-pink mud of the Humber, and flocks of bird started to fly onto the mudflats: Redshank, Curlew, Shelduck, Dunlin and Black-headed gulls. The wind was relentless, but when we sat on the sheltered bank, the sun was shining and overall was a much pleasant morning that I was expecting. The haven itself is fringed by marsh and patches of reeds. Teal, Redshank and Curlew fed upstream, and a Skylark chirped briefly from the field behind us. It was very tranquil, and despite being right next to a large industrial works, a beautiful place.
 A pair of Great-Black Backed Gulls were flying about and at some point a large flock of Lapwing manoeuvred towards the coal depot and back over us.
 Afterwards, we headed to Paull Holme Strays and took the path west to the lighthouses. A massive flock of Golden Plover with some Lapwing steered like a murmuration over the saltmarsh and it was unclear what whas the cause of the flushing, although we did see a Marsh Harrier flying over the strays.
 Overall, a great day out, and made more interesting for the company of Robert and Gui.

Cormorants resting

 Flying Cormorant

A motley crew of mud-lovers: Black-headed gulls, Shelduck, Redshank.

 Barge skeleton

Curlew

 Another Curlew - I love Curlews!

 Greater Black-backed gulls

Rivulets on the mudflat 

 A view of Paull Holme Strays looking East.

 Golden Plover and Lapwing flock

 We saw a cream-head Marsh Harrier later, not sure if it was responsible for the flushed Golden Plovers.

 Curlew

 Resting Wigeon flock

Robert and Gui inspecting driftwood on Paull Holme Strays.

Bird List

1. Black-headed Gull, HH.
2. Carrion Crow, HH, PHS.
3. Cormorant, HH.
4. Curlew, PHS, HH
5. Dunlin, PHS, HH.
6. Golden Plover, PHS
7. Great Black-backed Gull, HH
8. Herring Gull, HH
9. House Sparrow PHS, PV
10. Kestrel, PHS
11. Lapwing, HH, PHS
12. Linnet, PHS
13. Mallard, HH, PHS
14. Marsh Harrier, PHS
15. Redshank, PV, PHS, HH
16. Robin, PHS
17. Shelduck, HH, PHS
18. Skylark, HH
19. Starling, PV
20. Teal, HH
21. Turnstone, PV, PHS
22. Wigeon, PHS
23. Woodpigeon, HH, PHS

Brough Haven and Welton Waters

Today I decided to visit a new area, Brough Haven and Welton Waters, by the Humber estuary.
As I left sunny Hull down the M62, the fog was thick by the Humber. It was foggy also on Brough Haven and it didn't clear until about ten o'clock. Brough Haven is a natural inlet with mudflats, reed beds and saltmarsh onto the Humber estuary. With the thick fog I could only tell a Black-headed gull, some mallards and a redshank, but there were many early birds around the car park. I started my walk on the bank of the Humber. A Chiffchaff called frantically from some willows, echoed by another one in the distance. The spider webs decorated with dew were very evident with the backdrop of fog. A Meadow Pipit settled on the fence by the aerodrome, giving me some opportunity for a photo. I walked on the bridleway across the air field. There was a large flock of Lapwing on the runway, and some Reed Buntings. Loose flocks of Skylarks chirruped above, as the fog cleared. The rolling hills of the Wolds appeared in the distance.
I reached a little copse. On the wheat stubble field on my left I spot half a dozen Curlews.
A flowering Ivy on a hedgerow, now in the sun, provided some nectar for many wasps and a couple of brilliant Red Admirals. Hawkers (likely Migrant) and Common Darters started to hunt.
As I reached the watersports pit a Grey Heron flew off. I could spot some Magpies and Carrion Crows in the distance, feeding on something white I took for a plastic bag. I regretted not taking some shots, as when I got closer and the corvids had dispersed I realised it was a dead mute swan.
 In the watersports pit there were a couple of (live) Mute Swans, a fishing little Grebe and some moorhens. I could hear geese calling in the distance, although I failed to see them. I noticed a raptor flying high over the main lake, a female or immature Marsh Harrier, which was being mobbed by hirundines.
Some more wildfowl was present in the fishing complex, although I couldn't get very good views. A Great Spotted Woodpecker fed on a damaged tree trunk. Gadwall, Wigeon some tufted ducks and Coots were visible.
As I returned by the path on the Humber bank, there were dozens of Common Darters, several pairs mating, and possibly also a migrant hawker pair. Butterflies were also more obvious, some Speckled Woods, some Small Whites and many, many Small Tortoiseshells, the latter feeding on Thistles, Ragwort and Dandelion. Red Clover, Greater Knapweed and White Dead-nettles were also flowering.
I had nice view of the marsh in the middle of the airfield from the bank. A grey heron was on the shore. Three mute swans circled three times flying over me until they left towards the east. The flock of Lapwings was now on the green field by the marsh, with starlings, which kept darting up, catching insects.
 The ebbing tide had exposed the mudflats by the time I got to Brough Haven. Some Shelduck, a flock of Black-tailed godwits, and Teal were feeding on it, making a frantic, splashing noise with their bills filtering the mud. An avocet was also resting amongst the godwits.
 The walk was about 7 km, very pleasant indeed, with a diversity of habitats, a tally of 44 birds overall, many insects and beautiful scenery.

Dew on garden spider web

Mating Common Darters

Shelduck feeding on the mud

Grey heron

Black-tailed Godwit

Teal

Large white caterpillar

Small Tortoiseshell on Ragwort

Small Tortoiseshells on thistles

The view toward the airfield and the wolds

Small Tortoiseshell, Common Carder bee and the hoverfly Scaeva pyrastri on knapweed

Chiffchaff and a cloud of flying insects

A flock of Lapwing over the Humber

Gadwall pair

Barge and reeds in the Humber

Mute Swan on watersports pit

Perfectly still water in the first pond

Speckled Wood

Watersports pit

Red Admiral on Ivy

Reed Bunting

Meadow Pipit

More information

Hull Valley Wildlife group has a page on the area. Here.

Welton Waters site at Birdnerd. Here.

Location Map

View Larger Map

Bird List

1. Avocet
2. Black-headed Gull
3. Black-tailed Godwit
4. Blackbird
5. Canada Goose
6. Carrion Crow
7. Chaffinch
8. Chiffchaff
9. Coot
10. Cormorant
11. Curlew
12. Dunnock
13. Gadwall
14. Goldfinch
15. Great Spotted Woodpecker
16. Great Tit
17. Greenfinch
18. Grey Heron
19. Jackdaw
20. Lapwing
21. Linnet
22. Little Grebe
23. Long-tailed Tit
24. Magpie
25. Mallard
26. Marsh Harrier
27. Meadow Pipit
28. Moorhen
29. Mute Swan
30. Pochard
31. Redshank
32. Reed Bunting
33. Robin
34. Shelduck
35. Skylark
36. Song Thrush
37. Sparrowhawk
38. Starling
39. Swallow
40. Teal
41. Tufted Duck
42. Wigeon
43. Woodpigeon
44. Wren