Hull River bank by Bransholme

A sunny, warm and pleasant day, I went for a walk by the river bank between the A1033 Twin bridge and Sutton Road Bridge. Although the river is still tidal there, the banks especially the west one, is well vegetated with an almost continuous reed belt and occasional willows. On the East bank, there are still some fields, wooded patches and the reservoir of the Bransholme Water treatment works, which currently pumps surface water from Bransholme to the River Hull. This reservoir is an interesting birdwatching site. Today there were Lesser Black-backed and Herring gulls, a few Tufted ducks, Coots, Mallards a Mute Swan and three Gadwalls. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were singing.

 The views were beautiful, with the new reeds starting to show at the base of the golden, old stems. Coots, Moorhens and Mallards fed on the river itself. I heard a Magpie singing from a tree, first time I hear it singing, most curious.

 As I arrived by the Sutton Road Bridge, three Swallows were flying and singing by it and under it.

Long-Tailed tit on Willow

The start of the walk on the twin bridge over the river Hull on the A1033.

A Magpie collected material to line its nest from the grassy banks.

River bank view

There were many butterflies on the wing, most Small Tortoiseshells feeding on dandelions, but also Peacocks and a few Small Whites

Feeding mallards

A bend of the river with reed beds and horses

Many Yellow Dung Flies, Scathophaga stercoraria on horse manure

Rabbit

Male blackbird

One of three Swallows flying by the Sutton Road Bridge

Sutton Road Bridge

Another view of the river

An unlikely pair: Coot and Woodpigeon

tethered Horse

Moorhen

Spider, Larinioides sp.

A view of the lagoon of the water treatment plant.

Location map

Bird list

1. Black-headed Gull
2. Blackbird
3. Blackcap
4. Blue Tit
5. Carrion Crow
6. Chaffinch
7. Chiffchaff
8. Coot
9. Cormorant
10. Dunnock
11. Gadwall
12. Great Tit
13. Greenfinch
14. Herring Gull
15. House Sparrow
16. Lesser Black-backed Gull
17. Long-tailed Tit
18. Magpie
19. Mallard
20. Moorhen
21. Mute Swan
22. Robin
23. Feral Pigeon
24. Swallow
25. Tufted Duck
26. Woodpigeon
27. Wren

Cold spring day at Honeysuckle farm

I eagerly await the opening of Honeysuckle farm each spring. It is a lovely place to spend a day, not only for the kids, who can spend hours jumping on the hay bales, but for adults alike, especially if you enjoy that rural feel associated to farms. Today it started sunny, but it clouded up and we had only brief sunny spells, with a persistent cool breeze.
 The Woodpigeon at the top shot was sitting atop a hen house, having a rest. It looked most relaxed, closing her eyes every now and then, but also keeping a keen ear, as became alert and stretched her head at a disturbance by the chickens.
One thing I look forward specially is to watch the Yellowhammers, but today they were absent, I didn't hear their song and they weren't around in their usual place. Unusual as well it was that there was no chiffchaff song. We also drew a blank with the water voles.
 There were several butterflies about, a Green-Veined white, a Peacock and a pair of Commas.

A male sparrow chirping from a gutter

This female Greenfinch collected moss for her nest.

Jackdaws like to feed by the cows, they also often perch on the cows back and remove some of the winter coat hair for nest lining.

Lesser Celandine.

Mute Swan

Cuckoo flower, Cardamine pratensis, the first flowers of the year.

A Rook feeding on a field, probably a young from last year judging by the brown tinge of its primaries and lack of shine on its back.

A record shot of a Swallow, who fed on this field with horses and Common Gulls

One of a small flock of Common Gulls

Female House Sparrow

Linnet singing

Green-veined white, 1st of the year.

All aflutter at Snuff Mill Lane

It had been over a year I hadn't visited The morning was mixed, warm sunny spells interrupted by light showers. Many birds were in full song, As I arrived in the car park I heard the song of a Blackcap, my first of the year. Chiffchaffs sung as well. Small Tortoiseshells and Peacocks, slightly more of the former around. 

 A 30 strong flock of Redwing atop a popar surprised me. I thought them already returned to their winter quarters.

 Flower wise the Blackthorn was in full bloom and there were Lesser Celandines, Violets and Butterbur on bloom too.

 A beautiful spring walk on this jewel of a site.

Male Blackcap singing on a sprouting Hawthorn

Male Chiffchaff singing

Small Woodpigeon flock feeding on the grass

I might have been too close to his nest for comfort as this Chaffinch scolded me with his screeching call

Long-tailed tit

Stock dove singing from nest box

Peacock

Small tortoiseshell feeding on blackthorn flowers

Spot the feeding butterflies on the top shot on this blackthorn

Wren

Flowering butterbur

Violet

side view of the flower

A brain-like fungus

singing Great tit

A large flock of redwing on poplar. Migrating back?

Blackbird singing

Greenfinch singing

Spring at North Cave Wetlands

The fog was very thick on top of The Wolds as I was driving towards North Cave. Fortunately, it was lighter and slowly lifting in the reserve, although a bit on the chilly side. The Black-Headed gulls are on full swing and the noise levels full on, especially on Village Lake and Island Lake.
 I did the usual anticlockwise tour of the reserve. A sprinkling of Wigeon, Teal and Shoveler about, but i didn't see Pochard.
 From east hide I could see a pair of Avocets. The female adopted a submissive posture and the male walked a few times around her, before mating. A few seconds later a pair of Black-headed gulls followed their example.
 Little else than Black-headed gulls on Island lake. I struggled to hear a singing Skylark outside Island lake, its song was much easier to hear from the north path. Three Sand Martins (1st of year) flew low over the path to Turret Hide.
A Chiffchaff sung from the willow on the west path.
A Crosslands, the water level have left shallow islands exposed, and numbered tiles to serve as refuge for tern and avocet chicks. The numbers were very handy to locate the cryptic Ringed Plovers. There were Redshank and an little flock of Dunlin.
As I arrived in the hide overlooking main lake, the warden pointed out that there was a drake Scaup on the lake (a lifer for me). However, I was much more excited to see one of the two pairs of Great Crested Grebes swimming to each other and starting their synchronised courtship. This was the first time I have watched the Great Crested Grebe dance. I even took a short clip of it (see below).
As I was leaving near the car park I heard the lovely song of a Willow Warbler. It didn't sing again, but I watched it as it fed on the hedge. A good way to finish a great morning, with a tally of 50 species.

Avocets, female on the left, soliciting the male

Avocets mating

Black-headed gulls mating

Gadwall pair preening

A lone Greylag

Male Shelduck

Charm of Goldfinches by maize field

Coot on one of the dragonly ponds.

Male Lapwing

Pied Wagtails

Great Tit apparently feeding on burdock seeds?

Chiffchaff

Long tailed tit. This one sat on this branch for what it felt like an eternity (probably was 5 seconds). Allowing me one of my best photos of this species.

Ringed Plovers by air-raid shelter

My first Drake Scaup

dancing Great Crested Grebes

A short video of the courting grebes.