Holderness: Coniston

There has been a spring-like feeling in the last few days, with warmer weather and even a bit of sunshine, so I decided to restart the Holderness walks. I still have 32 villages and hamlets remaining to visit, including most of the most isolated, and hardest to reach by public transport. Today it was mild, a bit breezy, and dry and I started with a very easy one, Coniston, a tiny village with a pub and a derelict chapel, which is by the A165 road and has a bus stop. From the village I walked to the Hull to Hornsea railway trail at Swine station and then to Sutton. The landscape is flat, with large arable fields edged with hedges and or ditches. There were plenty of Yellowhammers, some on territory starting to sing, although there was a flock on a field of stubbles near Swine with some Reed buntings. Skylarks provided much of the soundtrack of the walk. 

Linnet.

Buzzard.

Kestrel.

One of a dozen or so Yellowhammers feeding on stubbles by the trail.

Dunnock singing.

It was a walk with plenty of Yellowhammers today.

This and another male Great Tit were having some territorial dispute.

Chaffinch.

Dumble Farm in winter

I had never visited Dumble Farm in the winter. This morning, I joined Holly for a winter bird survey at Arram Carrs, mostly on the grounds of Dumble Farm. We got the train to Arram station. The morning started cold, but with sunny sky and the birds really delivered. The Carrs were quite flooded, at one point on the public right of way we had to turn round despite wearing wellies. The survey started with a fly over lone Pinkfoot and six Little Egrets, with two Cattle Egrets with them, all feeding around the highland cows. There were so many highlights during the survey, but huge flocks of Lapwing, in the thousands, over 50 Curlew, a pair of Pintail, many Teal, Marsh Harriers, flocks of Fieldfare, dozens of Skylarks, a pair of Stonechat and to top it up, a Corn Bunting. A total of Other than the birds, the views were so expansive, and the weather such a relief after weeks on end of rain, that we had the most enjoyable day. We walked back via the public right of way by the railway line to Beverley.

Reed Bunting.

Pink-footed Goose.

The start of the survey.

Cattle Egret and co.

Rook.

Cattle Egret.

Lapwing, Curlew and Skylarks.

Curlew and Lapwing.

Fieldfare.

Pintail. There was a pair about.

Corn Bunting.

The river Hull near Leven canal looking very high.

View of Leven Carrs.

A huge flock of Lapwing, looking south from the river bank.

Stonechat.

Skylark singing. So many skylarks today.

Oystercatcher.

Male Marsh Harrier.

Alkborough Flats with Hull Nats

A gloomy, windy and cold day, but at least we missed the rain. Six of us met at the bottom car park of Alkborough Flats and did a circular walk though the flats and then along the flood bank on the Trent. As we were about to enter the hide, a Raven flew high above us, my first of the site. Flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover wheeled constantly on the horizon, flushed by the numerous Marsh Harriers on site. We counted 6 flying together, maybe assembling to roost. The tide was high and there were plenty of ducks on the main pool in front of the hide, Shovelers, Gadwall, Tufted Ducks and a pair of Pintail.

Raven.

Shoveler.

Tufted Ducks.

Gadwall.

Pintail.

Lapwing.

Male Marsh Harrier.

Golden Plover.

We carried on and waded on the flooded stretch of path, my wellies just high enough to keep my socks dry. Then we have lunch out in the Trent hide. It's been a while since I've had lunch in a hide and I wish I brought a thermos with a hot drink. A male Kestrel appears to follow us along the flood bank, staying just ahead and dropping in several occasions. Several Mute Swans fly over. We are very exposed and the wind is relentless, but we are compensated by a large flock of Whoopers on the Trent (top shot and below), they are distant but I count between 40 and 50 with a small group of Mute Swans. Little else of interest on the way back to the car park. A hot chocolate at The Paddocks cafe put a lovely end of a challenging day.

Kestrel.

Marsh Harrier.

Kestrel.

Shelduck.

Whooper Swans.

A group of Whooper Swans with several juveniles.

Mute Swan.

Urban birds at Hull. 60 Coal Tit

 

The Coal Tit is less widely known than its more common relatives, the Blue Tit and Great Tit. It is a smaller bird than those, with a black cap, large white cheeks and a white band at the back of the head. Unlike Marsh and Willow Tits, which are extremely rare birds in Hull, the bib under the bill is large and triangular. The chest is creamy brown, the back and wings are grey and two white wing bands are clear. The species has an affinity for conifers, dexterously extracting seeds from cones of spruce, pine and other species, and small insects and spiders from between needles at the end of branches. Coal Tits will also frequent parks and gardens, where they form mixed winter flocks with Long Tailed tits, Blue and Great Tits and Goldcrests. Coal Tits are hoarders: they cache food in different locations around the area to retrieve later. This explains how, when visiting gardens, they dart to and from garden feeders, as they don't stop to feed like other birds do, but just cache the seeds, particularly sunflower seeds. Coal Tits sing year round, and they can be very vocal in the winter. Their song is similar to the great tit, but with a higher pitch and a more squeaky tone.

18 March 2025. Ella Street.

Coal Tit singing. East Park, 24 March 2025.

Feeding on pine cones. Western Cemetery, 23 April 2023.

Distribution and status in Hull. Never common, but a widespread resident species in Hull. It is more widespread, and probably more noticeable in the winter months. Resident numbers might be increased by immigrants from the continent in 'irruption' years. It breeds in small numbers in Hull, particularly in large gardens and parks. Judging from the impression of a very rare bird before 2000, it is likely this species has increased in Hull in recent decades.

Coal Tit fledgling. University of Hull. 29 May 2012.

Coal Tit on garden feeder. 9 March 2012.

Conservation and management. Unlike the other smaller tits, the Willow and Marsh Tit, the Coal Tit is not a bird of conservation concern, it is Green Listed. Widespread conifer planting, both for timber and also in gardens in areas with no native conifers probably have helped this species, which is now stable in numbers. It is subordinate to both Blue and Great Tit, and probably outcompeted from nest boxes.

More Information

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

(top shot 15 December 2025)