Urban birding at Hull: Sculcoates week 40

 A mild, breezy day of sunny spells. I do a long walk around the 1 km2 at Sculcoates, visiting both cemeteries, the river and all stretches of the Beverley and Barmston Drain. 

Cormorant by Bankside.

Birds

A good day for birds, with 28 species recorded. Of note was the peak count of Moorhen this year, with 18 counted, many of them juveniles. Little Grebes were present at Abbey Way, returned after being absent since February, two were diving under the blanket of duckweed and Azolla waterfern. I saw a bullfinch in the north cemetery, flushed from a large Guelder rose in berry. Three Chiffchaffs were around the patch too.

The two Little Grebes.

Two squabbling Moorhens fly over a little Grebe.

Little Grebe.

The continuous carpet of Azolla. It is so thick that large drops of water float on top after the rain.

Feral Pigeon on nest by Wilmington Bridge.

Blackbird on Rowan.

Insects

The sun trap area just south of the cycle track was the best for dragonflies, with three species seen.

Migrant Hawker.

Common Darter.

Willow Emerald male (also top shot).

Common Green Shieldbug.

Hawthorn Shieldbug.

Mammals

Six cat were seen roaming in the green spaces of the patch. A Grey Squirrel was present at Sculcoates Park, and, sadly, the 3rd dead hedgehog in the patch this year at Northumberland Avenue, a roadkill.

A dead hedgehog.