A Swallow Walk to Sutton Bridge

A sunny, breezy day, I plan a walk to Sutton Bridge via Fountain Road, Sculcoates, Wilmington Br and then following the river to Stoneferry Bridges and Sutton Bridge, returning on the other side of the river by Oak Road Lake. 

A Swallow Walk

The theme of the walk is Swallows. In the last couple of weeks I have been in field trips in the countryside and I have witnessed how few Swallows are around this year. I haven't noticed a decline in Hull. Pairs of Swallows breed alongside the River Hull and Beverley and Barmston Drain, under bridges and in derelict buildings near the water. This walk encompasses most of the bridges where I've seen Swallows recently, missing Reich Carter Way and North Bridge in town. Swallows are also found during the breeding season at Noddle Hill, Foredyke Green Pond, East Park and Pickering Park, where they must breed nearby. It is noticeable their attachment to water in the city.

 I check for occupation each of the bridges as I will walk past, starting with the Fountain Road bridge, where one Swallow is hunting, occasionally flying under the bridge.

A nice surprise of the day is a Red Kite flying over Stoneferry Road, moving East, followed by mobbing gulls.

A poor record shot of Red Kite.

I scan Stoneferry Bridges in the distance and I can already see the Swallows, there are three, two of them mobbing a Magpie nearby. As I move to the other side of the bridge a male with beautifully long streamers sings from various structures by the bridge, indicating that two pairs are breeding on the bridge.

I notice that the large old and rusty barge by B&Q is gone, but a bit further ahead, as a large machine crunches metal and makes an awful noise, a family of Swallows with two young are about.

Swallow fledglings.

Sutton Bridge.

The view south from atop the steps at Sutton Bridge.

No Swallows at Sutton Bridge this year, but there is one flying over the playing fields, so a pair might have bred nearby.

Young crow.

Young crow in flight.

Two Reed Bunting males were in song, both by the stretch of river near the Croda wind turbine.

A buddleja bush covered on starlings, the ones in the photo are young of the year.

Dragonflies and damselflies

A long, warm sunny spell at Oak Road Lake brought up the dragonflies, with 8 species recorded. A male Emperor was patrolling, something I don't think I've seen at Oak Road Lake before. Then a female comes to the lake and starts ovipositing, while being buzzed by Common Blue and Red-eyed Damselflies. 

A male Red-eyed fends off a male Common Blue.

Red-eyed Damselfly.

An Ovipositing pair of Azure damselflies is interrupted by a Blue-tailed male, who eventually leaves them alone.

Southern Hawker, Banded Demoiselle and Brown Hawker also seen in the ride before the woodland.

Butterflies

A good day for butterflies too, I make a list in various places, the best is Oak Road Lake km2, where I record 10 species: Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Speckled Wood, Ringlet, Large and Small Skipper, Large White, Small White and Green-veined White.

Green-veined White.

Small Skipper.

Small Tortoiseshell