A walk to Bransholme Reservoir in June

A mild day with sunny spells and light westerly wind. I head to Oak Road lake via Beverley Road and then walk until the reservoir. I had planned a longer walk, but it was pretty entertaining so I ended up walking slower than usual and doing a bit more exploring. The tide is ebbing, the river taking rafts of vegetation downstream. 

Birds

The best was a family of Little Grebes with 4 chicks. This is not a common breeding bird at Hull and the location appears to be a new one. A Sedge Warbler sung from marginal vegetation near the reservoir, but didn't stop for photos. Other than at Noddle Hill, this is a species I rarely see at Hull.

At Oak Road, the family of Mute Swans is feeding on the abundant underwater vegetation. The three cygnets tend to follow the female and gather around her to encourage her to get weed to the surface. 

There was another surprise Mute Swan family at the reservoir. I had consistently seen a pair there this year, but not a nest. They had 4 cygnets. There is plenty of food for them.

The cygnets follow dad to the shore...

...where they had a rest and a preen.

There were 4 Gadwall upending in the reservoir.

Little Grebe and chick.

Three of the chicks and an adult.

Little Grebe chick.

Kestrel.

Blue tit fledgling.

A scruffy Cormorant at the Oak Road lake platform.

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One of three Linnets seen.

Fledgling Crow.

A curious, probably thirsty crow foes for some Lucozade.

Occasionally the tables turn and the mobber becomes the mobbed. Male Sparrowhawk and Carrion Crow

Dragonflies

The sunny spells were short and far between, but they did encourage the damselflies out. On the way north I flush a Banded Demoiselle in the same spot I saw my first one in Hull in June 2019. This looks like this is a breeding spot in the river Hull within the city limits. The area is on a bend in the river with a not so steep slope and plenty of marginal vegetation. On the way back I carefully walk by the area and spot a male basking, then count 5 males and a single female.

The Banded Demoiselle spot.

Ovipositng Blue-tailed Damselfly at Oak Road Lake.

A distand Small Red-eyed Damselfly. Note the characteristic raised abdomen. This is the earliest in the year I've seen this species.

Common Blue Damselfly.

At the Ennerdale ponds I spot two 4 spot chaser briefly and a large teneral that flies to the grass, which is likely an Emperor Dragonfly.

Butterflies   

Large Skipper.

First Meadow Brown of the year.

I stop to check a large umbellifer I haven't seen before and find some colourful caterpillars, chomping away at its leaves. They were later indentified as of Depressaria daucella, the only 2nd VC61 record, on Hemlock Water-dropwort. Thank you to Ian Andrews, Andy Nunn and Charles Fletcher for the ID of the caterpillar and Gabrielle Jarvis and Richard Middleton for the 

Mammals

Other than Grey Squirrels at Pearson Park on the way, as usual fresh Molehills became apparent north of Sutton Bridge on both banks of the river Hull. Today they were quite noticeable as the banks had been mowed recently. Two Rabbits were seen by Ennerdale Leisure centre. 
The best was at Barmston Drain. I was tempted to check the banks at Beresford Avenue for Water Voles. The grass was very long and there was just a faint path, and on this path, laid the fresh body of a Common Shrew.

Common Shrew.

 

The view upstream near the reservoir.