Urban River Hull WeBS and Albert Dock

 

The high tide was at 8:05, a very high 7.66m spring tide. I left the house in darkness for Street Scott bridge for the last WeBS count of January. The first stretch of counting was not very auspicious, with just four overflying Cormorants of note. In the second stretch, I spotted the Redshank roost by the Trinity Buoy house, 19 of them. There were another two feeding by the tidal barrier, and 5 more with 3 Dunlin by the Deep. The Curlew was at the front of the Deep. Two Moorhens and a few Mallards were also in the River. I decided to walk to the Half-tide Basin to check how much saltmarsh was exposed in the tide. I was surprised to see there was some exposed in the outer basin and some lightly flooded area that was being used by two Mallard and a Redshank. Two roosting Dunlin left shortly after.

In the basin itself, a pair of Swans were upending. There was some ice in the centre. A Cormorant was diving and three Coots were having an argument.

On a whim and after a hot drink, I decided to check if the lock was closed at Albert Basin. On the way I found a line of Black-headed gulls at Victoria Pier. One was ringed, an old friend. 

Two Mallard feeding at the Victoria Dock dry dock by the river.

Sunrise.

19 Redshanks roosting by the Trinity Buoy house.

Five Redshanks with three Dunlin.

Curlew by The Deep.

Dunlin at the Half-tide outer basin.

Redshank.

Redshank and Mallard.

I presumed the same pair of Mute Swans that frequents the Half-tide Basin has returned.

Ringed Black-headed Gull 2FVH, ringed in a landfill site in Essex as an adult in Dec 2014, so it must be at least 10 year old. I have previously seen it at Oak Road Lake in 2022 and it has also been reported at the Marina in 2019. This spring it was observed in Riga (Latvia).

The group of Black-headed Gulls with 2FVH.

The lock was closed, meaning I could cross to Albert Dock. By the footpath in the old groynes area, I spot a bird, a Rock Pipit! It fed for a while amongst the short vegetation growing amongst the gravel.

Rock Pipit, a new bird for the year.

Stock Dove.

Another old friend. The ringed Mediterranean Gull that often sits atop Princes Quay was today atop the Holiday Inn by the marina. It takes me to 62 birds for my Local Big Year.