East Park in February

A morning of sunshine and showers with a light, northerly wind. I walk to East Park via the Hornsea cycle path and Rockford Fields. On the way, I spy a male Kestrel in his usual alcove by Stoneferry Road. All the greenery is increasing by the footpath, with plenty of fresh leaves sprouting. Red Deadnettles are flowering everywhere.

Male Kestrel, well sheltered from the northerly wind.

Green lane by Rockford fields.

Green Corridor.

Three Goldcrests were singing along the way and at East Park. One near Stepney station, another by Chamberlain Road, and the last one at the shrubbery at East Park, by the little pond. This one wasn't singing, but posed nicely for a few milliseconds.

A flotilla of Tufted Ducks. Unfortunately only a drake Pochard was sleeping by the central island today.

One of the two pairs of Mute Swans in residence. The pair by the boardwalk had a young of last year.

A hybrid Canadaxgreylag goose, paired with a Canada. Its presumed Greylag parent paired with a Canada is in the background.

The Great Crested Grebe pair was about. Neil was patiently trying to photograph then courting, in between the showers. They had a little snooze, even bumping against each other, then did a little, vocal courtship (top shot).

Snoozing Great Crested Grebes, the 81st species seen in Hull this year.

Just before I left, I walked along the western edge of the park, and found some Siskins feeding in the Alders, with very nice light.

A single Lesser black-backed gull was by the boating lake.

Sewerby Hall and cliffs with Hull Nats

 

An unexpectedly sunny day, milder than we expected thanks to the shelter of the woodland and cliffs from the northerly wind. After assembling in the car park we took a walk around the woodland. The first surprise was the Nuthatch feeding on a wall where people had left some seed. It was unfortunately too fast for photos. An area of the gardens holds a stunning grove of Monkey-puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana, with three large individuals, planted in 1868, and several smaller ones of different sizes. A fourth mature tree was blown during the infamous 'beast from the East' in March 2018. Its wood was used in carved panels lining paths to enhance the grounds carved by Allen Stichler.

The view from under a large Arauraria araucana.

The trunk.

A Rook arrives at the nest with a large branch.

Carpets of Snowdrops and Winter Aconite on the woodland floor.

One of the 14 new carvings by on the Araucaria wood.

After exploring the woods we had a picnic in the south-facing, sheltered building that can be seen in this photo. Absolutely toasty!

It was time to head to the beach. As we walked by the cricket pitch, a 50+ flock of Oystercatchers were feeding on it, a wonder to watch. 

We descended the steep steps to the beach. A Rock Pipit was feeding at the bottom of the chalk, and moved forward as we did, visiting the mounds of soil generated by cliff falls. I managed a couple of record shots. I had a bit of a lovely surprise when I got home and checked the photos, as the bird was colour ringed! I had 2 photos and the light wasn't great, but I had a possible code and a ringing scheme to contact, so I e-mailed the info and today I got the ringing details below. It appears that this is a Norwegian bird, so wintering at Flamborough:

Ring no : Stavanger EP02385, Orange colour ring ZVJ, right tarsus.

A male, hatched 2021 or before, ringing date: 26.9.2021.

Ringing place: Makkevika (62*30'29''N-006*01'37''E) Giske, Giske, Møre & Romsdal, Norway.

Remarks: Caught in walk-in-trap.

Ringer: Kjell Mork Soot / Sunnmøre Ringing Group.

Another photo of the ringed Rock Pipit.

A view of the Sewerby Beach and cliffs, all the way to Flamborough.

A Pied Wagtail feeding at the top of the beach.

Seven Great Black-backed Gulls amongst Herring gulls. A few Common Gulls ], Black-headed Gulls, a Redshank and some Oystercatchers were also feeding on the exposed intertidal.

The spot where the cliffs meet the clay and location of the raised Ipswichian beach.

As we had our coffee and cake, a Woodpigeon with a deformed bill displayed to another, approaching the other individual by hopping, as they usually do when courting.

Displaying Woodpigeon.

Noddle Hill, Midmeredales and Foredyke Green in February

A mild morning with long sunny spells, after yesterday's long walk I decided to get the bus to Kingswood and walk along Midmeredales to Noddle Hill LNR. It was very dry, normally this area is quite waterlogged in the winter, but I was fine on trainers. I was surprised the temporary pond at Midmeredales held water.

Temporary pond at Midmeredales.

Bee Orchid.

The Foredyke Stream.

Rabbit.

The Foredyke Green pond had low water levels and a lot of litter.

Soon after arriving at Noddle Hill, a 48 strong flock of Lapwing flew over.

This is the sorry state of the Foredyke Stream by Noddle Hill, barely any water.

Reed Bunting.

There were several Brown Hares on the tilled fields and the young crops just N of the reserve. A Skylark sung above. 

A very large flock of Pink-footed geese flew N.

A small flock of Yellowhammers and a lone Tree Sparrow were hanging about by the pumping station.

My Tree Sparrow record shot.

The Yellowhammer was more cooperative.

Singing Skylark.

The first Colt's Foot of the year.

Kestrel.

This Blue Tit spent a long time feeding on Bullrush seedheads.

I sat on one of the benches by the feeders, a diverse assortment of garden birds were feeding, including Robin, Dunnock. Great Tit, Robin and Long-tailed Tits. At some point a male Sparrowhawk attacked, missing its prey, but it landed nearby and I could take some photos in between branches.

Male Sparrowhawk.

It was a great day for raptors. A Buzzard flew low over the reserve (top shot). Later, I heard the mewing of Buzzards and there were four soaring, at some point joined by a Sparrowhawk. At some point two came together and locked talons in a heart-stopping display, of which I only got a blurry shot.

Buzzard and Sparrowhawk.

Tumbling Buzzards.

 I can't believe I'm at 80 species at Hull for my low carbon birding year, with Tree Sparrow, Lapwing and Yellowhammer added today.