Pocklington Canal and White Carr Meadow Pastures

A trip with the Hull Natural History society to a stretch of the Pocklington Canal between Coats Bridge and White Carr Meadow, a SSSI adjoining the canal. This was my first visit to Pocklington Canal. It's a warm and sunny afternoon, ideal for insects. After the group assembles, we move onto the canal towpath, where volunteers are working on the Coates lock. 

Coates Lock.

The canal opened in 1818, but it fell into disuse with the advent of road transport and locks became non functional. The section we walked along today is not navigable, although the Pocklington Canal Amenity society has worked to increase the length of navigable canal by dredging and lock restoration, currently between the river Derwent and Melbourne. 

At a ditch by the canal, we spot the first Banded Demoiselles, a Common Darter and Meadow Brown Butterflies. 

Banded demoiselle.

Common Darter.

Ovipositing Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting sing together near the meeting point, but I only manage to photograph the Yellowhammer.

We move onto the meadows. It is exhilarating how diverse in plants these wet meadows are. Many new species for me and an abundance of insects. The highlight is a few Marbled Whites. 

Walking along the meadow.

Pepper Saxifrage.

Gatekeeper

Common Blue damselfly.

Rutpela maculata, a longhorn beetle fond of Hogweed.

Marbled White.

Comma.

Mating Green-veined whites

Ringlet.

The area upstream of the lock has clear water with Yellow Water Lilies. Common Blue damselflies and Blue-tailed Damselflies are settled on the lily pads or ovipositing. A pike stood on the water, immobile like a log, while a Kingfisher darted downstream above the trees.

Pike.