A walk along the urban Humber

 I had been told of a returned Curlew and Oystercatchers at Victoria Dock village last week, and I realised that I didn't have Oystercatcher in my 100 bird challenge list, and I hadn't seen Curlew by Victoria Dock this year, so I headed to the Humber this morning, as low tide was at 10:40, hoping for some waders.

I lingered around the river, and I found a pristine Painted Lady by Scale Lane Bridge. Only my 4th this year.

Painted Lady

I search for Short-winged Coneheads on the sea clubrushes and other saltmarsh vegetation. They like to bask in the morning and it was cool enough but sunny. I scan the likely basking spots with the binoculars. I find several adults, some of them look like long-winged forms, and plenty of nymphs. 

Female Short-winged Conehead.

There are several House Martins flying over the mouth of the river Hull, I wonder if there is a colony nearby, or they are young of this year dispersing from their nest sites. They join the pair of Swallows at Myton Bridge. Soon enough I find the female Curlew on the first stretch of Victoria Dock. She is picking ragworms from the mud at the bottom of the sea wall. 

At Half-tide basin, a young Pied Wagtail and returned Black-headed Gulls are the only thing of note.

I reach the end of Victoria Dock and spot the Curlew. It is a male, and one of its legs has a noticeable kink. It is limping, but otherwise looks alert and feeding well. Looks like it broke its leg and it has healed in that position. Then an Oystercatcher flies over (number 94 for the challenge). I would have liked a better sighting, but hopefully, I will see them again this year.

Lesser Black-backed Gull with juvenile.

Pair long-calling.

Oystercatcher.

Returning along the promenade I watch five House Martins collecting mud.

House Martins collecting mud from the Humber mudflats.

House Martin with a beakful of mud.

Some occupied nests at Victoria Dock village.

Black-headed Gull.

Wonky leg Curlew, a male.

A Dunnock fledgling.

A Black-headed gull young of the year.

Pied wagtail by Hull College with food.

Stock Dove on the Guildhall.