Alkborough Flats with Hull Nats

A gloomy, windy and cold day, but at least we missed the rain. Six of us met at the bottom car park of Alkborough Flats and did a circular walk though the flats and then along the flood bank on the Trent. As we were about to enter the hide, a Raven flew high above us, my first of the site. Flocks of Lapwing and Golden Plover wheeled constantly on the horizon, flushed by the numerous Marsh Harriers on site. We counted 6 flying together, maybe assembling to roost. The tide was high and there were plenty of ducks on the main pool in front of the hide, Shovelers, Gadwall, Tufted Ducks and a pair of Pintail.

Raven.

Shoveler.

Tufted Ducks.

Gadwall.

Pintail.

Lapwing.

Male Marsh Harrier.

Golden Plover.

We carried on and waded on the flooded stretch of path, my wellies just high enough to keep my socks dry. Then we have lunch out in the Trent hide. It's been a while since I've had lunch in a hide and I wish I brought a thermos with a hot drink. A male Kestrel appears to follow us along the flood bank, staying just ahead and dropping in several occasions. Several Mute Swans fly over. We are very exposed and the wind is relentless, but we are compensated by a large flock of Whoopers on the Trent (top shot and below), they are distant but I count between 40 and 50 with a small group of Mute Swans. Little else of interest on the way back to the car park. A hot chocolate at The Paddocks cafe put a lovely end of a challenging day.

Kestrel.

Marsh Harrier.

Kestrel.

Shelduck.

Whooper Swans.

A group of Whooper Swans with several juveniles.

Mute Swan.

Urban birds at Hull. 60 Coal Tit

 

The Coal Tit is less widely known than its more common relatives, the Blue Tit and Great Tit. It is a smaller bird than those, with a black cap, large white cheeks and a white band at the back of the head. Unlike Marsh and Willow Tits, which are extremely rare birds in Hull, the bib under the bill is large and triangular. The chest is creamy brown, the back and wings are grey and two white wing bands are clear. The species has an affinity for conifers, dexterously extracting seeds from cones of spruce, pine and other species, and small insects and spiders from between needles at the end of branches. Coal Tits will also frequent parks and gardens, where they form mixed winter flocks with Long Tailed tits, Blue and Great Tits and Goldcrests. Coal Tits are hoarders: they cache food in different locations around the area to retrieve later. This explains how, when visiting gardens, they dart to and from garden feeders, as they don't stop to feed like other birds do, but just cache the seeds, particularly sunflower seeds. Coal Tits sing year round, and they can be very vocal in the winter. Their song is similar to the great tit, but with a higher pitch and a more squeaky tone.

18 March 2025. Ella Street.

Coal Tit singing. East Park, 24 March 2025.

Feeding on pine cones. Western Cemetery, 23 April 2023.

Distribution and status in Hull. Never common, but a widespread resident species in Hull. It is more widespread, and probably more noticeable in the winter months. Resident numbers might be increased by immigrants from the continent in 'irruption' years. It breeds in small numbers in Hull, particularly in large gardens and parks. Judging from the impression of a very rare bird before 2000, it is likely this species has increased in Hull in recent decades.

Coal Tit fledgling. University of Hull. 29 May 2012.

Coal Tit on garden feeder. 9 March 2012.

Conservation and management. Unlike the other smaller tits, the Willow and Marsh Tit, the Coal Tit is not a bird of conservation concern, it is Green Listed. Widespread conifer planting, both for timber and also in gardens in areas with no native conifers probably have helped this species, which is now stable in numbers. It is subordinate to both Blue and Great Tit, and probably outcompeted from nest boxes.

More Information

Broughton, R.K. 2002. Birds of the Hull area.

(top shot 15 December 2025)

A frosty walk on the urban Humber

Another freezing January day. I leave the house around 8:30 with -5 oC. There are still patches of snow on the ground, but it has been dry, so not much ice. There is light cloud with brief sunny spells becoming windier later. A small flock of Siskins is feeding in the Italian Alders in my street. I meander along the green spaces towards town and I'm rewarded with Coal Tits singing and a small group of Redpolls feeding on the mossy branches of a sycamore, exactly how the Goldfinches do. At Princes Quay, a Cormorant sits on the lights platform. The marina has a light cover of ice, the first time I see this. In the entrance of the Marina the tide is now ebbing and a Dunlin does a couple of passes before briefly settling on the edge of the water. I carry on around the mouth of the river Hull, and then along the Humber along Victoria Dock. 

Siskin.

Siskin.

Coal Tit singing and feeding on pine tree.

Redpoll feeding on mosses.

Cormorant on Princes Quay.

The frozen Marina.

The yellow flagged Redshank, loyal to Myton Bridge.

Curlew.

At the Half tide basin, 16 Dunlin and two Ringed Plovers feed on the exposed mud. No sign of the Black Redstart or Rock Pipits of a couple of weeks, but in the freshwater basin the fountain has kept open water, where a young Mute Swan, Coots, Mallards and 13 Tufted Ducks are feeding. Many Black-headed Gulls and a few Common Gulls too.

Ringed Plover with worm.

Dunlin.

Redshank.

Dunlin runnning.

Ringed Plover.

Dunlin.

Four Mallards and a Coot were on the Humber foreshore.

AJY was on its usual spot.The flag seemed to bother it and it kept shaking its leg.

A surprise Black-tailed Godwit at the Siemens mud.

Immature Great Black-backed Gull at the Siemens shore.

Pied Wagtail.

Turning to head back the wind is strenthening and the cold is cutting. I make my way to The Deep. A Kestrel is hunting nearby. A cacophony of Herring Gulls, flying over the river calls my attention. I look for raptors and see none, then I look to the river and spot a seal! It is a Common Seal, swimming back and forth, up and down, while the Mallards leave the water and the Curlew flies over Scale Lane Bridge, alarm calling. I watch and photograph the seal, my first urban seal in Hull. The seal appears to look for a place to haul itself out of the water (top shot) but is not happy with the steep and slippery mud of the river Hull. I leave it to it and make my way to Waterstones for a hot coffee.

A view of The Deep.

Kestrel.

Common Seal.

Common Seal.

The Mallards move away from the water as the seal approaches.