December WeBS count at the River Hull and Victoria Dock

 I missed the core count survey date for the December WeBS, as I was away. I wanted to fit an alternative date in December and this proved tricky, as many high tides were in darkness. Tuesday's high tide was just before dawn, at 8:08, so I went for that. It was cloudy,  and there is just enough light to see the birds, although very dark for photos. I flushed a Rock Pipit from the Myton Bridge saltmarsh, which was the highlight of the survey itself. I think it has been there for a few weeks as I also flushed a pipit in my last visit. After the visit, I walked to the end of Corinthians way. I spotted a Dunlin on the sea wall, but I was too close (top shot) and it flew, with a few others and a Ringed Plover, both new species for the year (number 105 and 106). At the Half-tide basin there is a Black Redstart, my second in Hull this year, and two Rock Pipits, what a day! With only a few days left for the year, this might well be the final tally.

Black Redstart.

Black Redstart.

Rock Pipit in the gloom.

Black Redstart.

Curlew at Half Tide basin.

A young Mute Swan at the Half tide basin.

A flotilla of Tufted Ducks.

Curlew.

Redshank.

Pied Wagtail on the tideline.

Curlew.

A winter walk to Setting Dyke, Willerby Carr and Wood Lane

A mild, but sunny December day, I head along the Setting Dyke to Willerby Carr and Wood Lane, hoping to catch up with my Hull bogey bird this year, Snipe. The Setting Dyke carries some water, its levels recovered since the summer drought. As I walk out of Children's Wood a Green Woodpecked yaffles. It is quite close and I find it, sitting on a large poplar, calling every now and then. What a stunning bird the Green Woodpecker is. It is a very muddy walk and wellies are a necessity. I make my way to Southwood Garden Centre for a coffee and then return via Haltemprice Priory.

Collared Dove.

Coal Tit.

This pair of crows landed right next to the pair of Herring Gulls and started cawing. The gulls did a duet of weak alarm calls, looking a bit puzzled.

A flock of Siskins fed on the alders at Birsall Avenue. Here a female.

Male Siskin.

At the Derringham flood scheme, a Little Egret sat by the water.

Kestrel.

The view across Willerby Carr Farm.

A few Wigeon were at the scrape. A Water Rail calls from a ditch just by the path.

Teal.

Grey Heron.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Roe Deer.

A Grey Squirrel feeding on bark.

Robin.

  A couple of Fieldfare on the hedges and a pair of Stonechats on the priory grounds are highlights.

Fieldfare.

Stonechat.

Greylag.

Preening Carrion Crows.

A walk along the river Hull to Victoria Dock

A mild, gloomy and breezy morning, I walk towards Wilmington Bridge, then south along the urban river Hull to the Humber. At Barmston drain, a Grey Wagtail drops to the recently cut bank and starts feeding. It will be the first of three today. Near the river, a Kestrel hovers briefly. I pop at the car park at the end of Fountain Road. A young Moorhen is negotiating the mud along the river and a group of gulls is bathing, amongst them an adult Great Black-back Gull, the first in the patch this year.

Kestrel.

Great Black-backed Gull.

River Hull, looking south

The Great Black-backed Gull in flight.

Black-headed Gull.

Moorhen.

I carry on as close to the river as I can and have a stop at Chapman Street bridge. There are Redshanks above and below the bridge, and two Pied Wagtails. Good number of Redshanks by the Museums Quarter.

River Hull, looking north from Chapman St bridge.

Pied Wagtail.

Street Art.

River Hull shipyard.

Redshank by the Barmston Drain outfall.

A drake Mallard takes a bath.

Dunnock at Great Union Street.

A new shipwreck at the museums quarter.

The second Grey Wagtail.

Sea Aster.

I have a nice surprise at Plimson Way, where a female Teal is feeding. Then another, with a Tufted Duck and the Half-tide basin. The big reward comes at the end, at Corinthiams Way, where a Black-tailed Godwit (number 103 for the 100 species in Hull challenge) is feeding with the wonky legged Curlew, both finding plenty of ragworms and not visibly squabbling with each other. The godwit goes to wash ragworms in little puddles before swallowing them, just like the redshanks.

Teal at Plimsol Way.

Tufted Duck, half tide basin.

The third Grey Wagtail at the half-tide basin.

Black-tailed Godwit.

The wonky legged Curlew. 

Another curlew by the Deep.

Black-headed Gull.