A riverbank walk to Kingswood

 

The foghorns boomed from the Humber indicating the deep fog. I thought it would lift, but the fog lingered all morning, the sun looking behind a veil of clouds for some moments, but then more fog coming. I walked North along the River Hull from Oak Road, I thought I'd walk around Oak Road Lake on the way back, but I had to take the bus back, so no check on the swans.

Two Little Grebes, dived in the Beverley and Barmston drain at Beresford Avenue, looking south. The EA has been cutting trees growing by bridges, and there was a view north from the bridge, but no Little Grebes.

There is a flock of Siskins feeding on the Alders on the other bank of the river, but I'm  distracted by a male Blackcap, then a female, on the same birch, and I manage a record shot.

Female Blackcap.

I cross Sutton Bridge, there are only a few dog walkers on the riverbank.

There is nothing out of the ordinary at the Bransholme Reservoir, but Little Grebes are engaged in their trilling display in the reeds. There are some Teal and Shoveler. A Skein of Pink-footed Geese flies north, calling over the fog.

This Kestrel dropped from the trees catching something. When it flew away I saw a large worm dangling from its talons.

Rabbit.

Another Kestrel by the river.

Reed Bunting singing.

The Sun behind the fog, showing some prominent sunspots. 

A loose flock of Reed Buntings, some of the 7 in bushes by the riverbank.

Just one Skylark sung weakly, another flew over the river, what a difference the weather makes!

Matthew M had told me he saw a Stonechat last week on the fields north of Reich Carter Way. I was about to give up on it when I spotted it on the other bank, and that put an end to the walk.

The long grass, scrubby bank of the river makes a good wintering habitat for the Stonechat.

Stonechat.

A walk along the River Hull in April

 

A cool dry day with hazy sun and increasing wind. I take a long walk along the river Hull. I make a stop by the drain on the way and find a Water Vole straight away. I think it's the same individual I saw a week ago, with a scar on the right side of its nose.

A perfectly spherical water vole feeding on roots.

On the playing fields there is a congregation of 60 Carrion Crows. All quiet and not doing much. I find these crow meetings quite intriguing!

Just two Small Tortoiseshells this morning. Quite a difference with my walk in March!

Rabbits.

A Kestrel hovering over the river bank.

Kestrel.

Stopping for a rest.

The first Greylag goslings of the year. They went out of view (probably to be brooded) so I only got this record shot.

Two adult Mute Swans on the reservorir and this young one on the river

The lavender crow was foraging on the river bank near Beresford Playing Fields.

I couldn't believe when 3 hirundines flew over and all were House Martins. Usually it is the last species I see in the spring. A total of 45 species for the walk.

It was a good day for raptors too, with the 4 resident species seen: Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine

Sparrowhawk.

Peregrine calling with pigeon prey.

A walk to Kingswood by the River Hull via Oak Road Lake

A sunny, if muddy, walk along the River Hull. At midday it was lovely in the sun and I had a picnic on a fishing platform overlooking the river (above). I walked via Beverley Road to Oak Road playing field and had a foray to Oak Road Lake, The Mute Swan family was preening on the shore, still with 2 young. 

A close up of the cob Mute Swan at Oak Road.

The adult pair.

Tufted Duck, present at Oak Road Lake and the Roebank Reservoir.

Mallard and Redshank feeding on the River Hull banks.

A male Reed Bunting singing by the playing fields.

Great Tit singing.

Small groups of Siskin all round, the first species as I stepped out of the house, then by the playing fields and by Ennerdale. Here, a male stopped to sing atop an Alder.

At Ennerdale two Buzzards were about, flying low and being chased by Carrion Crows at times.

I made another stop was at Roebank Reservoir. These Cormorants were making some moves and calling. I've never seen cormorants displaying before. Some individuals are in full breeding plumage and the breeding season is coming up soon. Other than the cormorants the usual assemblage, with fewer ducks about, just some Shoveler, Tufted Ducks and Mallard. The Little Grebes were very vocal.

This Rook flew over by the Reservoir, my first Rook this year.

I had to cross the road at Reich Carter Way as the underpass was flooded. It rained a lot last night and there were floods everywhere, the river bank quite muddy and slippery.

Three Roe deer resting at the other side of the river.

These Lapwings were spread out on a tilled field with a new crop growing. At some point they flew up and moved on.

Nice to come across Little Egrets more regularly around Hull.

A distant shot of Grey Heron being mobbed by crow and then Black-headed Gull.

A specially good day for raptors, with 1 Kestrel, 3 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and a soaring Peregrine (which was also new for the year). A total of 47 bird species for the day, which is a great way of starting March.

Urban River Hull: Reich Carter Way to Wawne in winter

 

Another walk on my series of the River Hull within the city limits. My aim was to do each stretch on each season, so here is the winter stage for the stretch between Reich Carter Way and Wawne Ferry Road. It was misty but mild, and mid morning some sunny spells. I actually checked the Roebank reservoir before starting the walk proper. Unusual from previous visits was a Great Crested Grebe and a drake Pochard. There were fewer ducks than usual, no Shovelers or Teal.
 A male Kestrel watched the grassy bank from a tree.

Male Kestrel.

I scan the distant fields, hoping for a hare. No hares to be seen, but I'm pleased to find some roe deer, and more than happy to spot, amazingly, an adult pair of Peregrines, the male feeding on a kill, the larger female watching close by.

Three of the four Roe Deer on a field.

Peregrines, the male feeding on a kill, the female behind.

Passerines were few and far between, what a contrast to my spring walk here. A Song Thrush sits atop a tree by a farm. A flock of 10 Redwing kept circling around.

Song Thrush.

Two dog walkers let me know that they see two herons about, and a Cormorant, and a Barn Owl, which is nice to hear. I haven't had a Barn Owl at Hull this year. Just a few minutes later I come across the first heron, a juvenile, a bit later, three Cormorants assorted on posts and pylons.

Juvenile Grey Heron.

One of the three Cormorants.

A Rook takes off.

The River looking very serene as the tide flows. The young heron keeps flying in front of me. One of the times it lands on the bank and an adult heron immediately sees it off.

Feral Pigeons and wind vane on a barn.

The adult heron on the bank.

Moorhens on the river bank.

A duck flies downstream over the river. The contrasting white and dark plumage and orange legs point at drake Goosander, and I'm pleased to catch up with it later, fishing on the river Hull. My first Goosander on the river Hull within the city limits.

Drake Goosander.