Urban birding at Hull: Sculcoates week 51

A gloomy, mild day with no wind. The last walk around the patch this year. On the way via Endeavour I notice more Greenfinches than usual. A Woodpigeon balances on thin branches trying to reach the berries of a small rowan.

The Beverley and Barmston Drain.

Just by the allotments, a mixed flock of Linnets (top shot) and Greenfinches. Linnets have been scarce this year in the patch.

Linnet.

Greenfinch.

Mixed flock of Linnets and Greenfinches.

 I count 10 Linnets, which is a record for the site. It's two hours past high tide. The gulls are bathing in good numbers. I count three Great Black-backed Gulls, but more arrive one after the other until there are 6 adults and a juvenile, enthusiastically bathing. I'm starting to believe that the Great Black-backed Gulls have come this year and weren't there last year. After their bath, they fly to the roof of an industrial warehouse at the other side of the river, out of the way. Two Cormorants are sitting in their usual floodlight and mast.

Juvenile Great Black-backed Gull. It's head and bill looked massive.

Six visible Great Black-backed Gulls.

Two Great Black-backed Gulls.

Urban birding at Hull: Sculcoates week 50 and December River Hull Webs

A dull dark morning turning into drizzle later. I did the usual route around the patch and ended at Fountain Road, where I walked along the drain. Flocks of Goldfinches were feeding on birches around the area. I walked around the North Sculcoates Cemetery and two birds were feeding also on a birch. I checked with the binoculars, Redpolls! I had this species in my wish list for the Hull year list so it's nice to get it with a couple of weeks to spare. The Redpolls were flighty, but kept returning to the birch. I walked around to get a (marginally) better angle for the light and managed some record shots. Unfortunately they didn't stay very long. This species brings the species list in the patch this year to 67 and the Hull species year list to 108.

A pair of Bullfinches were also at the cemetery.

Three Stock Doves atop the old Sculcoates School building sorting a territorial dispute.

One of two Cormorants posing on the mast of a barge.

The bathing spot was busy early on. I scanned the flock, mostly made of Herring Gull young of the year. There were also two adult Great Black-backed Gulls and a 4th year one.

Four Redshank were scattered along the river. One flew off calling and was joined by another, who came back to its spot. I wonder if this escorting passing individuals is a type of territorial behaviour.

One of the GBBGs was trying very hard to eat a flounder. Flouder is too wide to be swallowed whole, which is the usual technique in gulls. It is too stiff and wide. The gull tried pecking it and  shaking it.

As I was taking a video of the GBBG, something spooked the gulls and, like a wave, all took off. The GBBG carried it's flounder in its bill. I scanned the sky, looking for a raptor. A female Sparrowhawk was on the hunt, diving a couple of times, maybe after Feral Pigeons. I was surprised the gulls reacted so strongly. The two Cormorants and the Redshank didn't fly off. A Grey Wagtail flew from the puddles at Transwaste.

 After this, a few gulls settled back in the wash area, but not many, so I carried along Wilcolmlee and then by Fountain Road to the drain. I saw the ripples of a Little Grebe diving in the middle of the drain, but it also saw me and moved quickly to the side vegetation, where I found it, watching me nervously. 

Little Grebe.

I could hear a Song Thrush singing, the first of the year. It was on a poplar by the drain.

After almost three hours on the patch, the last one in the drizzle, I headed home for lunch.The best thing on the way was a Mistle Thrush on the Endeavour lawns. Mistle Thrush has been scarce on the patch, maybe because I not normally walk on this southernmost edge of it. There are plenty of berries, mainly Rowan, large trees and grassy areas here, so it looks like the place could hold a pair.

We've been away in the weekend, where the core Webs for the River Hull was scheduled, so I headed to Scott Street bridge in the afternoon, an hour before high tide. It didn't stop drizzling, but at least it was quite mild. The alarm starts ringing as I step on North Bridge. I rush to the other side to watch the bridge lift to let a barge pass. I think it is always the same barge.

Drypool bridge lifting.

As the bridge lifts, I realise that there is a chance the barge will flush the Redshank from their roost. A Grey Wagtail flies from my bank, I would have missed it if not for the barge. The boardwalk from Drypool Bridge is still closed, but the Redshank roost site is visible from the bridge. Fortunately, as I get to the bridge, I see there are 8 Redshank on the Roost. 

I walk by High Street, noticing this lovely tile with Sperm Whales by the Hull and East Riding Museum.

There is some exposed mud and I find four scattered Redshank between the roost and the Deep.

Three Moorhens are on the river too. 

The drizzle is relentless, and I keep having to wipe my glasses every few minutes despite wearing a rain cap, the binoculars and camera are suffering too. I don't hang on. It's been a long day of walking, 18 km in total. I'm rewarded by the Med Gull at Princes Quay, who is moulting into its black head.

Mediterranean Gull on it's usual spot atop Princes Quay.

Urban birding at Hull: Sculcoates week 49 and walk upstream River Hull

 Another dull, dark day, the wind started light and then picked up in anticipation of storm Barra, but at least there wasn't rain. I started at dawn, which was at 8 am. At Sculcoates park I have a Great Spotted Woodpecker. I got to Wilmington bridge at high tide, a very high tide at 7.67 m. I found the Redshank roost, 11 of them, farther away on the river bank than usual, only visible from the side of the bridge near the river.

The Redshank roost.

A Magpie tail-flicking by the playing fields.

A flock of Redwing, flies over the drain, a year tick for the patch. I counted 46 on a different photo with the whole flock.

I walk north via Bankside. I scan the horizon towards the North, and I see a Peregrine carrying prey, followed by another! Both land high in a metal tower. They are distant, and the dull, dark day doesn't help with photos. But I'm pleased to see them, the second photo showing the huge difference in size between male (left) and female.

Peregrine eating pigeon.

A pair of Peregrines on the tower.

I cross Clough Road and walk along the river. There are some scattered Redshank, maybe 5 in total in the stretch of river from Stoneferry Bridges to the Oak Road wind turbine, but I don't see any roost.

A flock of 14 Linnet landed on an industrial roof.

Six Cormorants atop their usual pylon, I think this is the most I've seen there.

Redshank near Cargill mill.

This gives an idea of the numbers of Feral Pigeons on Cargill mill, the Peregrines have a steady supply.

I walk over the steps to take Stoneferry Road. A mixed gull flock is assembling on an industrial roof, with four Jackdaws walking about looking for food.

One of four Great Black-backed Gulls in the area today.

After returning via Wilmington Bridge I walked around the patch, visiting the Northern Cemetery and along the drain. The Mallards and Moorhens were busy feeding on duckweed. 

Mallard

Urban birding at Hull: Sculcoates week 48

An early walk to the patch. There are long sunny spells to start with but it is mild and no frost. As I cross Pearson Park, a skein of Pink-footed Geese flies over towards the south.

Pink-footed Geese.

Singing Robin.

First I walk through Sculcoates park, by the playing fields, along the drain and by the cycle path to reach the river. I've missed the high tide, it's two hours after high tide and there is quite a lot of mud exposed. Just two Redshank are visible from the river bank. A Cormorant lands on the water. I cross the Wilmington bridge and see a Peregrine flying high around the silo, then I lose it when it goes around and, despite scanning the building, I can't find it again until I spot it later atop the Reckitt chimney. 

Peregrine.

A pair of Carrion Crow lands on their nest and one of them starts tweaking and tiding branches.

A female Kestrel sitting in the same spot where there was a pair last week.

Two Great Black-backed Gulls on the industrial roof.

Bullfinch feeding on seedheads.

Drake Mallard.

A view of the drain form the pedestrian bridge of Abbey Way. It was busy with Moorhens today, with the peak count this year of 24.

I go into the Northern Cemetery. D. Longhorn is just finishing scything the workhouses burial area. He's got a new blade as his old one broke and seems quite pleased with the performance and lightness of the new one.

The South Sculcoates cemetery.

A snoozing Stock Dove by the drain.

A male Bullfinch piping from atop a tree.

This Sparrowhawk flew over the housing estate, followed by alarmed gulls, just as I finished my walk. Not bad as my first December visit with 33 bird species counted.