A walk to Willerby Carr in January

A walk along the Setting Dyke, Willerby Carr and Wood Lane, returning via Snuff Mill Lane. This is a good walk to bump up the bird year list. It has been very rainy lately and the Carrs and Ings are flooded, the Setting Dyke running gingerly. It was cold, but no wind or frost, which meant that the walk was quite muddy underfoot. 

A Goldfinch feeding on Ash keys.

Stock Dove, singing and displaying.

Two Lapwing chasing and pirouetting at Willerby Carr. 

The Willerby Carr and Derringham flood reservoir was as full as I've ever seen it. Some Mallard and a pair of Wigeon were on it.

Wigeon and Mallard.

Displaying Black-headed Gulls.

Teal and Wigeon on the flashes.

I counted 66 Lapwing roosting.

Pony grazing.

I scan the field margins with the binoculars and spot a fox. It looks most relaxed, scratching, rolling on the ground, running back and forth.

Red Fox.

Wood Lane is very muddy, but not flooded. Near the north paddocks a Roe Deer sitting on the field looks at me over her shoulder. It follows me with its gaze, but doesn't move. A wonderful encounter.

Roe Deer doe portrait.

I catch up with the local pair of Ruddy Shelduck, feeding on the flash south of the crematorium.

A Blackbird feeding on Ivy berries.

Sparrowhawk over the Avenues.

Walk to Willerby Carr and Wood Lane

A sunny, cool day with a light North Easterly wind. I head to Willerby Carr and Wood Lane via the Setting Dyke. I'm keen to see ancient woodland flowers at Wood Lane. I have no luck with Water Voles in the dyke.

Greenfinch singing from one of the mature oaks by the Setting Dyke.

The entrance to Children's Wood.

Willerby Carr Farm.

I meet a local naturalist at Wood Lane, and while we talk, a skein of Pink-footed Geese flies over north to their Icelandic breeding grounds. It feels late to see them migrating!

Pink-footed Geese.

Nor the best focus, but this is one of two Chiffchaffs with nest material seen at Wood Lane today.

Teal and horses. About 14 Teal still left on the flushes at the farm.

Wood Lane.

Bluebells at Wood Lane

Wood Anemone.

Wood Anemone.

Greater Stitchwort, widespread along the lane and in bloom now.

It is warm in the shelter of sun-facing hedges, and butterflies are out, with Speckled Wood, Peacock, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White and Brimstones seen, all but Small White in some numbers, particularly Brimstone. More Dark-edged bee flies that I can record too. The cool easterly breeze meant there was plenty of basking, even the usually elusive male Brimstones!

Comma.

Peacock.

Speckled Wood.

Small Tortoiseshell.

Brimstone.

Brimstone

Small White.

A cluster of 16 Spot Ladybirds becoming active, this is just one section of the cluster. I've only seen one before at Alkborough Flats, the species appears to be expanding north.

Dark-edged Bee fly on Blackthorn.

The alarm cries of a pair of Herring Gulls alerted me to this Buzzard, the only raptor of the day.

A walk to Willerby Carr

 

A sunny mild and still morning, after crossing the General and Western Cemetery, I head West along Spring Bank West, Willerby Road and Wold Road.

A Mistle Thrush sings from the top of a large Ash tree in the Western Cemetery.

At Willerby Road, a charm of Goldfinches were feeding on the bobble-like fruits of London planes. They often hold onto the stem or the fruit to hold it in place as they extract the seeds. Other Goldfinches were preening and singing in the sunshine.

This Carrion Crow looked very proud of itself, having got a large chunk of a fat ball.

A Little Egret near Haltemprice Farm.

The view of the fields of Willerby Carr Farm.

On the way back, via Children's wood, I was pleased to see the Setting Dyke running gingerly. After Country Road N, it looked wonderful with the coppery Oaks. The dyke virtually dried up the first week of August, after the drought and heat wave. It always amazes me to think that this little green corridor is in the middle of Hull.

The Setting Dyke by the train line.

A Red Admiral flies off from a fence by the dyke, but I don't manage to find it again.

A walk around the Setting Dike, Willerby Carrs, Wood Lane and Snuff Mill Lane in June

 I did the same walk I did in April. The weather was mild, with sunny spells and showers. 

The Setting Dyke is barely flowing, the water very low. There are lots of Three-spined Sticklebacks, but no Little Egrets today.

By the Bricknell playing fields two crows rattle atop a tree, one looking up. I look up, a Peregrine! It soars on stiff wings until it disappears from view.

Peregrine.

Starling feeding on cherries.

herring gull by its nest, the chick just visible behind the pepper pots.

Butterflies

One of the best things about the day are the good numbers of butterflies. I do several lists from the County Road North to Snuff Mill Lane. Meadow Browns are particularly plentiful.

Ringlet.

Small Skipper.

Large Skipper.

Small Tortoiseshell.

Meadow Brown.

Comma.

The star of the day, a Marbled White. I see it first feeding on a creeping thistle, but lose it. Finally I spot it as it basks and allows me to take some close shots. This is the 1st marbled white I see in the Hull area.

Speckled Wood.

Large White.

As I'm very entertained with the butterflies, I fail to see a very dark storm cloud coming. It rains all the way back home, but I'm very pleased with the day's sightings.

 A Buzzard hovers, then drops to catch something. I can't see what it is carrying but it has something in its talons.