It was coincidentally high tide when I got to Wilmington bridge this morning, and although I didn't set to do a high roost Redshank count, I ended up doing it. I count the Redshank roost in Hull old town monthly as part of the Wetland Bird Survey, which was 21 individuals earlier in the month, but the River Hull upstream is not counted. I had planned a walk upstream on the East bank of the river, by the Wilberforce Way.
Nine Redshank at their high tide roost near Wilmington Bridge.
The roost near Cargill is split with two groups of three birds each, one these and the other on the top shot. I took no photos of the roost north of Stoneferry Bridges as the three birds were flushed from the river flood wall.
A Common Gull take off from its industrial unit roof roost.
Black-headed Gulls at roost.
The river Hull by Oak Road lake, no Redshanks north of this stretch.
Blackthorn berries, aka sloes, plentiful in the bushes.
Rabbit near Ennerdale Leisure centre.
I returned via Green Lane. The Mistletoe is looking good.
A large clump of Mistletoe on a poplar at Oak Road Playing fields.
Redwing high on a poplar with a Woodpigeon.
The widow Mute Swan at Oak Road came to see if I had any food.
It took me a while to process what bird was this! A Little Grebe out of the water at Oak Road Lake.
Two Reed Buntings were feeding on the reedbeds on Oak Road Lake.
A cloudy day, there were forecasts of rain later in the morning, so I took an early walk to the patch. Swifts and House Martins flying above. It is two hours away from low tide when I get to the river. I'm excited to see two Redshank, already back from their breeding grounds! They've just been away for 15 weeks. The Redshank by Wilmington bridge is feeding on the mud and gets a worm, immediately running to the water to rinse the mud of it before eating it.
Redshank with worm.
A Moorhen is also feeding by Wilmington bridge
The feral pigeons of Wilmington Bridge have a new batch of young.
I move to the Sculcoates cemeteries. At the south cemetery, there are two vocal Great Tits. One poses for a photo.
There are at least two Blackcap, but they don't like posing, so I content myself with this shot of one behind branches.
David L. has started scything the meadows at the North Cemetery and piling the hay on a corner. He said he will do half an hour at a time and it will take him until November to have it all cut.
There are three Migrant Hawkers actively foraging despite the cloudy weather. A few butterflies are active too: Green-veined white, Gatekeeper and Speckled Wood.
As I walk back by Temple street, two Common Gulls, also freshly returned, drink from a puddle.
Redshanks are a regular winter visitor within the limits of the city of Hull, from mid September to mid April. They are distinctive birds, grey-brown above, and white below, with a white eye ring and bright red or orange legs and bill base, a long, straight bill and a characteristic broad white wing bar. They are quite vocal waders, especially when assembling to roost and when disturbed.
Around 3000 Redshanks winter on the mudflats of the Humber Estuary, a population of international importance. In smaller numbers, they can be found along the river Hull. Here, despite their wariness, they are more used to people walking on the riverbank, and they can be quite approachable.
One of the easiest spots to watch Redshanks is by the river at the Museums Quarter, especially at low tide, where I took these photos and videos. They seem oblivious to the heavy traffic noise of the A63, which crosses the river nearby.
The exposed banks of the river Hull by the museums quarter. The A63 and tidal barrier in the background.
Today I walked to the mouth of the River Hull almost at low tide. Five Redshanks were feeding scattered along the exposed shore of the river and docks. Occasionally one will fly on with much alarm calling, or individuals might have a dispute on who owns a patch of mud. If slightly nervous, they will stand quite upright and sharply bob their body up-and-down.
Finding food
Redshanks often feed just by the waters edge, walking in a steady, determined way, occasionally stopping to probe the mud with their bills. They feed on a range of tiny invertebrates, such as mud shrimps, small snails and clams and worms, and small fish.
A Redshank feeding on the river, probing the mud for invertebrates.
When the bill is completely inserted in the mud, the Redshank closes its eyes for protection.
Redshank on habitat.
Redshank bathing.
Roosting together
At high tide, Redshanks become more sociable and they roost in a group in a favoured, sheltered and undisturbed spot.
Eight of a group of 23 Redshank roosting at the back of the former Trinity House Buoy Shed building, 6/10/2020.
A roost of 13 Redshank at high tide with a Black-headed gull by the old mooring of the Arctic Corsair. 20/01/2020.
A flock of Dunlin a few Redshank and a Turnstone on the flood defence of Albert Dock, 5/2/2018.
Where do Hull Redshanks breed?
There are a few old records of Redshanks breeding on flooded fields at Bransholme and land by the docks at Saltend, but most Redshank will depart to more suitable habitats in the spring to breed. Ringing data indicates many Redshanks around the Humber breed in Iceland, together with local birds breeding around the UK. Individuals are site faithful and they will migrate repeatedly to particular patches.
Redshanks are a bird of conservation concern
Redshank are regarded as AMBER in the Birds of Conservation Concern list due to recent breeding and wintering population declines, and the fact that the UK holds an important non-breeding population. Management of the wintering population in the Hull area should include maintaining or providing suitable, undisturbed roosting sites along the river banks and Humber flood defences. Redshank needs for available mud at low tide should be taken into account in any infrastructure projects that could increase disturbance and or modify availability of the mudflats of the Humber or the River Hull.
