Urban River Hull WeBS and Albert Dock

 

The high tide was at 8:05, a very high 7.66m spring tide. I left the house in darkness for Street Scott bridge for the last WeBS count of January. The first stretch of counting was not very auspicious, with just four overflying Cormorants of note. In the second stretch, I spotted the Redshank roost by the Trinity Buoy house, 19 of them. There were another two feeding by the tidal barrier, and 5 more with 3 Dunlin by the Deep. The Curlew was at the front of the Deep. Two Moorhens and a few Mallards were also in the River. I decided to walk to the Half-tide Basin to check how much saltmarsh was exposed in the tide. I was surprised to see there was some exposed in the outer basin and some lightly flooded area that was being used by two Mallard and a Redshank. Two roosting Dunlin left shortly after.

In the basin itself, a pair of Swans were upending. There was some ice in the centre. A Cormorant was diving and three Coots were having an argument.

On a whim and after a hot drink, I decided to check if the lock was closed at Albert Basin. On the way I found a line of Black-headed gulls at Victoria Pier. One was ringed, an old friend. 

Two Mallard feeding at the Victoria Dock dry dock by the river.

Sunrise.

19 Redshanks roosting by the Trinity Buoy house.

Five Redshanks with three Dunlin.

Curlew by The Deep.

Dunlin at the Half-tide outer basin.

Redshank.

Redshank and Mallard.

I presumed the same pair of Mute Swans that frequents the Half-tide Basin has returned.

Ringed Black-headed Gull 2FVH, ringed in a landfill site in Essex as an adult in Dec 2014, so it must be at least 10 year old. I have previously seen it at Oak Road Lake in 2022 and it has also been reported at the Marina in 2019. This spring it was observed in Riga (Latvia).

The group of Black-headed Gulls with 2FVH.

The lock was closed, meaning I could cross to Albert Dock. By the footpath in the old groynes area, I spot a bird, a Rock Pipit! It fed for a while amongst the short vegetation growing amongst the gravel.

Rock Pipit, a new bird for the year.

Stock Dove.

Another old friend. The ringed Mediterranean Gull that often sits atop Princes Quay was today atop the Holiday Inn by the marina. It takes me to 62 birds for my Local Big Year.

Wild swan chase

A family of Bewick's Swans, two adults and two young, have been roosting at North Cave Wetlands since the 4th of December, with a large flock of Whooper Swans. Bewick's swans migrate from their breeding grounds in the Northern Siberian tundra to winter in the UK and other NW European countries. They are an amber listed species, with a strong decline in the UK wintering population since the 1990s, now amounting to about 4000 individuals. Although I had visited the roost a week ago, I missed the Bewick's, which would be a lifer for me. Today, it was an early start to try and catch up with my last wild UK swan species as the swans usually depart before sunrise to their feeding areas.

I got to the reserve at 7:15, still pitch dark. The Bewick's seem to have favoured to roost at Island Lake in the last few days, so I headed that way, walking fast towards turret hide. When I got to the hide, Fozzy was there, waiting for the light to be good enough to distinguish the swans. After some squinting it became apparent that the Bewick's were at the far end of the lake, their size noticeably smaller. There were 43 Whoopers, arranged in discrete family groups. The only Mute Swan present served as a good comparison of the three UK swan species. At some point two Greylags on an island were near the Bewick's, and it was amazing to realise that both species are of similar size.

Record shot of the Bewick family.

The Whooper families were starting to become itchy, with much head bobbing and vocalising as they prepared to take off. Their arrangement reminded me of a busy airport runway, with planes in a queue ready to leave. We watched as two flocks left Reedbed Lake, and soon they were followed by the first departing Whoopers from Island Lake. Turret Hide offered a high vantage point, allowing from great views of the spectacle that was the departure of each group of swans. As they flapped their wings and paddled with their feet on the water, each swan family left parallel trails on the water, then the swans taking off and gaining hight as they flew near the hide. The increasing light made the Bewick's a bit easier to distinguish, but conditions for photography were still borderline before dawn. It was a clear day with little wind, ideal flight conditions for swans, so not very surprising that they left quite early, at 7:43, flying just in front of the hide, before turning west.

Three swan species on Island Lake, the Bewick's family on the left, Whoopers on the centre and mute Swan towards the back right.

My last poor photo of the Bewick's before they left the roost.

The last group of Whooper's to depart.

Redwing.

A view from Crosslands hide.

I did a circular walk around the reserve. Many Redwing and a flock of Siskin, a wisp of five Snipe over and half a dozen Curlew on North Field were the highlights. I wanted to see the swans feeding, and hopefully try to see the Bewick's in better light, so it was time for a road trip. 

The swans had been seen feeding during the day in stubbles around the Bursea area, about 5 km from North Cave Wetlands. After driving around the narrow lanes in the area, not finding any swans, I decided to head back via Tollingham, and on a field, by the long shadow of a wind turbine, I spotted the large swan flock. The entrance to the turbine's service road made for a convenient parking spot, out of the way of lane traffic, and distant enough from the swans that they wouldn't be disturbed. I lowered my window and used the car as a hide. Some of the swans eyed me, but they carried on doing what they were doing. A slow scan revealed that there were no Bewick's amongst the 76 Whoopers visible. I spent some time watching the swans, there were occasional squabbles, but they were mostly relaxed, loafing or feeding, occasionally vocalising. Black-headed Gulls, Common Gulls and Starlings had joined them in a flooded part of the stubbles. A Meadow Pipit flew to a hedgerow and a Skylark chirped overhead. 

View of some of the herd of Whoopers.

The herd is clearly made of separate families, the young, recognised by their brownish feathers, keeping close to their parents. 

Feeding and resting Whoopers.

Then, four swans flew low towards me, the Bewick's! They carried on, East, and I managed a few flight shots.

Oncoming Bewick's

Fly over

Whooper resting with one leg up.

After about 20 minutes, the Bewick's family returned, and landed towards the left of the field. Unfortunately they were mostly obscured, I only managed to photograph their heads over the stubble. Still, I was quite pleased to catch up with them, a lifer for the end of the year is not bad!

Bewick's landing.

Record shot of two of the Bewick's.

Migrants Way. Stage 2. Kilnsea to Easington

 A wonderfully calm day, sunny to start with then cloudier with sunny spells, but mild and no rain. A huge flock of starlings fly over the car as we get into the car park. We arrived at the Discovery Centre when a flock of over 20 Jackdaws and some Rooks flew over south. Meadow Pipits displayed around the car park, Skylarks singing. We walked on the clifftop to Beacon Lane. A Reed Bunting is busy hawking for midges or gnats - I had never seen them catching insects- while a Linnet sings.

Reed Bunting. 

Linnet.

After Beacon Lane we move onto the beach, where we walk all the way to Easington, with short stops along the way to watch Beacon Ponds. The tide is high, but falling. The cliffs are almost non existent alongside Beacon Lagoons, with dunes on the upper beach level. At some points the high tide has reached the lagoons. Behind the lagoons, the low lying land is protected with New Bank and Long Bank. The dunes have Marram grass, with patches of Sea Buckthorn in places. There won't be dunes on the walk until Wilsthorpe, south of Bridlington.

A patch of stabilised dunes with sea buckthorn.

Looking North towards Easington.

Dunes and new sand at the top of the beach.

A patch of reedbed at the beach.

Beacon Lagoons Nature Reserve
A series of saline lagoons, fringed by sand dunes and shingle on the seaward side, and by the New Bank on the landward side and with some coastal marsh. In early Ordnance Survey maps the site is marked with the word ‘saltings’ so it is likely that at least temporary salt water lagoons have existed south of Easington for over 100 years.  The modern lagoons were created as borrow pits to strengthen long bank in the late 1970s. They have been also called Easington Lagoons or Beacon Ponds. The area was bought in 1991 by the South Holderness Countryside Society. This is the only place in Yorkshire where Little Terns breed, and therefore is protected as a SSSI and an Area of Special Protection between 1st April and 31st August. The colony is wardened by the Spurn Bird Observatory during the breeding season, with a low electric fence that defends the ground nesting birds from land predators and disturbance from beach users. Ringed Plover, Avocet and Oystercatchers also breed. The Little Tern colony was very successful last year, with 39 chicks fledged by 25 pairs. Common and Sandwich terns are also regular in the reserve. Beacon Ponds is also an important roosting site for migratory waders from July to September, as they move from the Humber at high tide. Brent Geese, grebes and ducks use it in the winter. Wintering Snow Bunting and Shore Lark are also notable.

Roosting Oystercatcher, Ringed Plovers and Dunlin at Beacon Lagoons.

Ringed Plovers have a disruptive coloration that makes them almost disappear when they are on shingle.

Two Common Gulls in summer plumage rest on the beach.

We arrive to Seaside Lane at Easington. Some fishermen at the beach. On the cliff by the caravan park, a wonderful patch of Colt's Foot, with male mining bees (Andrena nigroaenea, thank you to Steven Falk for help with ID) awaiting a sunny spell.

 

A close up of mining bee to ID.

The base of the cliff in this area appears sheltered from the sea, with some Marram Grass and other plants growing on the sand. The reason becomes apparent when we reach the public footpath at the end of Vicar's Lane: the sea wall with a rock revetment protecting the Easington Gas terminal. Vicar's Lane makes for a pleasant walk. Many birds are singing, including Skylark, Song Thrush, Greenfinch and Chaffinch.

Song Thrush.

Greenfinch singing.

It is almost midday. We walk back along the road on Easington straight. Four Roe Deer feed by a ditch. 

We get to Kilnsea Wetlands hide for lunch.

Kilnsea Wetlands
A reserve managed by the YWT since 2012, built to compensate for erosion and encroachment of Beacon Lagoons. It has quickly become established as one of the highlights of a visit to the Spurn Area. It includes coastal grassland, wetlands, wet meadows, scrapes, managed with sheep; lagoons and small scrapes. There are currently two hides, the main one overlooks the main wetland, the other one sits opposite long bank marsh. As we are settling in the hide we hear Brent Geese flying over and the flock settles on the water for a few minutes, in front of the hide washing. Then they start calling a few times and the whole flock leaves towards the Humber. Four Whooper Swans are about, and plenty of ducks.

A Curlew with plastic rings. Note to self: Must report it.

Whooper Swans.

Brent Goose.

After lunch we are back on the road and along Canal Bank. I finally have a good luck and identify a Marsh Harrier that we've been seeing all morning as it slowly moved south along the peninsula.

A view towards the lighthouse, with Brent Goose.

Marsh Harrier flying south.

Featured bird: Avocet

Today one pair of Avocets was present at Beacon Lagoons and another at Kilnsea Wetlands. This Amber listed wader, is mainly a summer visitor in the area, although they can return quite early. There is a stablished breeding colony at Kilnsea Wetlands and Beacon Ponds. 

Walk information
13.3 km, circular. Start: YWT Discovery Centre TA416154. Finish at Easington Vicar’s Ln Road. Parking, Pay and Display, free to YWT members, just display your membership card. Toilets available at the Discovery centre and at the Blue Bell car park.