Urban birds at Hull. 59. Shoveler

A small dabbling duck with a massive, spatula-shaped bill. It is a specialist feeder: the inside of the bill bill is furnished with comb-like sieves, which the bird uses to filter water and extract small microscopic animals and algae. It keeps the head low over the water, bill in, or up-ending. Often a group will filter-feed together, swimming round and round as pin-wheels, stirring the sediment in a spot in good locations. Both sexes have a blue and green speculum and females and males in eclipse (non-breeding season) have similar colour patterns to female mallard, but the bill is diagnostic. Drakes in breeding plumage are stunning birds, with a black bill and green iridescent head and yellow eye, white chest with brick-red bellies, and black, iridescent back with white stripes. The tail is white. The UK population swells in winter with arrivals from the continent.

22/11/22. East Park.

Status and distribution in Hull

The Shoveler is a scarce wintering duck in Hull, found between August and April. The best locations are the Bransholme Reservoir, where a group can often be seen outside the breeding season and East Park Lake, where a pair or two will also winter. Occasionally they have been recorded in Oak Road Lake and the Willerby Carrs area. Flocks can be seen during passage in the Humber. There is an old breeding record at Salt End in 1984 reported by R.K. Broughton.

East Park. 26 December 2025.

Shoveler pair feeding. East Park 5/2/22.

Conservation and management

The Shoveler is Amber listed due to the significant wintering population in the UK population (>20%). The breeding population is quite small about 1200 pairs, mainly at Cambridgeshire, East Anglia and Yorkshire, and is monitored by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. 

A female Shoveler at East Park.

More information

Bird facts BTO. Shoveler.

Broughton, R.K. 2002. Birds of the Hull Area.

December WeBS count at the River Hull and Victoria Dock

 I missed the core count survey date for the December WeBS, as I was away. I wanted to fit an alternative date in December and this proved tricky, as many high tides were in darkness. Tuesday's high tide was just before dawn, at 8:08, so I went for that. It was cloudy,  and there is just enough light to see the birds, although very dark for photos. I flushed a Rock Pipit from the Myton Bridge saltmarsh, which was the highlight of the survey itself. I think it has been there for a few weeks as I also flushed a pipit in my last visit. After the visit, I walked to the end of Corinthians way. I spotted a Dunlin on the sea wall, but I was too close (top shot) and it flew, with a few others and a Ringed Plover, both new species for the year (number 105 and 106). At the Half-tide basin there is a Black Redstart, my second in Hull this year, and two Rock Pipits, what a day! With only a few days left for the year, this might well be the final tally.

Black Redstart.

Black Redstart.

Rock Pipit in the gloom.

Black Redstart.

Curlew at Half Tide basin.

A young Mute Swan at the Half tide basin.

A flotilla of Tufted Ducks.

Curlew.

Redshank.

Pied Wagtail on the tideline.

Curlew.

A winter walk to Setting Dyke, Willerby Carr and Wood Lane

A mild, but sunny December day, I head along the Setting Dyke to Willerby Carr and Wood Lane, hoping to catch up with my Hull bogey bird this year, Snipe. The Setting Dyke carries some water, its levels recovered since the summer drought. As I walk out of Children's Wood a Green Woodpecked yaffles. It is quite close and I find it, sitting on a large poplar, calling every now and then. What a stunning bird the Green Woodpecker is. It is a very muddy walk and wellies are a necessity. I make my way to Southwood Garden Centre for a coffee and then return via Haltemprice Priory.

Collared Dove.

Coal Tit.

This pair of crows landed right next to the pair of Herring Gulls and started cawing. The gulls did a duet of weak alarm calls, looking a bit puzzled.

A flock of Siskins fed on the alders at Birsall Avenue. Here a female.

Male Siskin.

At the Derringham flood scheme, a Little Egret sat by the water.

Kestrel.

The view across Willerby Carr Farm.

A few Wigeon were at the scrape. A Water Rail calls from a ditch just by the path.

Teal.

Grey Heron.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Roe Deer.

A Grey Squirrel feeding on bark.

Robin.

  A couple of Fieldfare on the hedges and a pair of Stonechats on the priory grounds are highlights.

Fieldfare.

Stonechat.

Greylag.

Preening Carrion Crows.

Wilberforce Wood and Noddle Hill in November

A mild morning with sunny spells turning into showers later, I took the 5 bus to Kingswood ASDA. Wilberforce Wood was wet and muddy, I was glad I was wearing wellies. The temporary pond was quite full, the water muddy. As I was getting to Foredyke Green a 15-20 strong flock of Redpolls flew overhead. I found them on a group of alders and birch, and they were feeding on both trees (top shot). I have heard and seen Redpolls flying overhead this autumn, but this is the first flock I see feeding. I spent some time watching them before carrying on.

Magpie.

Wilberforce Wood pond.

Once at Noddle Hill, I walk along Foredyke Stream first. Many Redwing and Blackbirds, and a single Fieldfare. A large flock of Lapwing, about 200, was flying in the distance over the solar panel field. A Buzzard sat on the bank of the stream. As it left it was mercilessly chased by crows. The Lapwings have landed by the floods in the field by the solar panels, they are very camouflaged on the recently ploughed dark soil.

Buzzard.

Lapwing.

The Holderness Drain is running very high, the highest I've seen it. I flush a Little Egret, which settles on a field opposite. A Fieldfare is on a hawthorn and stays there while I take its photo. There is a large Linnet flock, starlings and many Yellowhammers.

Little Egret in flight.

Fieldfare.

Little Egret.

Yellowhammer. Plenty about on the eastern side of the reserve.

Reed Bunting.

Roe Deer.

Kestrel.

Common Gull.

Greylag and Cormorant.

A Cormorant at the lake, its right wing tangled up on fishing gear. 

As I started back towards the bus stop, a rainbow announced the impending rain.