February floods at Pearson Park

Pearson Park at Hull is my local birding patch. I make a point of walking around the park on my way to work and I regularly visit it on weekends. I also do the BTO Wetland Bird Survey, which involves a monthly visit and a census of all wetland birds in and around the pond. I don't often blog about visiting it, but last autumn and this winter it has been very, very rainy and the park is pretty flooded, with large expanses of water on the grassy areas, it somehow has departed from normality.  This winter has been also unusually mild, before the new year there was a couple of days when the pond froze, but that's it. On top of this, the park is undergoing a refurbishment, and there is resurfacing going about on paths and around the pond plus the renovation of the conservatory, a new music stands and kerb works. There is a lot of heavy machinery around, and a fair amount of drilling, sometimes at several places at the same time. I was worried that these would cause some serious impact on the birds of the park, especially the wetland birds, as the pond is surrounded by works.
Despite the chaos I've been surprised by how the birds have really taking it on their stride. The pools formed by the rain actually have offered them a safe haven from dogs and people. Geese are spending a lot of time by the pools, and have abandoned the pond. Gulls have also relocated there, and have been enjoying the worm bonanza. There has been a regular Grey Wagtail about in the last week and even a Pied Wagtail which is a rarity in the park. Black-headed Gulls, which are rare in the park, are feeding amongst the common gulls, particularly enjoying the pools.
  This is just a selection of some of the birds I've been photographing in the park during February.

The Feral Pigeons dutifully eating the grass seed spread by the new kerbs.

with some help from these Woodpigeons.

A group of gulls loafing with a dog chasing a ball on the background. I love this shot that shows how parks can be multi-use. Gulls payed little attention to the dog going back and forth.

A 150+ strong flock of Pink-footed Geese flies over on Valentine Day.

The Geese are now all split into couples that avoid getting near each other, and easily get into squabbles, unlike the peaceful winter flock.

Greylag pair.

On the 17th February, two Redwings were at the park.

Grey Squirrel enjoying a conker from its hoard.

Great Tit singing near the pond.

This Treecreeper froze when a heavy vehicle passed behind the tree. It is the usual response of an alarmed treecreeper, momentarily becoming a small tree stump.

One of the couple of dozen black-headed gulls that have been feeding on the flooded grass.

Grey Wagtail feeding by a pool.

Spot the Pied Wagtail with a Common Gull.

An assortment of Herring and Common gulls looking for worms. 

Stock Dove.

A Song Thrush male has been singing for a couple of weeks. This one just swallow a large earthworm.

Male Chaffinch on the ground. The camouflage of chaffinches on dry leaves is amazing.

The lake island has been repaired with willow branches to support the soil and some grass planted. The Moorhens have given it a seal of approval.

Another view of one of the pools.

Three large trees have fallen over in the winter storms. This one has provided dead wood, which hopefully will be left on the ground. I was excited to see that the smaller branches are lining the wet woodland paths and making a small dry hedge. Good use of the wood for new habitats.

There has been some tree planting around the park and there will be more planting to come. I look forward to the park being quiet again, but it has been interesting to see the flexibility of the birds responding to the refurbishment.