Urban birding at Hull: Clough Road and Oak Road Lake

In today's lockdown morning walk, I ventured to Oak Road lake via Pearson Park, Beverley Road and Clough Road. In ended up not spending much time at the lake proper, as I was distracted by plenty of birds along the way. I found a walkable stretch of the Beverley and Barmston drain by Clough Rd.

Just at the end of the stretch I heard a Whitethroat, my first of the year. I took it's photo through the fence (top shot). The following photo I found quite funny, as it shows how long is the whitethroat's white 'beard' and how it sticks out when singing.

At Oak Road proper, lots of Blackcap action, a singing chiffchaff and this wheezing Greenfinch. 

The planted woodland by the lake is growing fast and looks like a thicket, from the willow in the middle of it sung a Willow Warbler, the second year tick today.

I walked half way around the lake. The new resident pair of Mute Swans came to say hello. They were only a lockdown tick.

I don't think I've ever had Canada Geese at Oak Road lake. There was a pair and the female appeared to be sitting at her nest in the new raft. Another lockdown tick.

As I walked around the lake, I heard singing Reed Warbler, another year tick. Photographing a reed warbler is a sport on itself, which I only practiced for a few minutes. The reeds are still very sparse, but much more time and patience is needed than I had available, so it'll have to be another time. Altogether a very productive walk to one of my favourite Hull haunts.

Bird list

1. Blackbird 
2. Blackcap 
3. Blue Tit 
4. Bullfinch 
5. Canada Goose 
6. Carrion Crow
7. Chaffinch 
8. Chiffchaff 
9. Collared Dove 
10. Coot 
11. Dunnock
12. Feral Pigeon
13. Goldfinch 
14. Great Tit 
15. Greenfinch 
16. Greylag Goose 
17. Herring Gull 
18. House Sparrow 
19. Lesser Black-backed Gull 
20. Long-tailed Tit 
21. Magpie 
22. Mallard 
23. Mistle Thrush 
24. Moorhen
25. Mute Swan 
26. Reed Bunting 
27. Reed Warbler
28. Robin
29. Song Thrush
30. Starling 
31. Stock Dove 
32. Whitethroat 
33. Willow Warbler
34. Woodpigeon
35. Wren