Urban birding at Hull: Pickering Park WeBS

An icy, freezing 11 km walk to PickeringPark to carry out the Wetland Bird Survey for the BTO. I have just taken over this site, which I visit quite regularly anyway. Counting was made easier by the fact that 70% of the lake was iced over. 

Mute Swans

One of the locals commented that one of the young Mute Swans was lost as it collided with a house when flying away, so only 6 Mute Swans. Two of the young swans, an almost 2 year olf brother and his younger sister from last year years, were engaged on courtship displaying, with the top of their necks ruffled up, and much bowing, snorting and copying each other's movements. Swans don't normally breed until they are 4 or 5 years old, but young swans often 'practice' their courtship display to each other. I once saw a young swan displaying to a Canada geese.

Some of the mirror movements of the displaying swans.

Gulls

The usual gull roost is on the ice today. After counting the gulls (136 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Common Gulls and 2 Herring Gulls) I scan their legs. The only one I can see ringed is a Black-headed gull with white ring from Dutch ringing scheme. It was rung for the first time as an adult in 2012. The plastic ring with code E2TC  is a bit damaged.

Eight tufted Ducks, 41 Coots, 22 Moorhens and 54 Mallard completed the count. 

No Goosanders, but one flew over my street on the way back.

Of note was a small flock of Redwing feeding under the trees on the cemetery. 

Redwing.

The following are some photos taken on route to the park.