A walk to Kingswood by the River Hull via Oak Road Lake

A sunny, if muddy, walk along the River Hull. At midday it was lovely in the sun and I had a picnic on a fishing platform overlooking the river (above). I walked via Beverley Road to Oak Road playing field and had a foray to Oak Road Lake, The Mute Swan family was preening on the shore, still with 2 young. 

A close up of the cob Mute Swan at Oak Road.

The adult pair.

Tufted Duck, present at Oak Road Lake and the Roebank Reservoir.

Mallard and Redshank feeding on the River Hull banks.

A male Reed Bunting singing by the playing fields.

Great Tit singing.

Small groups of Siskin all round, the first species as I stepped out of the house, then by the playing fields and by Ennerdale. Here, a male stopped to sing atop an Alder.

At Ennerdale two Buzzards were about, flying low and being chased by Carrion Crows at times.

I made another stop was at Roebank Reservoir. These Cormorants were making some moves and calling. I've never seen cormorants displaying before. Some individuals are in full breeding plumage and the breeding season is coming up soon. Other than the cormorants the usual assemblage, with fewer ducks about, just some Shoveler, Tufted Ducks and Mallard. The Little Grebes were very vocal.

This Rook flew over by the Reservoir, my first Rook this year.

I had to cross the road at Reich Carter Way as the underpass was flooded. It rained a lot last night and there were floods everywhere, the river bank quite muddy and slippery.

Three Roe deer resting at the other side of the river.

These Lapwings were spread out on a tilled field with a new crop growing. At some point they flew up and moved on.

Nice to come across Little Egrets more regularly around Hull.

A distant shot of Grey Heron being mobbed by crow and then Black-headed Gull.

A specially good day for raptors, with 1 Kestrel, 3 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk and a soaring Peregrine (which was also new for the year). A total of 47 bird species for the day, which is a great way of starting March.