Circular walk to Oak Road Lake and the River Hul

A morning with sunny spells, noticeably cool when cloudy. I walk to Oak Road Lake and pop by the Barmston Drain at Clough Road and Beresford Avenue on the way there, but don't see any Water Voles. Reed Warblers are already singing on territories at Oak Road lake (1st for the localbigyear), but they remain hidden from view on the old reed stems. Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps sing.

A Grey Squirrel inspects a hole in a tree.

The female Mute Swan still on her nest.

Rabbit by the river bank

After a couple of circuits around the lake, I take the river bank going downstream. The tide is quite low, the river looking blue and transparent.

 A Reed Bunting sings, a Grey Wagtail flies away. A Whitethroat sings by the scrapyard, but remains elusive, as still does the one by the cycle path at Sculcoates. 

A Buzzard soaring by Croda.

Lesser Black-back Gull on the river.

The riverbank walk on the right margin is quite easily passable. The vegetation still short and the path dry as it hasn't rained in weeks. Two Swallows fly around Stoneferry Bridges, then a male Swallow stops to sing (top shot). Two were present, also new for localbigyear.

Linnet at Stoneferry Bridges.

Blackcap singing at Sculcoates.