An overdue Wetland Bird survey at Pickering Park. A lovely morning, sunny and still. I wake up early and head towards the park, hoping to beat the dog walkers. It was quiet to start with. Just two Greylags about, no Canada, which was a bit odd. Plenty of Coots about and two Tufted Ducks. Then I spotted a Common Sandpiper, which I have had before in migration at the park. It allowed quite close approximation.
Then, by the middle island, there was a mixed flock of tits with at least some leaf warblers flitting about. A Willow Warbler sung weakly, a Chiffchaff joined it. I saw a bird chasing a warbler that made me think of a Spotted Flycatcher, could it be? I was amazed to see that it was. The bird was very unsettled, as it was very aggressive to the warblers and chased any landing near it. It was very busy, I couldn't really count how many willow warblers and chiffchaffs there were on a group of birches, but probably about a dozen in total. After quite a long wait, I managed some shots (top shot). This was my first Spotted Flycatcher in Hull. This used to be a summer migrant breeding across the city in parks and large garderns, but not any more, so it was very nice to see it at the park.
Willow Warbler.
Spotted Flycatcher
Willow Warbler.
Green-veined White.
Nice to see the Mute Swan pair has managed to raise six cygnets, after they lost the whole brood last year because of bird flu.
1 comment:
How very well hidden that Willow Warbler is. I know from experience how difficult they are to photograph. Wonder what happened to the Spotted Flycatchers. We occasionally get one in Kensington Gardens.
Post a Comment