Hull urban birds. 9. Mute Swans

The Mute Swan doesn't need describing, it is a familiar bird for most people. It is a resident bird, but not very numerous at Hull, with the number of breeding pairs are likely to be around five or less each year, due to the lack of suitable lakes and water courses for them to breed. 

The Breeding Pairs

Pickering Park. A pair has successfully fledge young every year at least since 2017. The pair is ringed (841 and 842). They allow their cygnets to remain all through the following breeding season, so often there are two batches of young with the adults. This is possibly to do with the large size of the lake. These are my notes with cygnets at the grown stage: 2020 (3 cygnets), 2019 (started with 8, then 4 cygnets), 2018 (5 cygnets), 2017 (4 cygnets).

Oak road. Another place where a pair raises young most years at least since 2012. They often move between the lake and the river Hull.

Beverley and Barmston Drain. A pair bred near Sculcoates Lane (2020, 4 cygnets) and possibly at Hall Road (a pair was present). Possibly in other secluded spots along the drain.

East Park. Has bred in the past, but no recent breeding. There are often several individuals present during the winter.

Noddle Hill. Has bred, but no recent records.

Bramsholme reservoir. Has the largest swan aggregations in the winter. Up to 34 in October 1997 according to Richard Broughton, numbers seem much smaller in recent years.

Holderness Drain. Old records of pairs present.  

Pearson Park. Occasional dispersing young have stayed the winter.

Let me know in the comments if you know of any other breeding pair.

Conservation

Mute Swan populations are stable in the UK, after a period of population increase, possibly driven by the banning of lead weights for fishing. However, it is an Amber listed species due to the size of the UK wintering population. The Mute Swan has a Biodiversity Action plan in Hull. Main threats are disturbance of nesting birds and entanglement with fishing gear. Dispersing young are liable to collisions with buildings and overhead cables. Contact the Police Wildlife Liaison Officer if you witness any attacks to swans or their nests.Contact the Police Wildlife Liaison Officer

Oak Road pair with grown cygnets. 30 July 2020.

Pickering Park pair with new cygnets. 31 July 2020.

Pickering Park cob busking. 26th December 2020.

The pen on ice at Oak Road. 2nd January 2021.

The pen at Oak Road Lake on her nest amongst the reeds. 4th May 2020.

More information

Broughton, Richard K. Birds of the Hull Area.

BirdTrends BTO. Mute Swan.

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.

Urban birding at Hull: December at Pickering Park

 I realised yesterday I had never been to Pickering Park in December, so that was the perfect excuse for a trip there. That, and the Goosanders! It was very cold and the very light southerly breeze made me keep my gloved hands in my pockets most of the time, especially when walking around the exposed lake.

As I got to the lake I saw the Mute Swan family gathered on the north edge of the lake. The adult pair had their two yearlings, born in 2019, and three young born in spring 2020. Usually swans chase their young away from their territory in the autumn, but this pair tolerates their young for much longer, probably because of the large size of the lake and plentiful food. The cob, however, was all fluffed wings and lowered head, a behaviour called 'busking' to one of the two older young. After a short chase, the young started flying, followed by a younger sibling and dad, and all three flew to the other end of the lake. I watched this happened three times while I was there. The swans only needed to drift on the wind to the top of the lake, and then take advantage of the gentle head wind for an easier lift. They yearlings might be getting ready to finally leave their natal lake, practicing taking off and landing.

Mute Swan family. A wing stretch.

The cob in busking position.

Two of the three young of this year, moulting into their white feathers, approach me in an area of the lake where the shore is very low, allowing for almost level photos of the swimming wildfowl. The single Pochard got very close too (top shot)

The cob at Pickering Park.

There were 15 Goosanders, with seven adult drakes and eight females and first winter males.

Most of the Goosander flock.

This could be a first year male.

Adult male.

Two of the females sat on the shore. Taking advantage on how quiet the park was today.

Drake Pochard.

To end, this grey squirrel, looking quite rotund, sat on a rock watching me.