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Birds of East Park

Red-rumped Swallow Clifford Avenue, Hull - 15/04/2002 Reproduced with the kind permission of Copyright © Garry Taylor
Red-rumped Swallow

Red-crested Pochard East Park, Hull
Red-crested Pochard

Bufflehead East Park, Hull
Bufflehead

Great Crested Grebe East Park, Hull.
Great Crested Grebe

The recent Red-rumped Swallow in Hull's East Park briefly focused a spotlight on this urban oasis, but how many people know the birding credentials of this unlikely spot? Here's a quick guide.

Most Hullites have visited East Park as children to feed the ducks and geese, and they are certainly a dominant feature. Both Greylag and Canada Geese breed and flocks of each can reach 350 in late summer. Around 15 wintering Barnacle Geese are also present, while dubious and escaped Snow, Ross's, Swan, Pink-footed, Bean and White-fronted Geese have also occurred. A handful of Goosanders winter and Smew have turned up, while Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Garganey, Pintail, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall and Shelduck are scarce or rare. A couple of dozen Tufted Duck and Pochard are regular in winter, however, and the latter bred in 1996, joining the regularly breeding Mallard.

Red-crested Pochard were introduced in the 1960s and one hybridised with a Mallard before they disappeared, although another feral bird is once more back on the lake. A Ferruginous Duck of unknown origin put in an appearance from January to March 1987 and again in April 1988. The 1997 Bufflehead caused similar headaches, while an American Wigeon in March 1984 and again in 1986 was accepted by BBRC.

East Park is the only regular breeding site for Great Crested Grebes in Hull, with up to four pairs present. Slavonian Grebes have been recorded in winter and a Red-necked Grebe lingered in November 2000. A few Cormorants drop in to fish, as does the occasional Grey Heron, and at least one Night Heron has been found roosting on the islands (the last in 1996).

Common Sandpipers are regular in small numbers on passage and there is even a (undated) record for Temminck's Stint, while all the common hirundines can be seen in season. Kingfishers sometimes visit. Water Rail has been seen and occasional Grey Wagtails join the Pieds in winter.

The mature trees and shrubbery's hold breeding Sparrowhawk, Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Spotted Flycatcher, Tawny Owl and Mistle Thrush. The trees and shrubs can be rewarding on passage, however, with Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest and Woodcock all being fairly regular and Redstart, Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Crossbill and even Yellow-browed Warbler have all been recorded. Hoopoe has also been claimed, while Waxwings are likely during irruptions.

East Park has never attracted a single tern, but all the usual gulls occur in winter and on passage. Also on the tally are Mediterranean Gull, Iceland Gull and the 1984 Laughing Gull. Add to all that a long-staying Red-rumped Swallow and it just goes to show that next time you visit with the kids and a stale loaf, it might be an idea to take the binoculars too!
 Rich K Broughton

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