10 October 2022 - Hollingworth Lake

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Redwing, Bullfinches, Sparrowhawk

Bright and sunny this morning, making viewing rather tricky with the low sun.  A Sparrowhawk flew overhead as I was walking down Rakewood Road, and three Roe Deer fed on the marsh close to the reserve. When I reached the Big Hedge, a pair of Bullfinches were flitting around, as well as a single Redwing that hid among the trees just before the hide.

As I walked beyond the activity hut, I noticed a bird perched up to my left in a small bush.  The light was behind it so it was just a silhouette, and I thought it was a Woodpigeon to begin with, then realised it was actually a female Sparrowhawk.  I tried to get in a better position for the light, but the only place I could move to where I could still see it meant that its head was obscured behind a branch.  In the end I managed to get a few underexposed shots, but was able to bring out some of the detail in post processing.

Sparrowhawk, 1/2000 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 500

Roe Deer, 1/2500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 3200 (view full size image)

Sparrowhawk, 1/2500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 3200 (view full size image)