11 April 2022 - Hollingworth Lake & Shaw Moss

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4 Wheatears, Swallow, Linnet, Willow Warblers, Oystercatcher

Fairly bright and sunny this morning; in the hide, a pair of Great Crested Grebes were building a nest and displaying. In the field behind the hide, a Robin sat up on a post, and a single Oystercatcher was feeding in the grass. I walked up the track to Turnough Farm and saw a Swallow, my first of the year. I then worked my way down to Shaw Moss, seeing very little on the way, apart from a pair of Chaffinch. but on arrival at the pools immediately noticed a Wheatear on the wall, also new for the year.  As I approached a little closer, I could see there were three, all moving through the grass just on the pool side of the stone wall.  One appeared to have lice or ticks around its head. A Grey Heron and two or three Teal were on the pools themselves. 

Moving up the lane towards Peanock Farm, I noticed another Wheatear in a field, so there'd obviously been something of an arrival.  As I approached the farm, I saw a small bird feeding on the ground in the divots caused by the sheep, which proved to be a Linnet.  This is the first definite one I've seen in the are for several years.  Unfortunately it flew off before I could get close enough for a photo.

Great Crested Grebes, 1/500 sec. f/7.1 300 mm, ISO 800

Robin, 1/640 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 1000 (view full size image)

Oystercatcher, 1/640 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 200 (view full size image)

Chaffinch, 1/640 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 400

Wheatear, 1/640 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 200

Grey Heron, 1/640 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 160

Wheatear, 1/640 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 160