11 March 2023 - Hollingworth Lake

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4 Tufted Duck, 3 Stonechat, 2 Curlew, Kestrel, Little Grebe, Tawny Owl

Quite a pleasant walk in cold but bright conditions after overnight snow.  Four Tufted Duck were just off the reserve, but not a great deal else was on view at the lake.  I walked down to Shaw Moss which was rather quiet too, except for a single Snipe in the distance on the edge of the water (my first of the year).

Moving on to head towards Clegg Hall, I came across a group of three Stonechats flitting around to the left of Branch Road, and a female Kestrel hovered briefly nearby in the sunshine but against the light. In the distance, two Curlew were feeding in a field over towards the Bellavista area. 

At Clegg Hall Pools, I managed a couple of Little Grebes, also first for the year, and the Tawny Owl was in situ, but only showing part of its back pattern.  A couple of Goldcrests flitted in the birches by the track back up to the railway.

Tufted Ducks, 1/800 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 100 (view full size image)

Snipe, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 160

Stonechat, 1/1000 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 100 (view full size image)

Kestrel, 1/2000 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 250 (view full size image)

Curlew, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 100