13 April 2024 - Hollingworth Lake

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Shelduck, Grasshopper Warbler, Blackcap, LInnets, Stonechat

Cool, overcast and breezy.  A single Shelduck was mid-water on the lake when I arrived.  After a while it flew around a couple of times and then landed again on the water. 

Meanwhile, a Blackcap was singing from the willow triangle area but not showing itself.  When I got to the wall overlooking Bib Knowl I stopped for a scan and heard Grasshopper Warbler reeling from not far away. Despite it reeling for some time, I couldn't see anything (rarely do) so eventually I moved on, but not before a couple of Linnet flew over, my first definite ones of the year.  A single Rook was in the field nearby.  

I decided to head up the ginnel to Peanock Farm in the hope of seeing a Swallow.  That was unsuccesful, but there were around 5 or 6 Linnets feeding in the muddy field and on the wires.  Very little at Shaw Moss except a Stonechat, a male Kestrel and a few Teal.

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

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

Shelduck , 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 800 (view full size image)

Linnet, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 2500 (view full size image)

Linnet , 1/500 sec, f/6.3, 451 mm, ISO 2500

Stonechat, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 1600