13 October 2024 - Hollingworth Lake, Littleborough Canal

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Little Egret, Ring-necked Parakeet (h), Common Scoter

A bit more pleasant this morning, but breezy.  Went for a walk with Joanne and Nala.  It was very quiet generally, though the Little Egret was visible from the hide again. I heard a Ring-necked Parakeet calling while we were going down the track to the hide, then again from the hide, but didn't get to see it. I think it moved through.  Aside from that there was little else to note, but in the afternoon a message came on the WhatsApp group from Simon that he'd seen a drake Common Scoter on the canal just near Hollingworth Road before the Arches junction, where people feed the ducks.

I jumped in the car and drove down to the spot, and sure enough, there was a Scoter, swimming amongst the Mallard and Canada Geese, giving point-blank views.  There was some speculation to its health, although it seemed quite happy, and was swimming strongly back and forth, diving and raising itself up out of the water occasionally for a flap. Tucker had seen one at the lake the day before, so this was presumably the same bird, although quite what it was doing in this location is anyone's guess.  Best views ever of Common Scoter however, and interesting to see the serrated lower edge of the bill.

 

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

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