14 December 2021 - Hollingworth Lake

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Goldcrest, pair Goosander, 5 Teal, 35 Lapwings

Quite misty this morning with very low light and poor visibility. Around 35 Lapwings were on the jetty near the car park with Black-headed gulls, and two more were on the rocks near the Bib Knowl wall; I almost walked straight past those without noticing them, such was the gloom. A decent Goldfinch flock (maybe 40 or so) fed in the top of a tall Alder near the Sea Cadets hut, and three Greenfinch were nearby. Near the hide, a Goldcrest flitted with a couple of Blue & Great Tits, and on the reserve, just 5 Teal present, though these were quite vocal, some of the males actually displaying. (It was rather mild).

At lunchtime, a reverse walk revealed not much else, though another Goldcrest fed in the bushes alongside the dell opposite Pavilion wood. A pair of Goosander were asleep near the reserve, but otherwise it seemed rather quiet to say the least. I seemed to be photographing at around ISO6400 today, but it does feel as if stopping down the lens a bit (these are at F4.5-5.6) is giving better results. None of these have been sharpened; just a bit of tone adjustment in Lightroom.

Lapwing, 1/400 sec at F4.5, ISO 6400 200mm

Goldcrest, 1/640 sec at F5.6, ISO6400, 220mm