15 December 2021 - Hollingworth Lake

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Drake Goldeneye, 2 Goldcrests, 45 Lapwings, 2 Bullfinch

Pleasant though slightly rushed walk around this morning in calm conditions with partial cloud cover.  Best bird of the walk was a single Drake Goldeneye feeding in the SW corner.  A couple of Goldcrests were by the small stone bridge near the reserve and 45 Lapwings on the car park jetty.  Otherwise fairly quiet. No teal observed on the reserve.  Single Redwing and Mistle Thrush flew over.

Went around in the afternoon in weak sunshine, and the Goldeneye was still present, this time a little closer, with better light.  The main Lapwing party was flying around and trying to land on various lakeside edges, but skittish because of all the people, but I managed to get a couple of decent in-flight shots.  Four Goosander (a drake and three females) were on the water, but quite mobile.  I eventually caught up with them near the overflow, but by then I was looking into the light.  Around 5 Teal were on the reserve this afternoon.

Morning Goldeneye: 1/1000sec at F5.6, ISO 2500, 220mm

Morning Goldeneye: 1/1000sec at F5.6, ISO 2000, 220mm

Afternoon Goldeneye: 1/1000sec at F5.6, ISO 800, 219mm

Afternoon Goldeneye: 1/1000sec at F5.6, ISO 1000, 219mm

Lapwings: 1/1000 sec at F5.6, ISO 400, 212mm

Lapwings: 1/1000 sec at F5.6, ISO 640, 212mm

Goosander: 1/1000 sec at F5.6, ISO 500, 210mm

Goosander: 1/1000 sec at F5.6, ISO 640, 97.5mm