17 March 2022 - Hollingworth Lake

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4 Chiffchaffs, Sand Martin, Buzzard, Little Grebe

A pleasant walk around this morning in the sunshine.  A Chiffchaff sang close to the path and gave photo opportunities somewhat improved from yesterday's efforts.  Another was in the same area.  I met Simon just near the hide, and he'd had two Brambling in the wood, but there was no sign when I got there; just a pair of Mistle Thrush and a few Redwings, and yet another Chiffchaff, but not singing.

As I walked around towards Bib Know, a Buzzard flew low overhead towards the valley, then circled round and flew back over the water, eventually spending some time circling high above the lake. At the end of the straight wall I suddenly spotted a flicker behind the trees which turned out to be a Sand Martin.  At first I thought it had just passed through, but it circled back for some time and kept whizzing past, and seemed to be still around when I left.  I only managed some distant record shot photos, but this was species no. 71 for the year.

At lunchtime I walked around anticlockwise with little to report, though from the hide the Little Grebe was present briefly at close range to the left of the hide, soon going into cover in the bushes and disappearing, and a female Goosander was the first I've seen for a few days.

 

Chiffchaff, 1/1250 sec, f/5.0, ISO 100, 220 mm

Chiffchaff, 1/640 sec, f/5.0, ISO 100, 220 mm

Chiffchaff, 1/1000 sec, f/5.0, ISO 100, 220 mm

Chiffchaff, 1/640 sec, f/5.0, ISO 100, 220 mm

Mistle Thrush, 1/500 sec, f/5.0, ISO 200, 220 mm

Buzzard, 1/1000 sec, f/5.0, ISO 100, 120.91 mm

Buzzard , 1/1000 sec, f/5.0, ISO 100, 120.91 mm

Sand Martin, 1/500 sec, f/5.0, ISO 100, 58.29 mm

Sand Martin-, 1/500 sec, f/5.0, ISO 100, 58.29 mm