17 November 2022 - Hollingworth Lake

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Common Scoter, Kittiwake, 3 Wigeon, 5 Snipe, Gadwall, Siskin, Redwings, 2 Goldcrests

Constant rain, breezy, 6°C

I decided to brave it today in the rain, and was glad I did!  Just after getting dropped off at the start of Rakewood Road, I scanned the water and could see a single duck out in the middle.  Using the camera's magnify feature I was able to ascertain it was a female/immature Common Scoter.  I took a few record shots then decided to move off and see if I could get closer to it around the other side.   I met Simon who was checking from his car before heading off to approach from the far side.

The white-winged Carrion Crow was present, but it was still raining so I didn't bother trying to photograph it.  By the small stone bridge near the reserve, a male Siskin and two Goldcrests were feeeding.  On the reserve itself, there were 5 Snipe, and from the hide, the Gadwall was still showing, and a group of three female-type Wigeon must have just arrived on the edge of the mud. I hadn't seen them from the road.  A party of around 15 Redwings flew over.

I reached the Cafe area and did my best to get some better photos of the Scoter, but it remained out in the middle, and it continued to rain.  Carrying on, a number of Meadow Pipits were feeding along the stony edge just over the straight wall, and I was almost back to the Beach Hotel when Simon rang to say he'd had a Kittiwake. He asked about the Wigeon, which I'd just seen again in the SW corner, but they'd flown off again back towards the reserve.  I walked a bit further and scanned the water and found it sitting out in the middle, an adult in winter plumage.  Heading to the Rowing Club car park I was able to get a tiny bit closer, and get some distant but OK shots.

Common Scoter-, 1/80 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 250

Wigeon, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 4000

Meadow Pipit, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 6400

Kittiwake-, 1/60 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 250