19 November 2025 - Hollingworth Lake

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Little Egret, Raven, Redwings and Fieldfares

Today was a little more overcast and dull, and I was walking along Rakewood Road when I looked up and saw in the distance what I first thought might be a Med Gull, but on inspection turned out to be a Little Egret! It flew across the water, farily high up, and appeared to come down on the reserve. So I continued, hoping it would be still there when I reached the reserve, but as I got to the point where the water ends and reserve starts, the egret was standing just on the edge of one of the streams, about 25 yards from the road. Unfortunately it then flew, before I could get alongside, so I snatched a couple of flight shots, and it did a big circle, again appearing to drop in at the far side of the reserve. Sadly there was no further sign once I made my way round to that point.

There were plenty of Redwings and Fieldfares about, in mixed flocks, and difficult to count, being rather mobile.

On the far side of the lake near Bib Knowl dam wall, I heard the unmistakeable sound of a Raven calling, and looked up to find one flying just over the treetops, rather low down. It circled back towards Bib Knowl and I lost it to view, so didn't manage any photos unfortunately.

Little Egret, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 2500 (view full size image)

Fieldfares, 1/2000 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 500 (view full size image)