21 April 2022 - Hollingworth Lake

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Jay, Grey Heron, Long-tailed Tits, Willow Warbler

Once again fairly quiet around the lake this morning, though it was quite cool and breezy. On Rakewook Road, a Jay flew overhead and landed in a tree fairly closely but didn't stick around too long to allow a better position. A Grey Heron fed in the stream just over the stone wall and was surprisingly confiding.  Not much from the hide, but further round near the point, a couple of Long-tailed Tits fed in a Beech Tree in the hazy sunshine and allowed some photos. Then just by the stile overlooking Bib Knowl valley, a Willow Warbler was looking for insects in the shade of a Sycamore.  It was always in harsh sunlight and shade, and although sharp, the resulting photos are a bit artificial looking after playing around in Lightroom.  It's interesting how many of the birds I photograph have been ringed.  Moving on, a Blackbird sat atop a Hawthorn at the other end of the wall, surrounded by midges, and if you zoom in to the large version you can see wispy hair-like feathers on the back of its head.

Jay, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 400 (view full size image)

Grey Heron, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 400 mm, ISO 2500 (view full size image)

Long-tailed Tit, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 400 (view full size image)

Long-tailed Tit , 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 400 (view full size image)

Willow Warbler , 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 800 (view full size image)