24 February 2024 - Hollingworth Lake

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Whooper Swans, Nuthatch, Kingfisher, Buzzard

Calm, mostly sunny, c. 5°C.  

A message came through this morning from David Broome who reported two Whooper Swans on the lake. By the time I arrived late morning the sun was somewhat dazzling but the Whoopers were still present. I walked around to get the light behind me and en route had two Coal Tits foraging by the path near the small bridge, and a Green Woodpecker yaffled from the direction of Pavilion Wood, but didn't show itself. On the reserve were three female Goosanders and a couple of Teal. A Kingfisher was seen, first in bushes from the path and then from the hide, as it flew left to right across the reserve and a few minutes later towards the Pavilion.

I walked down past Bib Knowl to Shaw Moss; in the plantation were plenty of Redwings, and a Nuthatch sang from a lichen-covered tree trunk.  At Shaw Moss itself the resident Stonechat pair were visible, but not too much else.  When I left the lake area early afternoon, the Whoopers were still present.

Whooper Swans, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 160 (view full size image)

Nuthatch, 1/500 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 200 (view full size image)