29 March 2023 - Hollingworth Lake

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Pair Shoveler, Dipper, c.3 Chiffchaffs, Green Woodpecker, 2 Sand Martins

Mild, calm, not raining (for a change...)

As I walked along Rakewood Road, I noticed a pair of Shoveler swimming away from the nature reserve, but distant. I decided I'd try to get closer to them from the other side, so didn't take any photos at this point; I knew they'd only be record shots. By the bridge over the stream near the gate, a Dipper was perched in the middle of the stream.  It stayed long enough to get some reasonable pictures and then flew off downstream. It's not my first of the year, but the first away from Rakewood.  It sported a metal ring on its right leg.

At least 3 Chiffchaffs were singing; two on the reserve and another in the south-west corner of the lake. A Green Woodpecker also yaffled from the direction of Syke Farm but didn't show itself.

Once I reached the far side, it seemed that the Shoveler had moved on, but I did see a couple of Sand Martins moving through, heading NW.

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

Dipper, 1/640 sec, f/7.1, 500 mm, ISO 3200