3 January 2022 - Hollingworth Lake/Clegg Hall

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Goosander, 15 Wigeon, 15 Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Grebes, Kestrel, Buzzard

Once again distinctly quiet around the lake, hardly any small birds moving in the undergrowth, and nothing on the water other than a couple of Great Crested Grebes.  However, as I reached the willow patch, I heard a Green Woodpecker yaffle from quite close, sounding like it came from the big hedge area.  I scanned the largest Sycamore without success, but then picked up the bird as it flew out of the tree I was scanning, and went towards Rakewood.

I decided to go to Clegg Hall, where Simon had seen 39 Pinkfeet in a field yesterday, but there was no sign of any geese other than Canadas.  A drake Goosander was on the small pool at the end of Branch Road, and Clegg Hall Pools had 15 Wigeon, 15 Tufted Duck and 2 Little Grebes, all new for the year, though I couldn't find any Gadwall. A Song Thrush here was new too, and a Jay moved through the birch trees by the pools.

As I walked back along the canal, there was far more to see - a Buzzard flew low along the distant edge of the pools, and numerous Redwings, Goldfinch and Greenfinch were flitting around in the fields to the left of the canal.  A female Kestrel sat up briefly.

Goosander, 1/500sec, F5.6, ISO 1250, 220mm

Wigeon, 1/500sec, F5.6, ISO 4000, 220mm

Tufted Duck, 1/500sec, F5.6, ISO 1250, 220mm

Goosander, 1/500sec, F5.6, ISO 2500, 220mm