5 March 2022 - Hollingworth Lake

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Grey Wagtail, Greylag Goose, 2 Rooks, Skylark, pair Stonechat, Treecreeper, Kestrel, Stock Dove, 2 Buzzards

Had a pleasant walk this morning in the sunshine after overnight frost. There was a cold breeze blowing, but quite a bit of activity amongst the small birds. A Grey Wagtail flew down to the shore as I arrived at the car park, but soon flew off again. A Pied Wagtail then flew up and landed in a tree. Not much from the hide but as I waited by the big hedge trying to ignore a Robin just a couple of feet away on the wall, two Rooks flew overhead, species 65 for the year. They were away by the time I was organised with the camera, so only managed a distant shot of one. Shortly afterwards, a single goose flew around the Pavilion Wood, and on inspection proved to be a Greylag. It landed on the water, and swam for a while, accompanied at some points by a female/imm. Goldeneye. Species 66.

In Pavilion wood, a few Redwings flew up as usual, and a pair of Mistle Thrushes were either feeding young or taking nest material to a nest near the pavilion itself. I then walked up to Turnough Farm and down to Shaw moss. Bib Knowl plantation was quite interesting. A Stock Dove flew out and then back in, and I could see its neck patch glistening, but couldn't find it when I got closer. A male Kestrel was moving along the edge as I walked, and it appeared to have some small rodent in its talons. At the bottom, a Treecreeper performed quite well very closely (though I only managed to get two reasonable photos), and a couple of Jays were hopping around at the back of the wood.

At Shaw Moss, the pair of Stonechat were flitting around and perching up, though never very close, and a Skylark flew over from right to left (species 67 for the year). Two Buzzards were high and distant over the Wildhouse Lane area. As I walked back up the path, a Blue Tit perched in a hawthorn and I could just see it through a gap in the branches and managed a couple of decent shots. At Peanock Farm, a Grey Wagtail walked on the roof of one of the houses, so the morning finished as it started.

Pied Wagtail, 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100, 220 mm