6 March 2022 - Hollingworth Lake
« Newer | Older »Goldcrest, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker (H), Reed Buntings, Stonechats, Buzzards, Stock Doves
Bright and sunny again today, but an overnight frost once again, though little in the way of wind, so it felt warmer. On a whim I decided to head up towards Syke Farm from the overflow, and one of the first birds I saw was a Goldcrest, species 68 for the year, albeit a bit brief and looking into the sun. In Syke valley, a Stock Dove flew from the top of a telegraph pole and into the trees by the farm, then a female Kestrel was on the next pole. A male Reed Bunting was singing in the sunshine from a perch by the track, giving ample photo opportunities, but a couple of brightly-coloured cock Stonechats were having a right ding-dong and wouldn't settle anywhere for more than half a second. A Green Woodpecker yaffled several times from the valley but I never managed to clap eyes on it. Coming back to the farm I could see three Stock Doves in trees in the farm area, but these were in deep shade. A Wren sang from the bushes by the manure pile, along with a couple of Dunnocks.
I headed back up the track and where the wall is low enough to look over, I was scanning (hoping for Little Owl actually) and heard a Buzzard call. As I scanned left, I realised there were two Buzzards perched in a tree just opposite. Again these were in shade, but I rattled a few high ISO shots off anyway. Nearby a Roe Deer was feeding at the base of the plantation, and when I looked back, one of the Buzzards had flown, though I didn't see where it went. Further up the track, a couple of Grey Wagtails were running about among the puddles, but were flushed by a couple with a dog. Almost back at the Lake, a Song Thrush perched nearby, but wasn't actually singing.
There wasn't much to report on the lake itself, though there were six Mute Swans (five juveniles) on the reserve. I headed down Bib Knowl Valley to Shaw Moss where the resident pair of Stonechat were still around but largely distant, and 10 Teal were on the pools.
Kestrel, 1/800 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100, 220 mm
Reed Bunting, 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100, 220 mm
Reed Bunting , 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100, 220 mm
Stock Dove, 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600, 220 mm
Wren, 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 125, 220 mm
Buzzards, 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 640, 220 mm
Buzzard, 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 125, 220 mm
Roe Deer, 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 220 mm
Song Thrush, 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, 220 mm