9 April 2022 - Hollingworth Lake

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Willow Warbler, Water Rail, 2 Redpoll, Sparrowhawk, Goldeneye

Frosty but clear and sunny this morning; -1°C.  The Water Rail was present, but only got the slightest of glimpses.  As I waited hoping it would come out into the open, a pair of Redpoll landed in the tree just opposite and fed for a couple of minutes on the ripening leaf buds, but were constantly on the move.  Also here was a Willow Warbler; first of the year. It sang for a minute or so, showed itself briefly then moved more into the reserve and went quiet.

In the hide, several Canada Geese were sporting a frosty covering to their back feathers, but not much else to see here.  Further on, the semi-resident Goldeneye flew towards the reserve from beyond the Pavilion spit, but otherwise things were fairly quiet.  

I went back for breakfast and set out again hoping for something more interesting, but it was cold and breezy and not much was moving.  From the hide, a pair of Great Crested Grebes were building a nest in the bushes opposite the hide, but then I went down Ealees Valley were it was a bit calmer and slightly more activity (but not much).  A Treecreeper appeared but was too quick for photos, and a Dunnock sat up in the sun briefly. Towards the bottom of the valley a Sparrowhawk flew over but was quite distant.  As I walked back along the canal, another Sparrowhawk flew overhead and this time I managed to snatch a couple of shots.

Redpoll, 1/640 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 400 (view full size image)

Redpoll, 1/500sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 250 (view full size image)

Canada Goose, 1/640 sec. f/7.1 400 mm, ISO 1600 (view full size image)

Goldeneye, 1/640 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 400

Great Crested Grebes, 1/125 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 160 (view full size image)

Great Tit, 1/200 sec. f/7.1 500 mm, ISO 125 (view full size image)

Dunnock, 1/320 sec. f/8 500 mm, ISO 160 (view full size image)

Sparrowhawk, 1/200 sec. f/10 500 mm, ISO 160 (view full size image)