9 October 2016 - Hollingworth Lake

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Ring Ouzel, Redwings, Gadwall, Shoveler, 2 Wigeon

Up early again this morning, trying to get round and back as we had to take Gloria & Chris to the airport.  It was a nice cool and clear morning, though the sun wasn't yet fully up.  Not too much to report on the water but I saw a flock of 95 Lapwings flying over the hill behind the Wine Press.  As I approached the Big Hedge, the sun was up enough to bathe the bushes in early morning sunshine so I stopped to do a little recce.  I noticed a few Redwings feeding on the Hawthorn berries, and decided to try to get some footage, albeit quite distant.  I spent about 15 minutes here and then a few of the Redwings flew up and overhead, and at about 08:15, a male Ring Ouzel did the same - it flew right overhead, quite low down and was instantly identifiable even without binoculars. Unfortunately it carried on over the reserve and out of sight. 

I searched for more but couldn't see anything other than Redwings (although I did have a glimpse of what I thought might have been another, but it was probably a Blackbird, as there were a few of these about.  One or two Song Thrushes too.

Moving on, I could see the female Shoveler on the reserve, with a few Teal.  I walked through the Pavilion wood with nothing to report and when I emerged at the other side to look at the mooring jetty, I noticed three ducks on the water close by.  These were two Wigeon and the drake Gadwall.