16 April 2022 - Hollingworth Lake - Shaw Moss - Ashworth Moor Reservoir

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Red-necked Grebe, Wheatear, Oystercatchers, Teal

Had an early start this morning, and two Oystercatchers flew overhead as I walked along the lake front. When I reached Rakewood Road, a Grey Heron flew up and landed on the overflow. It then flew onto the boom that surrounds the overflow area and proceeded to yawn, before taking off as I got closer. On the reserve, a small group of Teal were fairly close to the path but flew as I approached. From the hide, another drake Teal was briefly on the water just to the right of the hide. After this it was fairly quiet until I reached Shaw Moss, when a male Wheatear flew across in front of me and landed on one of the dry stone walls. It allowed a reasonably close approach, then promptly disappeared. Further up the track near Peanock Farm, a Wheatear was in the middle of the field opposite, quite possibly the same bird.

A message came through from Rob Archer about a summer-plumaged Red-necked Grebe at Ashworth Moor, and some cracking photos to boot. In the early afternoon I went up with Joanne and we walked the south-western bank. The bird was still present, but rather distant, associating with a drake Goosander. I got some very distant record shots, but there were some amazing photos around on WhatsApp, so the bird must have been a lot closer for some people. I thought it might be worth another visit the next day, but as it turned out the bird had gone. On the way back to the car, a couple of Meadow Pipits perched up on the reservoir wall.

In the evening, I spent a little time trying to photograph a Willow Warbler in the willows at the bottom of the garden, but it proved quite tricky.

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