7 February 2022 - Hollingworth Lake

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3 Wigeon, 10 Gadwall, Oystercatcher

A very dull morning again, and as I was walking towards the lake from home, I spotted a couple of small groups of ducks circling high above the water.  A quick scan through the bins suggested that one group were Gadwall, and the other, smaller group of 3 birds, Wigeon.  I snatched a couple of distant, silhouetted shots, and a couple of minutes later as I arrived at the Rowing Club car park, another four birds were circling high.  I could see the white speculum on these, so they were definitely Gadwall, species 59 for the year.

The photos are pretty bad; nothing more than record shots, with some processing required to see any detail, but the overall shape and length of bill/pointedness of tail would suggest that the three are indeed Wigeon, and the others Gadwall. They all seemed to fly off in the direction of Clegg Hall, no doubt where they had come from.

An Oystercatcher was in the field opposite the gate with gulls and Canada Geese, but otherwise quiet.

Gadwall, 1/500 sec. f/5.6, ISO 200, 220 mm

Gadwall, 1/500 sec. f/5.6, ISO 640, 220 mm

Wigeon, 1/500 sec. f/5.6, ISO 250, 220 mm