Hollingworth Lake - Long Tailed Duck

Just a small camera and smaller bins today ... alas.

The plan today.... 

The 9:30 bus to Halifax. 

Bun and a coffee in Greggs.

Then, the 10:58 train to Littleborough with a walk up to and around Hollingworth Lake.

Nearing Hollingworth lake a birder walking down the road towards us mentioned that there was a Long Tailed Duck here!

We did the usual circuit turning left, clockwise and half way around I spotted a brown dot, asleep - miles off - The Long Tailed Duck.

I got a very poor photo of the bird then we turned back to see if I could get any nearer.

In the end I did get a slightly better photo but with just the small camera I was never going to get owt worth talking about!

Eventually we headed down to the excellent  RSPCA cafe where I celebrated my find with a "small" breakfast - don't think I could manage a large one!

I think the prices here have gone upwards though?

The Long Tailed Duck was still present and still very distant as we had a leisurely meander down to the railway station.

Good to get such a scarce bird 'locally' but the rest of the "birding" suffered today.

Elsewhere a nest held 5 Kestrel chicks. 

2 Peregrine were seen as we passed through Halifax earlier.

Birds:-

Long Tailed Duck.

Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Herring Gull.

Black Headed Gull.

Oystercatcher.

Heron.

Buzzard.

Swallow.

Willow Warbler.

Chiffchaff.

3 Blackcap.

3 Song Thrush.

Goldfinch.

Possible Gadwall - possiby not.

5 Kestrel chicks.

2 Peregrine Falcon.

Some (pretty rubbish )photos.