TWO MORE TRIPS AND SOFTWARE UP AND RUNNING.

This week Richard and myself had our normal Thursday visit out but this time concentrated on the Egleton Centre area at Rutland Water. We had our normal start and Richard arrived at 14.00 hrs and we set off Little Owling on route to Rutland. On our outbound trip we saw a Little Owl at Site No. 5.

We arrived at the Egleton Centre at 16.00 hrs and after our normal ice cream, made tracks to look for Dragonflies, Damselflies and anything else that took our fancy. 

After a quick look at the dipping pond we soon arrived at Redshank Hide on Lagoon 2 having seen a couple of Dragonflies en route but they were not hanging about for us to get any images. Nothing much was seen at the hide so we got on our way but kept away from the normal path and walked through the woodland path and in the patches of sunlight found damselflies keeping out of the breeze, so after a few images we carried on through to Osprey Hide. Here again we saw some Damselflies and a Green Sandpiper.

We then visited Sandpiper Hide on Lagoon 4 but nothing much was happening so went straight to Lagoon 3 and Shoveler Hide. The water level had dropped dramatically since our previous visits and Egyptian Geese were walking around on areas of baked mud. We saw several Reed Warblers that kept disappearing into the reeds as you were ready to take an image, eventually manged a few images but not over special.

After that we had a slow walk back to the car park and got on our way looking for Little Owls on our journey and to have some well earned tea. We saw Little Owls at Sites Nos. 12, 9 & 2.

I then decided on Saturday afternoon to have a quick visit back to Rutland Water to see if I could find any Dragonflies and to also see the Ospreys. I left home at about 13.40 hrs and drove straight through to the Lyndon Centre so as not to make it over late in arriving. I entered the centre and was greeted by Paul who immediately said "John come and look at this" he shot over to the screen in the centre and logged onto some saved images and low and behold it showed one of the young Ospreys {S1} getting about 75 mm above the nest with a lot of flapping, so I said wonderful, hang on said Paul as it had another more concerted effort and this time virtually disappeared of the top of the screen, just the tips of its talons still visible before landing back on the nest, so this years young are helicoptering. Paul also told me that three more Ospreys have returned this week, all 2013 birds so great news.

I told Paul I wanted to try and get images of Dragonflies and he said he had arrived early this morning and had been down to Tufted Duck Hide and he had seen a lot of Dragonflies in the reeds to the front of the hide. So I got on my way and arrived at Tufted Duck, saw two Brown Hawkers before I went in the hide but none to the reservoir side.

So I again was on my way heading for Shallow Water Hide and the Ospreys, on arrival I was greeted by John Wright {the field officer} who was also in the hide to get images of the Ospreys, he again told me about them helicoptering earlier but that the wind had dropped a bit and they appeared to have stopped. They however started again and S1 gave me two flights, after the second, the adult female decided she would leave and go onto the camera perch as she had been battered on the head by thrashing wings enough.

Then we had a Buzzard enter Manton Bay and as the young were active and not laying down, the female was mantling and the male got on his way and attacked the Buzzard very aggressively, images below.

I then after about three quarters of an hour left Shallow Water Hide and visited Waderscrape Hide, and then left for the car park, leaving Rutland at about 15.15 hrs and set my way for home.

I called past three of our Little Owl Sites and saw one owl at Site No. 5 sitting on the front of the box that Richard and I erected last year, first time I have seen a bird on the box.

You will note from my title that my software problem has been sorted, this being a joint effort between Andrzej of Nikon and my friend Pete Hanley, thank you both.

Also thank you to Richard for helping with the butterfly species.


Egleton Centre.

Ringlet Butterfly {female}, Egleton Reserve.

Very common butterfly but still very pretty.

Comma Butterfly, Egleton Reserve.

We saw a good number of Comma, this one in a reasonable condition. 

Emerald Damselfly, Female, Egleton Reserve.

This damselfly is a favourite, very stylish and again we saw a good number.

Emerald Damselfly, Male, Egleton Reserve. 

Small Skipper Butterfly and Black Beetles, Egleton Reserve.

Saw this not far from Shoveler Hide sitting on a thistle flower with black Beetles in attendance.

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly, Egleton Reserve.

We seem to have a reasonable number of these this year at Rutland. 

Blue Tailed Damselfly.

Immature Common Blue Damselfly, {female}.

Has been confirmed as a female

Green Sandpiper, Osprey Hide.

Again not totally sure on this bird, we had two birds together. Apparently they are still at the reserve. 

Reed Warbler, Shoveler Hide.

A reasonable number of the birds seen, all the while very busy and on the move, in the bottom of the reeds and then visible for a few seconds and then away again. They appeared to be feeding young. 

Curlew, Shoveler Hide.

Again apparently a reasonable number still at the reserve.

Ospreys.

Male Osprey on Tee Post.

Had apparently not long before delivered a fish to the nest so having a rest. The female is still feeding the young but at times they feed themselves.

Female and Young on the Nest.

S1 having a bit of wing flapping. S1 and S2 are both trying very hard but S3 just looks on and only has an occasional try. 

S1 Helicoptering. 

And back down. 

And up again, adult female had enough.  

Leaving the nest to the camera post, had enough of wings hitting her on the head. 

S1 lift off from the nest and getting higher.

Buzzard Enters Manton Bay. 

Both Adult Ospreys were mantling. 33 goes to Intercept the Buzzard.

With the young being active and not laying down in the nest, when they do this they are virtually invisible to intruders in the bay due to the plumage.  

33/11 having just attacked the Buzzard that is still upside down. 

Buzzard leaves the Bay, Male returns to the Tee Post. 

The Victor returns to his family.

Little Owls.

Little Owl Site No. 5.

We saw this bird on our outward journey sat in the Hawthorn Bush. 

Little Owl Site No. 12.

We saw this bird on our return journey, sat on the door and then went up onto the roof. 

Little Owl Site No. 9.

Bird sat in the tree adjacent to the nest hole. 

Little Owl Site No. 5.

This image taken on our return journey, we have to stop and open a farm gate and initially both said I cant see a bird then Richard spotted the bird sat on the part of the tree that fell down last year. 

Little Owl Site No. 5.

This image taken on my return journey from Rutland Water on Saturday. Again stopped to open the gate, could see nothing and then spotted the bird sat on the box that Richard and myself erected last year. 

Little Owl Site No. 4.

Bird sat in its normal spot, we only appear to have one bird at this site.



Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed the images as much as we did in taking them.