Translate

Tuesday 25 October 2016

ANOTHER TRIP FOR THE GLOSSY IBIS AND THEN ONTO RUTLAND WATER.


Richard had phoned on the Wednesday to say he would like to visit his local patch and have a look at his Little Owl Sites on the Thursday so I decided to have another visit to Cossington Meadows and the Glossy Ibis and then head to Rutland Water after this. After doing all my jobs I managed to get away from home at 12.45 hrs and headed for Cossington, parked in the recreation ground car  park and headed out across the fields. On entering the field where Rectory Marsh is situated I could see the Ibis immediately, but also about half a dozen people situated about 30 metres from where the bird was feeding on the bank. I took some record shots from the gate and then walked up towards the corner of the pool, here again I took a few shots. I decided to stay on my side of the pool as to join the other people, I would have to go back to the car and return to the roadside parking and then walk across two fields. So I decided to move slightly closer to the bird but not do as the gent last week and disturb it. I moved slowly along the footpath , I in fact went well away to the right of the path away from the pool and then walked slowly towards the bird. It soon became evident that I would be better to move back towards the gate. Where the bird was feeding was well screened by reeds on my side of the pool and as I didn't want to move any closer towards the bird where I could see over the reeds but then more than likely disturb it, I moved back towards the gate where I could move closer to the side of the pool and get some images. It was much easier last week as the bird was feeding in the water but this week was the bulk of the time on the bank and being screened by the reeds, perhaps could have done with the gent from last week to flush it out from in the reeds and out into the water. I was on site with the bird for about 30 minutes and then got on my way to Rutland Water.

I arrived at Rutland at 15.00 hrs and after a quick chat with David at reception who told me the stars of the day were 12 Whooper Swans that were visible from Fieldfare Hide on the South Arm and another six were on the North Arm. He followed this with its not worth going to Fieldfare as they are about 1000 metres away and even with a scope difficult to see.

So I headed for the Lagoons heading for Lagoon 4 initially hoping again for the Peregrine but again a blank, one gent said he had seen it in the morning but it was nowhere to be seen. I then visited Plover Hide and then onto Bittern Hide in case the Bearded Tits had returned, talking with the couple in the hide they had been several times trying to find them over the last couple of weeks and not seen a thing so I headed for Shoveler Hide. The weather had taken a turn for the worse after leaving Cossington and had become very cloudy and windy. After a time in Shoveler and seeing some birds I then visited Buzzard and Crake Hides, on entering Crake Hide I though I felt a few spots of rain, when inside it absolutely poured with rain and I was stuck for about 20 minutes until it stopped and I then quickly headed for the car park and hopefully some Little Owls but not holding my breath with the weather as it had turned out. 

I passed the normal Little Owl Sites on my return journey with the idea of having tea at site 9. On arriving I met up with Richard who had seen two Little Owls at the site, one in the nest hole and one on a fence post, by the time we had our initial chat, only one was visible in the nest hole . From here I passed the other sites on my way home and saw a bird sitting on the RSJ at Site  No. 6 but this was the last bird I saw and the light was going so I headed for home.  



This weeks post unfortunately  are all long shots, not by choice but due to the birds not doing what I required of them, so I apologise on behalf of both the birds and me for any lack of quality. 

I have just read on our local bird site notes {LROS} that some idiots have again been approaching much to close to the Ibis and flushing it, this is so unfair to the genuine people who are turning up for images of the bird or just to see. it



COSSINGTON MEADOWS.

RECTORY MARSH.
23 rd October.


Glossy Ibis.
This image taken from the gate, a distance of 120 metres to the bird, a bit more color  showing on the bird but it needed to get itself at a better angle to the sun.




The bird entered the water for the one and only time during in my visit, but the sun was to the left of this image. 



At last we start to get some of the color of the bird. This was after my walk to try and get closer and my return to get a clearer view. The remaining images are all from this area and over a distance of 80 metres. 



And at last the full sheen, sun and bird in the correct place. Can't be said the same for the reeds. 





I found it difficult to get a clear shot through the reeds as the bird kept disappearing either into them or with some partially covering it.






But at least I managed some images showing the reason for the name as "Glossy."



RUTLAND WATER.

EGLETON RESERVE.





Curlew, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

This bird in an area that has become visible due to the reed cutting, image taken over a distance of 74 metres.









Cormorant and Great White Egret, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

Since my last visit a considerable amount of reed cutting has taken place. Previously this Island was screened by the reeds on the Island in front. These images are at 170 metres.
You get some idea as to the height of the reeds having been cut to the shore line behind the island.
 
 



Stood in the middle of the birds was this G W E, having just finished preening. 



It then decided to go for a fishing session.



But then decided to fly by the Hide but at a reasonable distance away unfortunately and headed towards Buzzard Hide.  



After this I visited Buzzard Hide but could not see the bird anywhere.




Wigeon Duck, Buzzard Hide.

Wigeon are starting to turn up at the Reservoir in reasonable numbers and over the next few weeks will really be with us in very large numbers.



Juvenile Great Crested Grebe, Buzzard Hide.

Seems to have been a successful year for the Grebes seeing a reasonable number of Juveniles. 



Cock Pheasant, between Little Owl Sites Nos. 5 and 8.

This bird sat on top of the hedge at the side of the road and just couldn't  resist stopping and taking this image. 



White Cock Pheasant.

Unfortunate color for the bird on a shooting estate.

Having checked this post, it is perfect on my original as working on, but when published capital letters some in blue have appeared and I seem unable to get rid of this.  SORRY!! 




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



16 comments:

  1. I always enjoy them, you have an amazing eye for taking brilliant photographs :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HI Denise and thank you for the visit, not sure as to what has happened to the wording with this post, seems all over the place. Glad you have enjoyed the images. Loved your tree and poem. Regards John

      Delete
  2. Lucky lucky lucky. You have got an amazing sight, pure genius John.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bob, I think you have hit the nail on the head, as you understand we have to have a lot of luck to get some of these images, especially this week with the distance of some of the images. Thanks for the visit and comment. Regards John

      Delete
  3. WOW, these glossy ibis shots are really something!
    You managed a far better set of images!
    The cock pheasant is stunningly beautiful, the white on its head is peculiar.
    Hopefully the white female will be considered a rarity and will be spared...
    The shot of the Great egret in flight is spectacular, congrats!!
    Kind regards :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Noushka, thanks for the visit, this week even though I was a greater distance away from the bird the light was far more favourable and a little more to being behind me, what a difference it makes. Cock pheasants are such a beautiful bird and in the area where I took this image pheasants are everywhere, as you say hopefully the white bird will be spared, have been told it is bad luck to shoot a white bird. The Egret as you can tell is a favourite of mine. Have a good rest of the week. Regards John

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice one again! Striking shot of pheasant and love the curlew,wigeon and egret in flight shots, especially.M

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Margaret, glad you enjoyed the pheasant, only ever got one better image and that was at your farm. The Curlew is a super bird with its long curved bill. Glad you liked the email of mouse. Regards John.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your GWE flight shots are beautiful, John. The Wigeon is such a pretty bird in all its plumages.

    It's such a pity that there are so many idiots out there who think it is acceptable to risk flushing a rare bird. Unfortunately, although we witnessed non-photgraphers do this, it is all-too-often selfish photographers who are to blame and give sensible photographers a bad name - a bit like irresponsible dog owners do for the rest of the dog owners.

    See you soon - - - Richard

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Richard, The G W E is to me a really beautiful bird but a challenge to get a decent image of, thanks for such a comment. I agree with your comment regards the idiots at Cossington. People like us either wait to see if the bird comes to us or do as I did for the above, take the shots over a long distance. I see from yesterday some fool was trying to tempt the bird with sardines before flushing it. See you soon John

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice place and nice pictures.. The Pheasant so beautiful.. Regards

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Ana, thanks for the visit.pheasants are a really beautiful bird, such a shame they are bred only to be shot at. Regards John

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hello John, I think you managed very well with getting good pictures of the Glossy Ibis. To bad that some people have no regards on keeping their distance. I also like very much the Curlew, I love their song. When I hear their song at the beginning of the year I know Spring is on its way. Thank you for your reaction on my latest blog.
    Regards,
    Roos

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Roos, thank you for your visit, I had another visit to see the Glossy Ibis yesterday and managed to get a little closer so lets hope for good results. We again had people trying to get close to the bird and disturbing it, one lady I spoke to said she hadn't got a camera like mine so she had to get that close, I said either get another camera or get another interest. Like you the Curlew is one of my favourite birds and as you say is a harbinger of Spring, this unfortunately is still along way away. Loved your post with the fungus and Dragonflies, very jealous of the Dragonflies, we are much to cold. Regards John

    ReplyDelete
  13. You have captured the Glossy Ibis so well, showing us all why it is indeed called Glossy Ibis. Well done!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Both, they are such a spectacular bird and is still in the area but roosting with Cormorants. All the best. Regards John

      Delete

About Me;


Titus White:
Hi I am Richard Peglers friend Titus White, and those who follow Richards posts will understand the name and reason for it. I have been birding with Richard for 3 years and a volunteer at Rutland Water on the Osprey Project for 2 years. My early images were taken on a Nikon D80 with a 70 - 200mm lens. I updated the lens to a 70 - 300mm VR lens but still was not happy with the results. Eventually when Nikon announced the D7100 I decided to change so upgraded the camera and also invested in a Sigma 50 - 500mm lens.
I first met Richard through Arthur Costello as I was having the occasional visit from Little Owls on our land. We eventually found the Little Owls through another contact about 100 metres away. Photo's will follow on future posts.
I have recently upgraded my camera to full frame, this is a challenge I am at the moment enjoying trying to get the best out of the beast.
Free counters!