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Monday 14 November 2016

WISH THE WEATHER WOULD IMPROVE.

At the moment we are having some awful weather for anyone trying to get some decent images, the last really good day was the day I got my images of the Glossy Ibis for the last post. I was amazed to read David Gascoignes recent post where on his last outing in Canada  the temperature was 20 deg plus. 

The last visit out with Richard was on the 28th October when we visited Rutland Water at the Egleton Reserve. My first three images were from that visit and the only ones I decided to use, I had got some images of the G.W.E. but decided I had got better previously and would not post them. Also the light was abysmal and after getting the mouse images it only got worse as the afternoon progressed. 

My next visit was last Thursday the 3rd of November when I had a singleton visit out leaving home at 11.45 hrs and having my lunch at Little Owl Site 9, where I saw a single bird. After this I headed straight to Egleton and booking in with our friend David, was told to get to get to Lagoon 4 as he had seen two Peregrine Falcons about in the morning. So I headed straight through to Lagoon 4 and Sandpiper Hide and sure enough sat on the Osprey Nest was a single Peregrine, I then headed for Dunlin Hide as this would about half the distance of the shots and arriving very quietly and opening the shutters very slowly the bird still sat on the nest. After a few trial shots as the bird sat on the far side of the nest and was not that visible but was still a reasonable distance away. Must admit its a lot easier getting images of the Osprey on the nest than the Peregrine.

After this I headed for Shoveler Hide but not much was about, so out and along to Buzzard Hide where I managed a few images and decided to head for Crake Hide, on the way towards the hide I slipped and pushed my left knee in a direction its really not supposed to go. It took me about an hour to get back to the car park with numerous sits down on fence posts and anything else I could find. So since Saturday I have been wearing a very fancy hinged knee support which takes most of the weight from the knee and damaged cartilage.
Hopefully given time it will heal without the use of a scalpel, so fingers crossed.

Unfortunately this means I will be unable to do much walking around Rutland Water until it eases so the posts may be thin on the ground.

     


EGLETON RESERVE.
28th October .





Wood Mouse, Near Redshank Hide.

As we walked down the site this little soul sat in the middle of the path and didn't appear to be bothered by us at all, in fact it gave us the look of "I've eaten bigger than you". It was however a delightful little mouse and we managed to get very close without bothering it. The tail length on this specimen appears excessive to what the books say. { can be up to one and a half times the body length.}  



If you look into the eye, you can just make out my reflection. 




After spending about ten minutes with it, we gave the little soul some peace and got on our way.
  



Little Owl Site No 9.


Stopped at this site for our lunch before carrying on through to Rutland Water and not to let us down this bird sat in the nest hole.




EGELTON RESERVE.
3rd November.





Peregrine Falcon, Lagoon 4, Dunlin Hide.

At last I have managed to get to the Lagoon and the bird be still about. David had seen two in the morning but I am grateful to see just the one. The nest is 185 metres from the Hide.  



At this time the bird was being hassled by several Black Headed gulls. 



And eventually flew towards the T post. Its considerably easier getting images of the Ospreys on the nest.  



The bird then landed on the post and the gulls went away. This time the bird was 190 metres away. 








Amazing thing was that none of the other birds in the area showed the slightest interest in the Peregrine, or appeared bothered by this bird. 






Wigeon Drake, Lagoon 4, Dunlin Hide.

This bird is in full plumage following eclipse, really stunning. 




Dunlin, {I think} Lagoon 4, Dunlin Hide.

This bird was when checked was 86 metres from the hide so unable to crop the image any more.





Black Headed Gull, Lagoon 3, Buzzard Hide.

These birds are around in large numbers all over the Reservoir. 





Little Egret, Lagoon 3, Buzzard Hide.

Find it very difficult to resist taking an image when I see these. 




Pintail Duck, Lagoon 3, Buzzard Hide.

Unfortunately a long distance shot, the bird again is just developing full plumage following eclipse and the full long tail has still to arrive. 





Grey Heron, Lagoon 2, Smew Hide.

As a rule this hide is very difficult  to get images from but by this time the sun had gone in and it was turning very cloudy so had to have a try.




Wasp near to Crake Hide.


Seen on a section of new fence, it was about three steps after taking this image that I slipped.






Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed the images as much as I did in the getting of them. However if I could have avoided slipping it would have been even better. 






18 comments:

  1. Great selection and variation of images. Love the Little Owl in the trunk of the ash tree ,like the colouration of the leaves and seed pods. Also find the Heron with the angry look and the pretty Pintail duck appealing . Glad you got shots of the Peregrine and hope your leg is getting better and you have no problems getting your next blog! Still no sign of our Little Owls, but Buzzard is always nearby. See you soon, M

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    1. Hi Margaret and thanks for the visit. Yes at last I managed to catch up with the Peregrine, has been very elusive for me. Hope your Little Owls show up soon, must have a concerted effort with the leaves going at finding them again, mind the Buzzards wont be helping. All the best to you both, John

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  2. Some super images here, John. So pleased to see you managed some good shots of the Peregrine.

    Take good care of the knee. See you soon - - - Richard

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    1. Hi Richard, had a good afternoon out other than the knee, but we will see how Thursday goes??. See you soon, John

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  3. Fantastic John, you shot every one with excellence.

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  4. Hi Bob and thanks for the visit, glad at last to have seen the Peregrine. Also thought the mouse was a good find by Richard. All the best John

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  5. Espectaculares fotos, me han gustado mucho. Enhorabuena John, saludos desde España.

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  6. Hi German and thank you for your visit, glad you have enjoyed the images, all the best from England. John

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  7. Gee.. that little field mouse is living dangerously, the first predator will have it for lunch!!
    I envy you these Peregrine falcon images, one bird of prey I would to see close and photograph... It seems I am never at the right place or right time when one is around!
    Widgeons and pintails are gorgeous ducks, I agree!
    Lovely post John, let's hope the weather improves somewhat to allow for some decent light!
    Enjoy your WE :)

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    1. Hi Noushka and thank you for the visit and comment, the mouse was an absolute delight, it didn't appear at all bothered by Richard and myself but disappeared into the grass when we moved on. Like you I would like to get closer to the Peregrine, I have been told the two birds we have got at Rutland have arrived from Lincoln Cathedral. Have a good weekend and week ahead, and lets hope for some brighter weather. Regards John

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    2. Of course I remember about your kestrel family!!
      I wish you have them again next spring unless the Barn owls decide to nest there!
      Keep well John, and have a great day :)

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    3. Hi Noushka, as good as it was to have the Kestrels use one of the boxes, I wish we could have our Barn Owls back, they are such wonderful birds to have around and fit into your life so well what ever you are doing in the garden. No better weather today, its done nothing but pour with rain all day. All the best, Regards John

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  8. Hello John, hope by now your knee feels a lot better. I love those captures of the mouse :) so cute. But the Peregrine Falcon is, as beeing one of my favorite birds, stunning to see. The Little White Egret is also beautyful. That Pintale duck is stunning.
    Take care and all the best.
    Roos

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  9. Hi Roos, the knee is coming along but is not completely recovered as yet, the mouse was a delight, was not bothered by us in the slightest. The Peregrine was such a distance away, nothing like as large as the Ospreys I had been with on the nest earlier in the year. Hope your husband is feeling a lot better. All the best. Regards John

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  10. Adorable mouse ... :-)))
    Nice and varied images .. fantastic the Halcon .. Congratulations

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  11. Hi Ana, yes the mouse was the real find of the day, and as we were leaving decided to hide in the grass at the side of the path. Thanks for your visit and have a good week. Regards John

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  12. Wow, John, you cram a lot into one post. Some truly superb images here, it's hard to evaluate one above the others. Take care of that knee and make sure you can get around to send us more quality pictures like this.

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  13. Hi David, after your Cuban post this is small, was delighted to see the Peregrine, have been trying to get some images for a good while and at last have managed to capture some. The knee is coming on but every now and again we have an ouch??. Have a good weekend Regards to you both. John

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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.
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