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Thursday 2 November 2017

A VISIT TO EGLETON AND LYNDON.


Two weeks ago I decided to have another visit to Rutland Water, Egleton reserve to see if I could get any better images of the American Wigeon,  this was not to be as the bird was still on Lagoon 2, as its still is, but this time was even farther away, so I got on my way round to Sandpiper Hide, not much to see here either, so onto Shoveler Hide and unfortunately a very similar outlook, the water level had risen but very few birds at a reasonable distance. Onto Crake Hide  and a few birds not that distant but nothing to get excited about. Unfortunately it was very slow and only during this last week I see some Pintail Ducks have arrived so hopefully things can only get better. 

However I had a good walk around the Reserve and visited most of the Hides.

   





Juvenile Great Crested Grebes, Crake Hide.

This bird and the one below were swimming around together, and kept stopping. The bird to the front would turn around, the bird to the rear stopped, then the front bird would turn back around and carry on swimming. This process would then be repeated. 



Not got the beautiful red eye yet, still orange. 



Tufted Ducks. Crake Hide.

This pair were diving on the far side of the Lagoon.




One gone under the water boil and the other following.





Heron, Crake Hide.

As I have said before, I always find it difficult to resist taking an image of a Heron.


THE LYNDON RESERVE.


I arrived at Lyndon at approx 14.30 hrs having passed through the Little Owl sites and again seen nothing, its getting really depressing. After walking down to Deep Water hide and seeing nothing I then followed on down the site and arrived at Tufted Duck Hide. It was then I realised how much the reservoir had fallen in level with large areas that were water just a couple of weeks previous being dry, so very little was seen. It was a very peaceful visit being the only person on the reserve.

I then headed for my normal haunt Waderscrape Hide, the Osprey Hide, and on arriving  it really struck me as to how low the water had become in such a short period of time.

I would have normally followed on down to Shallow Water Hide but such low water any waders would have been a considerable distance away.






Osprey Nest, Manton Bay, Shallow Water Hide.

Normal water level is at the start of the long grass, the short green grass has grown this Autumn. The cameras have been taken down and sent away for a service, hopefully normal service will be resumed in the Spring. 





Great White Egret, Shallow Water Hide.

This bird is one of four I could see, it was walking along the far side of the bay at a distance of 360 metres. 



This one was to the left of the hide in the shallows some 150 metres away.


Number three is just below the embankment to Heron Bay. 500 metres away. 






Then a fourth bird flew in and pestered the first, always one trouble maker.






A QUICK VISIT TO EYEBROOK FOR TEA.


After leaving Rutland I headed for Eyebrook as a Marsh Harrier had been reported but never unfortunately it never appeared for me.

Unfortunately again very little was seen other than a large number of Greylag geese. Had my tea watching gulls chasing each other.





Less than a quarter of the birds, I kept think they were going to fly as they became very noisy, but unfortunately not in the end deciding to fly.






Heavily cropped version of the above image. 







MORE OF THE KINGFISHERS.

I had another visit for these little beauties and again they came very close, I have peck marks in the lens hood!!.
I only had a very short visit but it was most certainly worth it. I have been advised by Noushka that she believes these birds to be Juveniles due to the colouration of the feet . 






Juvenile Female Kingfisher.
Only visited the once and then only for a very short visit and then appeared to fly towards the stream and that was it. 










Even with a mostly rear view she is still a stunning bird.



Juvenile Male Kingfisher.
This young bird eventually arrived but he appeared to come in from the stream. He as in the case of the female didn't stay around very long. 
 




He had just landed with a fish but by the time I took the image he had swallowed it but his beak is still open. 





Barn Owl Update.

Our young Male is still in attendance in the large box. Having contacted the experts, they feel he will probably see the Winter out in the box and then move on as the weather improves. 




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










16 comments:

  1. Hello John, yes it is that time when it can be a little bit dull when birdwatching. The birds that come to stay for winter are on their way. The captures of the Kingfisher are stunning and indeed you can see it its a juveniel bird by the colour of its feet but also by the white tip at the end of its beak.
    Regards,
    Roos

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    Replies
    1. Hi Roos,
      It still is very patchy birding, I had a visit out yesterday and it was very dull and very little seen, I saw a Marsh Harrier for a few seconds but it went over a hedge not to show again.
      Thanks for the other bit of information regarding the white tip to the beak, we can always learn something.
      All the best, John

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  2. The Kingfisher is such a beauty, it’s colours brightening up these dull November days ! Really nice images even though you say not much happening! Like the Egrets shots and young Grebe especially. M

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  3. Oh yes, the Kingfisher is a superb John, but, my favourite is the Great White Egret, stunning photos.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Bob,
      The Kingfisher has for me been a real bonus, a bird I had previously only managed long distance images from. Unfortunately the Great White Egrets were such a long distance shot but wonderful to see four all so close together.
      All the best, John

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  4. Hi Margaret,
    Pleased to have brightened the dull days with the Kingfisher, they really are a pretty bird. The only Thursday I missed going to Rutland was this last week when I visited Eyebrook, met a lady last night at the bird club meeting who asked me where I had been and I should have visited Rutland, she had seen all sorts of birds and finished with walking between Hides and having a Bittern walking along the path towards her, jammy girl!! The Egrets were very long shots unfortunately,
    See you both soon, John

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  5. Wow!!! Las fotos del Martín pescador son extraordinarias, me han gustado mucho. El primer plano de la Garza real también es fantástico. Enhorabuena por este reportaje John, un abrazo desde España.

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    1. Hola German, muy contento de que hayas disfrutado de las imagenes de Martin Pescador, me ha tomado un tiempo considerable conseguirias, las aves siempre se fueron cuando llegue. The Heron es un pajaro me resulta dificil no fotografiar. Todo las mejor de Ingalaterra. John

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  6. Amazing pictures !!!!! Very great post.
    Bye

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    Replies
    1. Hi Nathalie
      Thank you for your visit and so pleased you though so highly of the images.
      All the best to you. John

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  7. I always find myself coming back to look at your photos Tom. They are incredible, thank you so much!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Denise,
      So pleased you get so much enjoyment from your visits, I also enjoy your posts, your trips have been wonderful.
      All the best, John

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  8. Hi John!!! Lovely pictures and header.. The Kingfishers are on of the most favorite birds..Congrats..

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    1. Hi Ana,
      Kingfishers are such a delightful and colorful little bird, this site has been my first really close set of images. Love your new Kingfisher Header.
      All the best, John

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  9. Amazing series on the Kingfisher, John. We can never see too much of this beauty. Perhaps Great Egret is the next heron species to colonize the UK?

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  10. Hi David,
    The Kingfisher has been a real bonus for me, its a bird I had previously never managed to get any decent images from. I am sure the GWE will eventually be a very common bird, when I was young you never saw a Little Egret, last Thursday I had a count of Little Egrets on Lagoon four and counted 17.
    All the best, John

    ReplyDelete

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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