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Monday 5 February 2018

A LITTLE OWL SITE RETURNS. THEN ONTO RUTLAND AND EYEBROOK.


I had my normal Thursday visit out and as usual took the route through the Little Owl sites and  I have my lunch at site 9, and sat to the front of the hole was a bird, I must admit this really lifted the day. I had seen a bird also at site 8 so still time to make up the numbers as Spring comes along.

I then visited the Lyndon Reserve as I had been told that some Little Grebes were about at Teal Hide. On arrival I could see the birds, three in total but a considerable distance out from the hide. The wind was really blowing and straight into the hide with the waves splashing into the concrete base blocks the hide sits on and several times great lumps of water came in through the windows all over me and the camera.

Eventually one and then two of the birds came that bit closer, to within about 50 metres of me but still a good distance away. I spent about an hour trying for some decent images and then got on my way for Eyebrook Reservoir to see what I could find, Smew were reported  at Stoke Dry and also clouds were starting to roll in. I was told on Wednesday that as soon as I put my camera in the car, that's the death knell for the weather {and it does appear that way unfortunately}. 

It does seem at the moment I am having to take all long distance images, just wish some of the birds would co operate and come that bit closer.







Little Owl Site No. 8.

This bird had tucked itself well into the hollow in the tree to get out of the wind.



 Little Owl Site No. 9.

What a wonderful surprise to stop for my lunch and to find a bird in the nest hole, the first sighting for a considerable time and long over due. Lets hope both birds have returned or two new birds have taken over the nest.



RUTLAND WATER.

LYNDON RESERVE.



Little Grebe, Teal Hide.

Two of the three birds I could see from the hide. This image has been very heavily cropped but then eventually one of the birds came that bit closer.




This bird came within about fifty metres of the hide, so again images were heavily cropped.




This wave started to break in front of the bird. I had many wasted images due to the birds suddenly going out of view as the wave passed.





Such a beautiful and very busy bird, as soon as I focused on any of the birds they had gone and I then had to wait for them to return to the surface, find them and start again. 






Coming to the top of a wave. 






Birds are all in Winter Plumage.


EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.



I then drove over to Eyebrook with the hope of seeing the Smew , this I did but they were just off from Stoke Dry which was a direct into the sun shot so no chance of anything any good unfortunately.

I had a drive about, spent some time on the bridge  and some time in one of the bunker hides but by then the sun had gone and we finished up with it raining, must be putting the camera in the car???





 Cock Pheasant, under the bird feeders at the Bridge.

Same spot I took the Hen Pheasant image last week, they are really a very beautiful bird, luckily this bird has moved away from the area where the shoots take place, lets hope it has the sense not to return.

 



Blue Tit, by the feeders.

This bird has a crossed bill.









The crossed bill shows more on this image.





Kestrel, Near Stockerston Village.

This bird sat on the top of a tall tree about 50 metres from the road.






Red Kite from Bunker Hide, Near the Island.

Two birds suddenly arrived whilst I visited one of the bunker hides, must admit it was rather cold and windy but went back to the car and put my coat on and it was fine then. Then it became cloudy and eventually rained. 












They are such a graceful bird to watch in flight.















The second bird appeared from over the reservoir but was unfortunately partially obscured by a tree on the island. 




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

10 comments:

  1. Hi John, beautiful images you have done, I love your Little Grebe and Red Kite soaring above you. Fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Bob,
    I must admit to being fond of Little Grebes, my Dad called them Dab Chicks. I have lucky lately with the Red Kites, just wish they would come a little closer.
    All the best, John

    ReplyDelete
  3. Me encanta ver a los mochuelos tomando el sol estos fríos días invernales. Fantástico reportaje John, un fuerte abrazo desde España.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hola German,
    Fue con placer cuando vi que Little Owl habia regresado al sitio y me sente en la entrado del nido disfrutando del sol de invierno, algo que nos ha faltado muy poco. Tuve una tarde muy agradable principalmente gracias a este pequeno pajaro que regresaba.
    Tus machos Siskin son excelentes.
    La mejor forma de Inglaterra. John

    ReplyDelete
  5. From: "Margaret Hilyer"
    To:
    Subject: [Norton AntiSpam][ Owls and Other Things of Interest:] New comment on A LITTLE OWL SITE RETURNS. THEN ONTO RUTLAND AND E....
    Date: Thursday, February 8, 2018 6:36 PM

    Margaret Hilyer has left a new comment on your post "A LITTLE OWL SITE
    RETURNS. THEN ONTO RUTLAND AND E...":

    Lovely images, specially like the Red Kite and Little Grebe. Nice shot of
    Blue Tit flapping it's wings on barbed wire and hadn't spot it had a
    crossed bill until read your comment! M



    Posted by Margaret Hilyer to Owls and Other Things of Interest: at 8
    February 2018 at 18:36

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Margaret,
    Emails eventually sorted so I have pasted your comment across.
    The Blue Tit was really a lucky shot that it flew just as I pressed the button.
    Red Kites are such beautiful and graceful birds, glad you enjoyed the visit.
    All the best, John

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello John,
    Great sightings and happy the LO are making a "comeback".
    It must have been quite amusing to see this Little grebe fighting the waves!
    Thank you for your kind comments on my posts while I was away, much appreciated :)
    Keep well and enjoy the new week

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Noushka,
    And a welcome return, and from what you say, you have certainly got your work cut out in selecting your best images from so many.
    Yes it was wonderful to see the return of the Little Owl site and another re-appeared last Thursday so things are looking up.
    The poor Little grebes were at times fighting a loosing battle with the waves, but as you say amusing, also it helped having the sun.
    Always a pleasure to leave you a comment, you had left some wonderful images for us.
    You keep well and I hope your case and books are back with you.
    All the best, John

    ReplyDelete
  9. Those Red Kites are simply spectacular and the way their numbers have increased is remarkable. I remember being in Britain about fifteen years ago and it involved a good deal of searching and determination to find one. Now, if you know the area where they are usually seen it is almost a slam dunk. All the best to you and Veg, John.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Both,
    I find Red Kite such a graceful bird in flight, and as you say they have increased in numbers in a spectacular way. Last Autumn I saw fifteen together at Eyebrook and only a few weeks ago I saw eight in the same area. We are starting to see the odd bird around home so they are really spreading.
    All the best to you both. 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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