A VISIT TO CALKE PARK AND RUTLAND WATER.

I decided on Tuesday the 21st of August to have an evening  visit to Calke for hopefully another session with the Badgers, I only saw two Badgers  that were a considerable distance away and through the trees so no images of them this visit. I had a wonderful time watching some Fallow Deer, such beautiful creatures.

I then on Thursday the the 23rd had an afternoon visit to Rutland Water at the Egleton Reserve for a bit of a wander around, this is a site I have not visited lately so I was looking forward to seeing some reasonable birds from the reports posted.



CALKE PARK.
21st August.

As it was forecast as being a dry evening, I had a quick tea at home and got underway to Calke so as to arrive before the gates were closed. On arriving in the car park I could see Fallow deer at the far end pasture so a steady walk down without disturbing them was called for, I actually walked down one of the paths to a small lake and came back up the next path and finished within 50 metres of the deer.

After this I visited one of the bird hides but impatient to get over to the Badgers I didn't stay very long before getting away across the fields and into the wood.
On arriving I was amazed as to how the evenings are drawing in and at about 1940 hrs I saw my first Badger, a good distance away but also partially screened behind some trees, another followed after about another fifteen minutes in virtually the same place, no images but so good to be seeing them.
Then at 20.45 hrs I saw a Barn Owl flying towards me followed by another, both settled in an Oak tree about 45 metres from me, one I could partially see and the second was completely screened by foliage and branches, a pair of juvenile birds which I must inform Bill about.
After this as it was getting dark I headed back towards the car park and home after a wonderful evening.  

Fallow Deer Stag.

This beauty walked in front of the white stag as I was just arriving to the site.

Velvet peeling from antlers.

Buck Fallow Deer.

This youngster then appeared up the bank from the area of the small lake I had just walked up from.

Again with peeling velvet. 

Greenfinch, Car Park Bird Hide .

After my time with the Fallow deer I spent a few minutes in the hide, not much about then this little beauty flew in to pick up and scraps from the feeders.

Young Barn Owl, adjacent to Badger sett.

I finished up by taking over twenty images of this bird before I managed something that was of a reasonable focus quality, this is at ISO 22800 as it was virtually dark. This bird landed and sat about 45 metres from me, its sibling sat approx 1.2 metres farther into the tree and was completely buried in foliage and branches.

RUTLAND WATER.

EGLETON RESERVE.

23 rd August.

After a steady drive over I arrived at the centre for 13.00 hrs and after booking in with David and a quick chat as to what was about I got underway. My idea being to have a walk round most of the hides and a visit to Fishponds to see if I could after numerous visits eventually see the elusive {to me} Juvenile Purple Heron.

I visited all the hides and then walked around the back of Lagoon four, past the Volunteer Training Centre and out onto the road and round to Fishponds, unfortunately no Heeron and a greater distance walk than I remembered. So it was a quick about turn and head back to the car park, I should have driven round, I could then have spent more time looking.

Little Grebe, Grebe Hide, Lagoon 2.

On arrival this little bird suddenly popped up, so I managed this quick image, thought I would take another to be sure. 

And this is what I managed as it dived again.

Osprey Pair, Sandpiper Hide, Lagoon 4.

This is the Male Osprey {4K/2014} I saw early season who had built up the nest trying to attract a female which he appears at last to have succeeded in doing. I was told later in the day he was fishing and giving the female {the right hand bird} his catch so all looks good for next season. 205 metre shot. I'm not sure as to why the male was mantling but apparently a Peregrine had been about earlier.
 

Snipe, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

On arrival this single Snipe sat to the left of the Hide at a distance of just over 60 metres.

Then these three joined it.

Then another four a little farther  away.

Then another three arrived to the far side of the Island.
In the end we had over twenty birds in the area,

This is the most Snipe I have ever seen together and wonderful to see such a beautiful bird in numbers.

Ruff, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

This single bird then appeared for only a few minutes and then was gone. This at a distance of 60 metres. 

Little Egret, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

This on the island between the Hide and the main body of the lagoon, looks as if he is on the prowl.

Lapwing, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 2.

We then had approximately thirty of these birds land in amongst the Snipe which caused a bit of a panic.

Gadwall Drake, Buzzard Hide, Lagoon 3.

I had a quick visit into this hide prior to my visit to fishponds.Several Drakes were about when this one decided to have a bathe.
 

Hebridean Sheep, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

This is just two of a small party that crossed this section of water to get to the island, the grass must be that much better over the water. 

She found this a wonderful place to have a scratch. 

And then they all returned back whence they came, they must have thought it was worth getting wet.

Greylag Geese, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

These birds {about 40} had moved onto the Island from the main body of the Lagoon.

Marsh Harrier, Grebe Hide, Lagoon 2.

This is the only Hide I visited on my return from Fishponds, just in time to see this bird flying a good distance away and then it decided to land in a Willow and made a total hash of it. About 250 metres away. 

Hornet Grub from the Barn Owl Box.

The gent that got rid of the Hornets for me returned and cleaned up the remnants from in the entrance to the box and replaced the padlock on the door. This fat grub was just under 25mm long, considerably larger than I imagined.
I have not put the cameras on in the boxes but I was out the other evening and I heard the owls calling, I just hope they will return.




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