ANOTHER VISIT TO RUTLAND WATER.

Richard and myself decided to have another visit to Rutland Water on Thursday to get some more images of Dragonflies. This was unfortunately unsuccessful due to the wind. We saw dragonflies but these were mainly uncooperative and no images of use were taken by me. However we had a visit to Lagoon Three and had an enjoyable afternoon with waders Little Egrets and others. 

On our trip outbound we saw no Little Owls and on our return we only saw one, this being a bird some 245 metres away from Little Owl Site No. 1. This is an area where I had seen a bird some weeks ago when I was out on a singleton visit and again the bird had flown away into some park land. As it was almost dark and no image was achieved, only time will tell as to whether it is one of the birds from Site 1, a displaced juvenile, or a new site, watch this space.

We had another trip to Rutland Water on Saturday evening for the end of season meeting for the Osprey Project. On this trip we saw four Little owls on the way out at Little Owl Sites Nos. 4, 5, 9 & 12 but again it was dark so no images. We took a shot with my camera at Site 9 to confirm the bird.

On our return trip we saw a Badger not far from Site 9 and followed it for roughly 50 metres up the road.

Green Sandpiper Lagoon 3 Rutland Water.
We unfortunately could not get very close to these birds as the water level is considerably low.

Snipe at Lagoon 3.
This bird was out on a spit and the first shots we got were over a good distance. We both said we wished the bird would come closer and sure enough it did.

Trouble was when it came closer it buried itself in a clump of reeds and was very difficult to see. When it first flew over towards us it landed in a clear mud area but quickly disappeared into the reeds.

However in time it did become a little more in view and these two images were quickly taken before it disappeared again.

Little Egret, Lagoon 3.

Little Egret Lagoon 3. 

Hobby Lagoon 3 Rutland Water.
Very difficult birds to get an image , they always travel at the speed of a bullet chasing dragonflies.

You have just set the camera up to take an image on the water and low and behold a Hobby turns up so its a quick change of settings and hope for the best, no time to do a check on the set up and then take a shot.

Buzzard near Little Owl Site No. 7.
Shot at a silly distance.

Wheatear male at the same area as last week near Little Owl site No. 17.

Whilst at Rutland Water this became the largest bird we saw!!!! 

The only remaining flying Vulcan Bomber XH558 flew over when we weré attempting some shots of dragonflies. The aircraft was based up until July 2014 at RAF Waddington, where it was delivered in 1960 but due to the runway at Waddington being out of use in 2015 due to major repairs it has been moved to the Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster.
It was a wonderful site and sound.

Common Darter Dragonfly, male our garden.

Common Darter Dragonfly, male our garden. 

Common Darter Dragonfly, female our garden. 

Southern Hawker Dragonfly, male our garden.

Dragonflies have such beautiful wings, you can't but stand and admire them.

Thank you for your visit, please leave a comment if you like.

BACK TO OUR OLD ROUTINE.

 Richard and myself had another of our weekly visits out after his holiday break, but decided to have another visit to Rutland Water looking for Dragonflies.

We left our house that bit earlier than usual due to the evenings closing in, and had a look at a few little owl sites on the way, planning to visit the remainder on our return.

It was still murky on our outward journey but very warm and muggy but by the time we were at Rutland the sun was starting shine. 

We started looking for dragonflies just after 15.00hrs having indulged in the usual ice cream. We were hoping to see and get some images of the common brown, this we saw but were unable to get any images, the little so and so's wouldn't settle. We thought we saw one was taken by a Hobby.

Little Owl wise we were not over successful only seeing three {this being our worst count since last Winter} but we didn't spend much time with them, so hopefully next weeks outing will be more for Little Owls that is unless the weather is sunny again and we go for Dragonflies again.

Little Owl Site No. 13. 
Again visited my farmer friend and his wife, had a cup of tea and went down the farm to see his pigs and hopefully a Little Owl. He had again not seen any owls for a day or two but upon going into one of his barns what should be greeting us?? he reckons they must like me.

Not the most picturesque of positions but have tried to have a word with them to sit elsewhere but I suppose you have to be grateful they are still at the farm. 

Little Owl Site No. 17.
We visited this site both on the outward trip and on return. This image is from our outward journey. Richard spotted the bird as it was on his side of the car and kindly took the above image for me with my camera.

This image was taken on our return, we stopped to finish our tea but the light was disappearing so quick shots were taken before the cobs likewise disappeared.

Little Owl Site No. 9.
We stopped here for our  first cob and a cup of tea, we only saw one adult here today but are sure the second bird was around and watching us.


RUTLAND WATER.

As we walked down the track towards the hides I suddenly spotted something move in the hedge and to Richards surprise it turned out to be a Hawthorn Shield Bug. Not the prettiest of bugs with its eyes out on stalks either side of its body but wonderful to find and see.

Male Migrant Dragonfly, such a beautiful creature, always land {when and if they do} with the beauty of the wings outstretched.

These pair of mating Southern Hawker Dragonflies were spotted by Richard and as much as he tried to explain to me as to where they were I couldn't see them. I think it was getting to the point where he was going to take my camera and take the image and in return give me the honouree white stick. The blue being the male and the green the female.

Another pair of mating Migrant Hawker Dragonflies again spotted by Richard, first seen flying {hoping to join the mile high club} and then settling in a tree on the other side of an adjacent track

Two more images of Migrant Hawker Dragonflies. 

Two images of a Common Darter Dragonfly {Male} 

Two Images of a Common Darter Dragonfly {Female}. 

 Whinchat That Turned out to be a Wheatear near Little Owl Site No. 17.
Having finished our first tea session we set of from Site 9 and as we started to go down the road Richard said hang on whats that on the road, I stopped and the bird flew down the road. Initially we thought it was a Whinchat but when it eventually landed on a fence post in the field to our right and it was a Wheatear. Unfortunately it landed with the sun behind it so our shots were into the sun but what a lovely bird.

Meadow Pipit Near Little Owl Site No. 5.
Saw the bird after visiting Site 17 last week and after having my tea and getting some images of the nosy Little Owl, I left the site and headed towards Site 5 and the birds were on the road. I was unable to see what they were but when they flew onto the fence I drove the car sideways across the road and got the two images.

Was not over sure this was a Meadow Pipit but have had confirmation that it is due to the long hind claw that separates it from the much shorter clawed Tree Pipit.

 A VISIT TO RUTLAND WATER SINGLY:

I had a singleton visit to Rutland as Richard was on holiday and going to a Gig with his wife Thursday evening. My idea was to get to Rutland as early as possible with the hope of getting some images of Dragonflies. So I set of and visited the odd Little Owl sites on my way out. The farther East I got the murkier the weather got but the sun managed to break through whilst I was at Rutland.

By the time I finished it was about 17.00 hrs so I got under way to visit the Little Owls of which I saw six.

An Update on Osprey 30/05

She arrived in her Winter site in Senegal {Lampoul Beach} on Thursday having covered 4681 Km in 11 days {2906 miles}

Migrant Hawker
Love the smile and lovely white teeth.

Migrant Hawker Dragonflies.

Ruddy Darter Dragonflies.

Common Darter Dragonflies.
All Dragonflies at Rutland Water.
Whilst getting these images I was going around like a demented chicken! getting them whilst they are landed is not that easy. You see them land and go to the area where you thought they had landed, search for five minutes, move a couple of feet and they fly out and away from a different area entirely.

Little Owl Site No 13.
Visited my Farmer friend and had a visit to see his sows and piglets, he stated he had not seen the little owls for a day or two but bingo one flew out of the barn and onto the roof.

Little Owl Site No.6.
I have not seen a bird here for twelve months, Richard saw one two weeks ago so this has got me back on track.

Little Owl Site No. 9.
Saw two birds well away from the nest tree taking in the last of the sun.

Second Bird at Site 9.

Little Owl Site No. 17.
Having beaten a hasty retreat from Site 9 due to loosing light I arrived at site 17 to have a late tea. After a few minutes the little owl appeared {being nosy as usual} and watched me intently as I ate my tea and took a few images.

Little Owl Site No. 4.
Added this image later as we have not seen a bird here for a while and only when I eventually worked on the image I found it was not that bad so its on the blog as a record.

Kestrel near Little Owl Site No. 6.