ANOTHER BIRD RETURNS.

 We as usual had our Thursday afternoon out birding, Richard phoned in the morning to ask if we could leave that bit earlier as some Ring Ouzel {18 had been seen in the morning} and Wheatear had been seen at Warren Hills so he arrived at our house at 13.30 hrs and so we set off hot foot to see if we could find the birds.

On arrival we met up with some birders who said they had been watching the birds for a good while and they were easy to see as they were flying about, landing on the walls and generally easy to see. We walked up the site and met up with a lady walking a very lively Cocker Spaniel that unfortunately suddenly jumped over a wall and went charging around the field where the birds were, luckily two ladies from the Local Wildlife Trust were near her and we left it to them to have a word. 

We then worked our way down a wall line and the two ladies were in front of us, Richard went farther down and had a word with them and found the birds. These ladies were looking up in a tree and were in fact looking at the Ring Ouzel, no doubt taking refuge at height from the dog. They however came down onto the ground again and we got some record shots, not a large bird but at a good distance. After a quick check on Google Earth I think the distance was in excess of 170 metres.

We then headed over and onto our normal route looking to see what if any Little Owls we could see, hence the Heading " Another Bird Returns" yes we have a bird again at Little Owl Site No. 4, a site we have not seen a bird at since the 4th December 2014, a wonderful site, we also saw birds at site Nos. 5, one bird, No. 5 two adults, No. 12 one adult, \no. 9, one adult and No. 7, one adult. So six Little Owls on the journey out and on our return.

We then headed through to Rutland Water, not arriving on site until after 16.30 hrs so a quick visit into the Lyndon Centre and a walk down to the hides, again nothing of interest seen at Deep Water Hide or Tufted Duck Hide so we decided to miss Waderscrape Hide and go straight to Shallow Water hide and call in at Waderscrape on our return.

It was getting late by the time we returned to the car park and sett of on our way owling yet again with the intention of getting to the area where we see the Barn Owl and have a late tea. We finished up having part of our tea at Little Owl Site No. and the remainder whilst sitting it out for the Barn Owl. We saw the Barn Owl again this week, not flying but sitting outside the nest area.  

Meadow Pipit, Warren Hills.

As we walked up the hill in our search for the Ring Ouzels, we saw this bird so as usual a quick shot had to be taken. Note the long hind claw. 

Kestrel, Warren Hills.

Bird sat at the top of a tree a reasonable distance away, look at the buds breaking. 

Ring Ouzel, Male, Warren Hills.

Richard eventually spotted the birds, by the time we saw them we could only six or eight. 

Ring Ouzel, Male to the left Female partly hidden behind a tuft of grass to the right.

We took a reasonable number of shots and these were the best of a bad lot. really only record shots.

Wheatear, Warren Hills.

.We saw a large number of these birds but they were very active and well hidden in trees 

RUTLAND WATER.

Mallard Drakes, Shallow Water Hide.

Just could not resist the shot, this is three weeks running but still say a very pretty bird. 

Great Crested Grebe, Shallow Water Hide.

Last year we had nests around the hide but this year the reservoir is so full and high we cannot see a one from the hide. 

 Shoveler Duck, Shallow Water Hide.

The bird kept tucking itself behind reeds and made it difficult to get a clear shot.

Osprey Female{Maya}, Manton Bay Nest.

She had until a few minutes before this shot been sitting on the one egg and the Male 33/11 was on the T post eating the trout, but after a consistent food begging routine, he took the fish to her, she immediately took off and took it to the T perch and left him to sit on the egg. Whilst we were on site on Thursday, 18 Osprey had so far returned and at 18.00 hrs last night, {Friday} a second egg had been laid at the Manton Bay Nest. Hopefully one more to go tomorrow.

Female getting really stuck into the trout, these shots from Shallow Water Hide over a distance of 240 metres. 

Male Osprey 33/11 Taking His Turn at Sitting On the Egg.

You can just make out the top of his head, the egg is in a deep scrape. 

Male up and turning the egg proving he is doing a good job. 

33/11 sitting on the egg, picture taken from the television in the hide.

Mute Swans, Shallow Water Hide.

Mute Swans doing a mating dance.

Still doing the dance and turning around, really beautiful to watch. 

Then to make it more confusing a third bird joined in. 

Artic Tern, Shallow Water Hide.

A quick image prior to a quick visit to Waderscape Hide.


LITTLE OWLS.

Little Owl Site No. 4.

A site we were delighted to see, the returned or another bird at the site. 

Little Owl Site No. 12.

These birds always seem to tuck themselves in the most awkward positions to get a decent image, we also find if we attempt to get closer to the birds we only have to open the gate into the field and they are away.

Little Owl Site No. 9.

Again this year so far these birds appear to have kept the Jackdaws at bay to stop them taking over the nest hole.

Little Owl Site No. 7.

A very relaxed bird sitting on one leg.
We were concerned for these Little Owls late last year as the farmer had carried out a considerable amount of tree and scrub clearing in the area where we occasionally saw the birds, we had very few images prior to these works. Since then we are seeing the birds far more and a lot clearer.


IN OUR GARDEN.

Jay.
We still these these birds on a regular basis, two or three times a day. However they seem at the moment to favour the bird nut feeder so not the best of images. 

Pair of Mallard.
We are getting this pair on a regular basis walking around our back garden, they come from a small lake that is not that far away.




Thank you for your visit, please come again.