JUBILEE WOOD AND OSPREY DUTY.

This week we had two visits out, the first with our local bird club to Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Wood { a posh name for an old opencast coal site} led by Rhys Dandy. What a birder Rhys is with a wonderful pair of eyes, he was spotting birds without his bins that we could not find with ours. He spotted Hobby, Wheatear, Whinchat, Common Sandpiper and lots more. We all had a wonderful afternoon even if it was somewhat cold and turned rather wet.

Our visit to Rutland Water for an Osprey duty had to be a split affair, Richard managed to get an early start so as to be on duty for 13.00 hrs, I had to make do with leaving home somewhat later and not arriving until 13.45 hrs. After a quick dash across country and a quick walk to Waderscrape Hide I arrived with Richard at 14.00 hrs, got updated as to what was happening and settled in for the rest of the duty. The Ospreys were reasonably active and changing duties for incubation on a regular basis and in between either sitting on the T post or flying around the bay. The results of the flying around are shown below. A couple came into the hide having visited Tufted Duck Hide on the way down and after a while told us they had just seen three Otters to the side and eventually in front of the hide, I immediately told them they were banned {Joking} much to every ones amusement in the hide. We had been told of Otters at the reservoir but three together. We immediately phoned the centre and reported this and I said to Richard I would carry on with the duty and he should visit the hide. So off he went and after about three quarters of an hour returned without seeing anything. 

Whilst he was away another couple told me they had also been into the hide and seen the Otters and showed me some images of them, they were also banned!!, the lucky people had an Otter within five metres of the hide. We will visit this again and try harder, Otters tend to be creatures of habit.

At the end of the duty we set off post haste to Tufted Duck Hide and sat waiting for about half an hour but nothing was seen or heard, both couples who had seen them said they could hear them calling before seeing them.

We then set off for the car park as Richard had to get away home and I had to go owling. We met up again with the second couple who had seen the Otters and had a walk part of the way back with them. On the return trip we saw a Chiffchaff busy feeding young we thought.

Richard set off and I had some tea, then set off to follow him through our Little Owl sites. I turned up at Site No 12 just as he was leaving. Neither of us saw a bird at this site. I then followed on and the first bird seen was at Site 5. I had already staked out the site where the farmers wife thought she had seen a Little Owl but to no avail. I then saw a bird at Site No. 2 and after this a bird at Site No. 1. Not a brilliant day but it was getting late and Richard had seen birds at other Sites on his outward journey. 

I then set of to the site where we had previously seen a Barn Owl and sat for about half an hour but with no luck. It was only the next day I saw Richard had seen the bird earlier, yes I was too late,so if you want to see some really stunning images of a Barn Owl go onto his blog by the link to the right. 

Jubilee Wood.

Female Wheatear, Jubilee Wood.

Absolute beggars to find, you could find them in the bins {eventually}, then try and find them with the camera, you found you were focusing on the wrong tree protector. 

Male Whinchat, Jubilee Wood.

I am told you can distinguish a male Whinchat by its striking head patterns, both sexes share the bold white eyestrips. 

Adult Male Whinchat, Jubilee Wood.

Have posted this image to show another three birds behind it.


RutlandWater.

Male Tufted Duck, Waderscrape Hide.

A common but very striking little duck which we see on  a regular basis whilst at Rutland Water. Commonest duck at the reservoir. 

Female Tufted Duck, Waderscrape Hide.

We finished with two pairs in the channels to the front of the hide.

Dead Tree to the front Of  Waderscrape Hide.

This tree is throughout the year a favourite roost for the Cormorants. Not so many today. This is the tree the previous male Osprey {5R/04} would visit and knock the odd Cormorant out of the tree.
This is the tree that some lucky people get an Osprey sitting in and get super images, it has never happened for us.

Male Osprey 33/11, Waderscrape Hide.

He had been sitting on the eggs until a few minutes before this and then went for a circuit of the bay. 

Spotted a fish and decided to get an early tea. 

Into the water.

And the the start of getting back out. 

Slowly but surely he breaks free from the water. 

And a bit farther, eventually breaking totally clear.

Clear, but he has missed the fish. 

 Starts to move forward having got clear of the water.

Having done the Osprey shake he heads towards the nest. 

Her in doors having a look to see if he had brought a fish. 

Female Osprey {Maya} Manton Bay.

Image taken from the Hide Television Sitting on the clutch of three eggs. 

Male Osprey {33/11} taking over the Incubation Duties, Manton Bay.

Again another image taken from the television in the Hide. 

Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck Hide.

Image taken whilst waiting to see if the Otters returned, which they unfortunately didn't. 

Mallard Drake, Tufted Duck Hide.

As I have had said previously a very common but very pretty duck.

Chiffchaff, on our return trip to the Car Park.

A lovely bird busying itself with feeding a nest in the grass just the other side of the fence.


Little Owls.

Little Owl Site No. 5.

The farmers wife opened the gate and let me through and sat on top of an adjacent telegraph pole sat this Little Owl, as I moved up the road towards it, it flew into the nest tree, not a brilliant image but a good record shot.
 Li

Little Owl Site No. 1.

This is a site we very conscious of not disturbing the birds. I took this shot after driving by and turning round up the road and taking the shot from a good distance away. 

Little Owl Site No. 1.

Drove by and the bird flew up into the tree as I stopped. This was the only bit of the bird I could see,. So I let the car roll backwards and got the image below. 

Love the feathers above the eye.

Thank you for your visit, I had a wonderful time getting the images and hope you have enjoyed them to.