A WINDY DAY AT RUTLAND WATER.

We had our usual day out on Thursday and as it was Richards turn to drive, he arrived at our house for 14.00 hrs and we got on our way. We were not sure as to what we would see either owl or dragonfly wise as it was really windy and after a short time decided it would not be worth our time in visiting the Egleton Centre, dragonflies and damselflies would not be out and about and easy to get still enough for any decent images.

So we visited out Little Owl Sites on the outward journey and saw birds at Little Owl Sites Nos. 2 & 9.

We arrived at Rutland Water Lyndon Centre at about 16.30 hrs and as usual had a chat with Tim who was on duty whilst indulging in our ice cream. We set off on our stroll down to Shallow Water Hide watching out for any birds, damselflies etc on the way down. We met up with another volunteer on the Osprey Project and stopped for a quick exchange and whilst Richard was chatting I spotted a red beetle on a piece of grass bouncing about in the breeze but eventually managed a reasonable image of it. Whilst on the trip out Richard had told me about a visit out he had on Monday and the image he had got of a Cardinal beetle, he said it was really bright red. After he had finished talking to Sheila I asked him what colour was the beetle he had seen, red said Richard, anything like this I asked on the screen on the rear of the camera, where did you get that? on that bit of grass I replied but by then it was bouncing around in the wind. Not far down the track having spotted a damselfly and stopping, I spotted a wild Orchid, such a beautiful flower. 

We saw very few Damselflies and the ones we saw were not being still for any length of time so we kept an eye out for them but went to Shallow Water Hide to have a look for what was about.

On arriving at Shallow Water Hide we had passed John Wright {the field officer on the Osprey Project} who told us that 33 had not long since brought a tench back from Lagoon 1 and both birds were present.

We eventually arrived at the Hide at 17.10 hrs and spent a good three quarters of an hour taking some wonderful sights, with House and Sand Martins, another Mallard with nine young and a Greylag Goose with three young.

We then had a walk through to Waderscrape Hide to see the volunteers on duty, during this section of path we saw a Red Admiral and a Painted Lady Butterflies. After a quick chat we set of for the car park and another owling session plus some well earned tea. On the way back Richard spotted a Black cap feeding young, a great spotting, thanks Richard.

We then visited our Little Owl Site on return and saw birds at Site Nos.9, 12 & 5 so a total for the day of five Little Owls.

On my trip out on Monday evening I saw birds at Site Nos 1, 7 & 14 plus an added bonus of seeing two Barn Owls so a good evening out. This trip was really to stake out our old site at Site No 17 to see if I could locate the birds as I saw a bird at the site last week but could n't locate where it came from.

Rutland Water.

Cardinal Beetle, Track to the Hides.

This beetle sat on a grass seed head and was being buffeted about by the wind and just for a split second was still enough to get this image. They also come with a black head but with a slightly different latin name.

Red Admiral, Track from Shallow Water Hide to Waderscrape Hide.

A lovely Butterfly, this being the first Red Admiral I have seen for a year or two. 

Painted Lady Butterfly, near Waderscrape Hide.

Again a Butterfly I have not seen for a considerable time. 

House Martins, Shallow Water Hide.

Richard spotted the birds arriving and eventually building up courage to collect some mud.

Birds down and collecting mud, then away only to return in a very short time. I would guess they were only flying as far as Manton Village.

Sand Martins, Shallow Water Hide.

This pair sat on the wire fence just long enough to get this image.

Osprey Pair, Shallow Water Hide.

Male on the camera post and the female feeding the young with the Tench John told us about. 

The female then flew to the T post, probably for a rest from the young.

She then went for a quick fly around the bay, here just passing the nest. 

Here on her return passing over the nest .

Here having landed on the camera post overlooking the nest, female on the left. One of the young visible above the side of the nest saying we are still hungry. 

How they are growing, as you can see they have started flapping the wings. 

Mallard with Ducklings, Shallow Water Hide.

Another Mum with nine young. 

Greylag Goose, Shallow Water Hide.

Bird arrived followed by three gosling.

One of the young. 

Family swimming by farther out in the bay.

Swans around the Osprey Nest, Shallow Water Hide.

We seemed to have swans everywhere in the bay.

Common Spotted Orchid, By the access Track.

Gets its name from the oval spots on the leaves, an absolutely beautiful flower. 

A closer image, stunning. 

Juvenile Black Caps, Near Waderscrape Hide.

These spotted by Richard, we took some quick images and left the adults to get on with the feeding
. 

Little Owls.

Little Owl Site No. 4.

This image taken on an extra visit out on Monday 15th June. Still only seeing the one bird.

Little Owl Site No.7.

This image again taken on the Monday night visit, unfortunately the bird would not turn round and also sat virtually for me looking directly into the sun. 

Little Owl Site No. 2.

Bird spotted by Richard, was tucked well away out of the wind you had to time your shot whilst the leaves were not blowing across in front of the bird.

Little Owl Site No. 12.

Bird sat on door on our return journey, this is is our most difficult site as we are not really sure as to the whereabouts of the nest tree and the birds are very nervous even though two footpaths cross very close to them.

Curlew near Little Owl Site No. 9.

Before we drove into the field we saw a pair of Curlew together in the field not far from the Little Owl Site.

Little Owl Site No. 9.

We saw this bird on both the outward and return journey, when we arrived the field gate we normally park in front of,was in fact open, Richard said "shall we" so after a quick journey in the field we got the above image, cars are wonderful hides and the bird seemed more interested than frightened.

Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed the blog as much as we did getting the images.