A VISIT TO COSSINGTON MEADOW AND AN OSPREY DUTY.

The header image is at the moment causing us some concern, it appears that a pair of Kestrel are trying to take over one of our Barn Owl boxes. Whilst out with the dogs we have seen two attempts by the birds to gain access into the box and have heard and seen the Barn Owls repel the boarders, and I'm sure if we have seen this happen twice, more attempts will have taken place. Mind we have not seen the Kestrels on Friday and Saturday so lets hope its success to the Barn Owls, I will leave them for a few days and then put the cameras on.

I had a visit to Cossington Meadows after the Shorties again on Tuesday the 5th of April hoping the birds were still on site. I had not been on site long when a party of birders came up the track from the lower area of the reserve and told me they had seen two of the birds earlier, which was encouraging, however after a few minutes they pointed out that two Shorties had entered Swan Meadow, these turned out to be two female Pheasants, so I began to doubt they had seen any birds. I watched the Exmoor ponies which is always entertaining then at 16.30 hrs, when I had to be on my way home, a Shortie appeared on the farthest point away from me possible, in fact the only way the bird could have been farther away was for it to have been in the next field!!. I unfortunately had to be away so only managed this very long distance image, the birds are still being reported on site so in the next few days will visit after tea and try again. From what I am told, the last time the birds visited, they started coming out later and were around until about 20.00 hrs.

We were on Osprey duty on Thursday the 7th of April but Richard was full of cold and had to call off, so I finished up on duty with another couple Barry and Sheelagh. I arrived at Waderscrape Hide at 13.20 hrs a to find both  birds were about, the female was sitting on one egg and the male was sitting on the T post preening. After a while he had a quick fly around the bay, landed on the nest and no doubt got his orders and was away fishing. He returned about half an hour later with a lovely Rainbow trout being harried by numerous gulls but an Osprey won't let go of its food. He landed on his favourite tree and tucked into the trout, after a while he eventually took the trout to the nest for the female but not as normal she showed no interest in the food and didn't get off the egg for the male to take over, so he flew to the T post. I noticed after a few minutes the image on the television in the hide had zoomed in on the female as she proceeded to lay the second egg, so two eggs and one to go. She then after a while had a feed. The male however had gone on fly about in Manton Bay, and finished up having six baths, images below. We have to date 18 Ospreys on site of which 14 are breeding pairs.

At the end of duty I had a walk back to the Lyndon Centre with Barry as his wife had left earlier, had a quick tea in the car park and then headed through the Little Owl sites. Unfortunately by this time the weather had turned for the worse, windy and raining, so no birds were seen on my return.   

If you wish to follow the Osprey nest, click on the link to Rutland Ospreys on the right of my blog, then onto 'Our Ospreys' then onto 'Osprey Nest Webcam' and you will see the Manton Bay Ospreys live on the nest.

A quick update on the Manton Bay Ospreys, the third egg was laid yesterday afternoon {11.04.2016}.

COSSINGTON MEADOWS.

5th of April 2016.

Exmoor Pony.

This pony came towards me and watched me for a while, even though the rest had carried on around the meadow. 

The rest then decided to have a run around, this carried on for several minutes. 

Some of the others joining in the fun.

Short- eared Owl.

As you can see from the image, even though this was greatly cropped, the bird was a ridiculous distance away from me.

OUR GARDEN.

5th April 2016.

Kestrel in Entrance into large  Barn Owl box.

As I said above, it appears that so far the Barn Owls have given these birds no quarter and hopefully are still in the box.  

Second Kestrel in one of our trees. 

RUTLAND WATER,

OSPREY DUTY.

7th April 2016.

Waderscrape Hide.

Female Osprey on the nest sitting on her first egg, laid Tuesday the 5th April.

Please remember the images are all taken at distances of well in excess of 300 metres. 

Male Osprey sitting on T post preening. 

Moorhen in the pool to the front of the hide. Very colourful bill. 

Male Osprey between the T post and the nest. 

Buzzard passing through Manton Bay.

This bird flew through the middle of the bay but only got a fleeting glance from the Osprey male. 

Male away fishing. 

Male returns with a very nice rainbow trout.  

Here being chased by some gulls. 

But he as usual hung on to the fish and headed for his favourite dining position. 

The dead tree on the far side of Manton Bay. After having his fill he took the fish to the female.
This bird is 370 metres away. 

After this he proceeded to fly around the bay and have a bathing session.  

Up he comes. 

Then a bit more. 

 Starting to break free of the water.

 Clear and gaining height.

Around the Bay and then in again. 

By the time he had finished, he had bathed six times and I finished with over a hundred images of him doing this.

Kingfisher flying down one of the channels to the front of the hide. As much as I enjoy getting images of birds flying, which is obvious from my posts. It would have been super if the bird had landed so I could have got some close ups.



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