VISITS TO RUTLAND AND EYEBROOK RESERVOIRS.

I decided on Tuesday the 26th to make a quick afternoon visit to Rutland to see how the hopeful new Osprey site was progressing, that is if at all. I managed to get away from home at 13.30 hrs and headed straight through and arrived at Egleton, booked in and headed down the site. I arrived to find a more peaceful scene with both the male and female birds sitting on the nest. This state of peace remained for a short time and then the male went on a fly about. He eventually returned to the nest area and sat himself on the T post to the left of the nest. After a while one of the other people who were with me said the males just fell of the post and upon looking sure enough he was in the water, this only lasted for a short time and he was flapping himself clear and then appeared with in his talons a fish firmly gripped, so it was a dive not a fall, he had seen a fish. He flew around the Lagoon and then proceeded over the T post where the female sat, around again to the nest where the female had moved and presented her with the fish, this is a good omen for a nest site with the male feeding the female. The male then flew onto the T post and left the female with her fish and was then attacked by a corvid, he immediately took flight and chased the bird and was then they were joined by a gull {this was a very large bird but I am not sure of the species, any one have any ideas??}, this entertainment carried on for about 15 minutes and was super to watch. By mid afternoon the wind starter to get up so I decided to head for home before the sleet and snow forecast arrived. 

Then on Thursday the 28th Richard and myself had our normal afternoon out but decided to drive straight through to Rutland so Richard could have some time with the Ospreys at the new site. The forecast was far from good but we arrived at 13.10 hrs and had a quick walk down the site and were met by just one Osprey on the nest which when it flew was the male, we tried for some images but the light was awful so I have decided to just use the images from the Tuesday for the blog other than for a couple of  images of a Dakota that flew over the site. Whilst on site the Male was the only bird we saw so after the positive feelings I had on Tuesday for a new site, this I'm afraid has been dashed and I'm not over hopeful but only time will tell. We then as it had started to rain headed back to the car park and over to Eyebrook reservoir to hopefully see the Short Eared owl that had been showing every evening at about 17.30 hrs.

On arriving at Eyebrook we met up with Paul Riddle and after having a chat for about half an hour and seeing more Ospreys than we had at Rutland we settled down in the car to watch for the Shortie, in the car with the heater on was more the case as it was absolutely perishing cold outside with a lazy wind, the wind didn't go round you it felt as if it went straight through you. We had our tea and changed sides of the reservoir and eventually at about 18.30 hrs headed for home and after a very short time ran into a monster downpour of a mixture of rain and sleet. The end result of this being not a good visit out and no Little Owls seen, will keep our fingers crossed for this week. 

An update on the Barn Owls we have on our land, they have been evicted by a pair of Kestrels who have taken up residence in the box, it is hoped they will have young and then go and hopefully I will be able to get in the box, clean it out, and most of all clean the cameras and then our friends can return.  

RUTLAND
26th April 2016.

Osprey Pair.

This is how the nest site looked on my arrival with both birds in attendance. This looked more normal and settled after last weeks chaos. 

Male Osprey having a fly around the Lagoon. 

Here flying low over the nest and joining the female on the T post.  

 This is when another visitor said the male had fallen in , the post to the birds right is the base to the T post.

Starting to leave the water. 

And appearing with a fish. 

A quick fly over the female to show her the fish. 

The female in the meantime flew from the T post onto the nest and the male arrived with the fish. 

The male then left the fish for the female and sat on the T post only to be attacked by a Corvid. 

So up and into battle, must have been a Corvid with a death wish?? 

Here the two have been joined by a gull, has anybody any idea as to what the gull is, it was a very large bird, not that much smaller then the Osprey.

The fun carried on for about 15 minutes and was great fun to watch. 

The Osprey then had a quick chase of the gull. 

Flew away showing off to the female as the victor. 

Only to be suddenly attacked by the gull.

Scottish Black Faced Sheep, Outside Sandpiper Hide, Lagoon 4. 

Saw this pair enjoying the sun on my arrival. 

Just couldn't resist a close up of the lamb. 

Greylag goose sitting on her eggs, this is week two.

RUTLAND.

28th April.  

Dakota ZA947, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The only image used from this visit, you can see how murky it had become, the light was awful. This aircraft is used for the renewing of the currency of the flights Lancaster pilots every year as a multi engined aircraft. It also takes part in displays in its own right for the B.B.M.F.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

28th April.

Osprey 03/09.

The only usable image take n of the Ospreys at Eyebrook, we saw at least two if not three whilst visiting and prior to the rain.  Our visit was mostly to see a Short Eared Owl that had been seen on a regular basis over several days, but not for us!!







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