WISH THE WEATHER WOULD IMPROVE.

At the moment we are having some awful weather for anyone trying to get some decent images, the last really good day was the day I got my images of the Glossy Ibis for the last post. I was amazed to read David Gascoignes recent post where on his last outing in Canada  the temperature was 20 deg plus. 

The last visit out with Richard was on the 28th October when we visited Rutland Water at the Egleton Reserve. My first three images were from that visit and the only ones I decided to use, I had got some images of the G.W.E. but decided I had got better previously and would not post them. Also the light was abysmal and after getting the mouse images it only got worse as the afternoon progressed. 

My next visit was last Thursday the 3rd of November when I had a singleton visit out leaving home at 11.45 hrs and having my lunch at Little Owl Site 9, where I saw a single bird. After this I headed straight to Egleton and booking in with our friend David, was told to get to get to Lagoon 4 as he had seen two Peregrine Falcons about in the morning. So I headed straight through to Lagoon 4 and Sandpiper Hide and sure enough sat on the Osprey Nest was a single Peregrine, I then headed for Dunlin Hide as this would about half the distance of the shots and arriving very quietly and opening the shutters very slowly the bird still sat on the nest. After a few trial shots as the bird sat on the far side of the nest and was not that visible but was still a reasonable distance away. Must admit its a lot easier getting images of the Osprey on the nest than the Peregrine.

After this I headed for Shoveler Hide but not much was about, so out and along to Buzzard Hide where I managed a few images and decided to head for Crake Hide, on the way towards the hide I slipped and pushed my left knee in a direction its really not supposed to go. It took me about an hour to get back to the car park with numerous sits down on fence posts and anything else I could find. So since Saturday I have been wearing a very fancy hinged knee support which takes most of the weight from the knee and damaged cartilage.

Hopefully given time it will heal without the use of a scalpel, so fingers crossed.

Unfortunately this means I will be unable to do much walking around Rutland Water until it eases so the posts may be thin on the ground.

     

EGLETON RESERVE.

28th October .

Wood Mouse, Near Redshank Hide.

As we walked down the site this little soul sat in the middle of the path and didn't appear to be bothered by us at all, in fact it gave us the look of "I've eaten bigger than you". It was however a delightful little mouse and we managed to get very close without bothering it. The tail length on this specimen appears excessive to what the books say. { can be up to one and a half times the body length.}  

If you look into the eye, you can just make out my reflection. 

After spending about ten minutes with it, we gave the little soul some peace and got on our way.
  

Little Owl Site No 9.


Stopped at this site for our lunch before carrying on through to Rutland Water and not to let us down this bird sat in the nest hole.

EGELTON RESERVE.
3rd November.

Peregrine Falcon, Lagoon 4, Dunlin Hide.

At last I have managed to get to the Lagoon and the bird be still about. David had seen two in the morning but I am grateful to see just the one. The nest is 185 metres from the Hide.  

At this time the bird was being hassled by several Black Headed gulls. 

And eventually flew towards the T post. Its considerably easier getting images of the Ospreys on the nest.  

The bird then landed on the post and the gulls went away. This time the bird was 190 metres away. 

Amazing thing was that none of the other birds in the area showed the slightest interest in the Peregrine, or appeared bothered by this bird. 

Wigeon Drake, Lagoon 4, Dunlin Hide.

This bird is in full plumage following eclipse, really stunning. 

Dunlin, {I think} Lagoon 4, Dunlin Hide.

This bird was when checked was 86 metres from the hide so unable to crop the image any more.

Black Headed Gull, Lagoon 3, Buzzard Hide.

These birds are around in large numbers all over the Reservoir. 

Little Egret, Lagoon 3, Buzzard Hide.

Find it very difficult to resist taking an image when I see these. 

Pintail Duck, Lagoon 3, Buzzard Hide.

Unfortunately a long distance shot, the bird again is just developing full plumage following eclipse and the full long tail has still to arrive. 

Grey Heron, Lagoon 2, Smew Hide.

As a rule this hide is very difficult  to get images from but by this time the sun had gone in and it was turning very cloudy so had to have a try.

Wasp near to Crake Hide.


Seen on a section of new fence, it was about three steps after taking this image that I slipped.






Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed the images as much as I did in the getting of them. However if I could have avoided slipping it would have been even better.