OUT WITH SOME WAXWINGS.

I decided on Monday  to have a quick visit out, and as in the morning on the LROS site it reported some Waxwings in Loughborough, I decided to make this my first port of call. So I managed to get away from home for about 12.30 hrs  and on arrival at the site found Richard already in place, this at least giving me confidence that the birds were still about. The unfortunate thing about the site the birds had chosen was that it was on the side of one of the main roads into the town and was very busy traffic wise.

Richard and the gent he was with explained that the birds seemed to be flying between a tree farther down the road and one in someones front garden, they said the problem with the tree we were watching was that the birds would fly up to it go to land and be disturbed by the traffic but we should get some flight shots. The lady whose garden we stood in front of was very friendly and offered for us to go and stand in her front garden which we declined. Mind if she had offered to open her garage door that would have been a different kettle of fish. 

The birds flew up a couple of times whilst I was on site and managed a few seconds landed and as predicted virtually flew away immediately as cars drove by but it was most certainly worth the visit, but proved to be a site I could not stay at for long, the traffic was noisy for me as well as disturbing the birds, so I headed away to get into the countryside for some peace at Eyebrook Reservoir which I found to be crowded with people so I visited the area where I see the Red Kites and was all on my own and at peace with the world.

 Then on Thursday Richard and myself had our weekly visit out and with my turn to drive. We had another quick visit to Loughborough and the Waxwings but only had a reasonably short visit as we wanted to spend some time with the Little Owls and also another try for the Kingfishers at Eyebrook. On our outward journey we saw two owls at Sites 8 and 9 and on our return we saw another two at Sites 5 and; 6.

On arriving at Eyebrook Reservoir we had a quick lunch and then positioned ourselves on the bridge on Kingfisher watch. We hadn't been watching for long when another gent arrived and a Kingfisher flew downstream and landed in the same tree as last week only then to be joined by a second bird, at this time it became a somewhat confusing as we thought at one point we saw three birds but in the end we decided one must have sneaked back upstream and then flown down again. Then a bird flew into a tree no more than thirty metres away but we were both in the wrong place with another tree in the way and by the time we had moved so had the Kingfisher, we will get it closer some time.  The gent who was with us then had a message through on his phone to say that five Whooper Swans were at the inlet, {that's where we were} but upon looking they were on the shore where the stream enters the Reservoir so it was a quick move to get some images before they flew. Then it was time to retrace our steps and head for home through the Little Owl sites.



As you can see my initial script and some of the wording below the images has converted to capitals, has anybody any ideas as to why?????. 

    

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.

LOUGHBOROUGH.

2 nd January.

This was the first return of the birds whilst I was on site. This was virtually a fly by with no attempt to land but they then flew around and returned. 

Then some more birds joined up with them, at this point I could count 25. 

Getting lower and looking to land.

At least with this image I managed to see a little of the red in the wing. 

Virtually in the tree, look like three males with the wider yellow band to the tail.

And then a quick rush in to land and grab a berry or two. 

As you can see it was somewhat chaotic, it was a case of point the camera and shoot.  

Another couple landing. 

These birds have managed a berry and then the traffic disturbed them and they were away. So I headed away for Eyebrook Reservoir.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.
2 nd January
Red Kites.

These birds were in a slightly different area but I was shooting up to the sky and nearly into the sun.

 Common Buzzard Near to the Reservoir.

I was driving away from the area when I could see this bird sat up in a tree, so I drove very slowly towards it and got within about 50 metres and stopped, switched the engine off and managed to get three quick images before it flew, you can see it had me spotted, Buzzards are very nervous birds and it seems impossible to get any closer for a decent image.

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.
LOUGHBOROUGH.
5 th January.

Whilst we were on site, we only had the one visit from the birds. 

Here with beak wide open and just about to devour a berry. 

Another berry bites the dust. 

At last a single bird lands virtually at the top of the tree so a clear shot through. 

Then the traffic disturbed them and they were away. 

And gone, and so were we, Little Owling. 

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

5 th January.

Kingfisher.

In the same tree as last week, but this time you can make out some blue to its back. I am sure we will get some decent images soon. {perhaps} 

Whooper Swans.

This image taken from the area of the bunker whilst the birds were swimming down the Reservoir, with Pintail Drake to the front of them.  As they swam they were making the most delightful call.

This take about 200 metres farther down the road as the birds were heading out to the middle of the Reservoir. 

LITTLE OWLS.

Little Owls Site No. 9.

This week we could only see the single bird but still very happy to see the one. These birds were ousted from this site last Spring.  

 Little Owls Site No. 6.

By this time we had lost the light so not a very good image.

Little Owl Site No. 8.

Took a little time to find this bird as unusually it sat high up in the tree unfortunately with the sun virtually behind it.  

Kestrel Near Little Owls Site No. 19.

 Had a visit to see my farmer friends on Wednesday and this bird sat in a tree on the Opposite side of the Road to the Little Owl Site.




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