A TRIP TO EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

As Richard was unavailable I decided as I was still not feeling 100 % to have a less strenuous visit out so I drove our normal route through our Little Owl Sites and saw a bird at Site No. 6, this was a real bonus not having seen any birds for several visits out. After this I carried on through our normal route and met up with the farmer {an Irish gent} on whose land Sites 10 and 11 are situated. Telling him we were not seeing any birds in the normal areas he told me he was still seeing plenty of the Little Fellas and was also seeing large numbers of big owls as he called them on the other side of his farm so things are probably not as bad as we have been thinking. 

After this I headed for Eyebrook Reservoir for an easy afternoon and some decent images of anything??

It was not a busy but very interesting afternoon and the results follow.

Kestrel near Little Owl Site No. 6.

As I approached the Little Owl Site I saw this bird sat in the top of the tree and could not resist an image. 

Little Owl Site No. 6.

At last I have seen, after such a time a Little Owl and having spoken to the farmer perhaps things are not as bad as I thought.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

This is such a delightful place just to sit, watch a few birds and let the world pass you by. I spent some time at the bridge with a gent with a scope and a little farther down the stream we could see, a Black-tailed Godwit, Little Stint, Ruff and Greenshank but all much to distant to even attempt an image. 

Red Kite.

I sat in the car and suddenly a shadow passed over me and six of these beauties all flew in at once, about spoilt for choice but they soon had made a reasonable distance out over the reservoir, so much for just letting the world pass you by. 

This bird decided to do an about turn and flew parallel to the road where I was parked making life a little easier, it was however still a good distance out over the water.  

 AND THEN THE BIGGEST BIRD OF THE DAY.

Lancaster Bomber, Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight.

I was just about to commence my tea and had the sandwich in my mouth when I suddenly heard a mighty roar behind me, dropped the sandwich, jumped out the car as this wonderful old aircraft flew by. This aircraft is based at RAF Conningsby . After a fire in engine nimber four, it was decided to send the plane to RAF Duxford for some work to be carried out taking some 9 months. A new firewall was put in place in engine 4 and numerous other improvements made, the bomb doors were replaced. The actual number of the aircraft is PA474 . The new livery is of the Royal Australian Air force  460 squadron with the number AR-L with a Kangaroo with bagpipes on the side. 

The aircrew on a test flight, the cockpit is not built for comfort. Somewhat different to our modern aircraft.

And away it went over the far hill, by this time the crew would be seeing Rutland Water to the front of them .

OUR BARN OWLS.

We still seem to have the young male bird hanging on in the large box, he is coming out later and later which is making the getting of images very difficult. Lets hope he will like his sisters and soon decide to disperse, he's obviously enjoying the warmth and protection given by the box.

 Young Male having a quick look out before going back into the box and eventually coming out about an hour later when totally dark.

A real struggle getting this image when he finally decided to appear, everything was flashing on the camera saying too dark.  

Another evening and a little earlier but still shooting at silly ISO numbers. 

 





AND AT LAST!!!!!!!!!