ANOTHER VISIT OUT IN DULL WEATHER, PLUS ANOTHER LOOK AT THE WAXWINGS.

Richard and myself had our usual Thursday visit out even though the forecast was not very good, as he had missed the previous week due to the Dentist visit and the removal of a tooth he was really wanting to see some Little Owls.

Luckily it was Richards turn to drive as the car windscreen developed a crack in the morning and as usual he arrived at 11.30 hrs and we got on our way heading in the Rutland direction and the usual route. We decided that because of the forecast and Richard still suffering from his tooth extraction not to get over far from the car, and luckily we did that as it poured with rain as the afternoon went on.

We drove through the usual route and saw a bird in the coppiced tree at Site 8, and then had our lunch at site 9 where we saw a bird in the nest hole and even managed a few seconds of sun, that was a real shock.

After this we carried on through the remaining sites but saw no more Owls so we headed for Eyebrook Reservoir to have some time waiting for the Kingfisher. We arrived at the bridge and parked the car and immediately saw how coloured the water in the inlet was from all the rain we have unfortunately had. But we stuck it out for some time and eventually saw the kingfisher fly down stream and carry on down into the reservoir to find some clear water to fish in.

So after a while we drove down the reservoir to an area where I had found a bird hide the previous week.  Last week was the first time I had driven in the opposite direction round the water and saw the hide, we actually nearly drove past it, its not over easy to see and after the visit it most certainly is not of the quality of the Rutland Hides but it will keep you dry and warm.

As we came out of the hide it actually started to rain so we took a steady drive about and then slowly headed for home passing the Little Owl sites again for another check . 

LITTLE OWLS.

17 th February.

Little Owl Site No. 8.

This bird took a bit of finding being tucked in amongst the branches, but after a little manoeuvring of the car we managed some images. 

Same bird but on the return journey.

Little Owl Site No. 9.

Stopped for our lunch and it came as a shock when the sun came out so I quickly grabbed an image.  

Kestrel Near Eyebrook.

Bird spotted by Richard who got the car at an angle so I could get this image. The light was pretty dire by this time. 

Robin, by Eyebrook Hide.

We had just got back into the car and it had also started raining when this Robin landed on Richards side of the car, then lucky for me it flew across to the far side of the road and that bit farther away, it would have been much too close on Richards side for it to focus, they are such delightful and nosy little birds.

RED KITE.
LITTLE OWLS SITE No. 9.
17 th February.

As we sat and ate our lunch this solitary bird flew across the field and another two were in the distance. 

The area we had found at Eyebrook with all the Red Kites appears to have gone cold so it was good to see this bird.

BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS.

GLENFIELD.

14th February.

The forecast was for some sun after lunch and as the site was close to home, after a quick sandwich I headed for the birds but unfortunately the sun did not last, story of our lives lately.

We had two flocks, one of about 90 birds that were roosting in the tops of some Poplar trees about 400 metres  away and another of about 70 birds which were moving between the apple tree and some silver birch trees. 

I apologise for the inclusion of these images but we have an element of self indulgence I'm afraid as I think these birds are absolutely stunning.

Having looked on the LROS site this evening, we appear to have Waxwings at numerous sites all over the County.

Getting stuck into an apple but with the shadow of the branch above on its head. 

Several Silver Birch trees are down the side of the road and it appeared that when the birds had fed, they flew into these trees to digest the food a little before returning for some more. 

This bird sat in the top of one of the Silver Birch trees.

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