ANOTHER EVENING WITH THE OSPREYS AND OF COURSE THE BARN OWLS.

Time flies by and I am on another Osprey duty with my new partner in crime, Phil  for another duty, but this time with the depleted Manton Bay Ospreys. The Female Juvenile 2 AN has gone missing, she in fact went missing on Saturday the 29th of July and was last seen on the nest at 05.18 hrs and has not been since. Has she had a disaster or has she gone on an early migration. She had been seen a couple of days earlier flying and spiraling higher  above the nest site which is very often a sign of a pending migration but this time she returned to the nest. So I think we have to wait for at least two years to see if she ever returns. 

We had a fruitful but reasonably peaceful afternoon and evening with very little going on at the nest, the adult female spent most of her time on the T post and the Juvenile Male mostly on the nest with very little seen of 33 who appeared to spend the bulk of his time in the Poplars close to the nest and was very difficult to see even with the scopes.  We had only one intruder that appeared to be a non-ringed bird and only put up the gulls, the Ospreys had no interest in the bird at all.

Female Osprey. Waderscrape Hide.

This is where she sat for most of the time we were on duty, she just had one small fly around the bay. 

Juvenile Male Osprey.

He spent all the afternoon sitting on the nest, with no sister to chase about he appeared to be very quiet. 

Intruder Osprey.

This bird appeared early evening and flew through the bay. I can see no ring so is this another Juvenile from elsewhere getting underway on migration. We had an E Mail this week saying that several of the non breeding birds and first time returners have already headed South.

Common Tern, Shallow Water Hide.

Several of these birds were flying around the Hide and landing on the fence.

Juvenile Little Egret.

This bird spent most of the time we were on duty in the water to the front of the hide. 

Doing the little dance. 

Little Egret Adult.

Then this adult would appear and the Juvenile would leave but return again after a short time.

Water Rail.

These birds have been around the hide for several weeks but the first time I have managed to get an image. They are so very nervous and kept hiding in the reeds only to appear for a few seconds and when appearing they were always on the move and my can they move when they want to. 

Water Rail, Juvenile.

We had two juveniles but only managed to get an image of one, they were even more adept at hiding than the adult and when appearing it was usually at speed. 

Goldfinch.

This bird landed in a tree outside the hide and I could not resist getting an image.

OUR BARN OWLS.

They all appear to be coming on very well and are still not appearing that early in the evening much to my disgust having to work at such high ISO numbers and with the f stop at 6.3 , I am always fighting to get light but I am going out early this evening hoping for a change in behaviour.

I am making the best of them at the moment as I have the feeling they won't be with us that much longer.

Male Juvenile Barn Owl.

First bird to appear at about 21.15 hrs and flew straight away.

Female Juvenile Barn Owl.

Second bird to appear at about 21.17 hrs and also flew immediately away.

Female Juvenile Barn Owl
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This is the second female and she was also quick away, time about 21 35 hrs. 

The Three all Together.

I was having difficulty in actually seeing the birds in the view finder as it was 21.50 hrs and this is at ISO 12800. 

One then flew down to the right of the box and landed on a gate post. ISO 28200. 

Another evening, one of the females having a wing stretch prior to flying.

Juvenile Male.

Having a quick shake prior to flying away.

WHOOPS.

An attempt at a flight image, at such high ISO numbers its impossible, its also very difficult to actually see the birds in the view finder hence the near loss of the Owl, lets hope they come out earlier one evening. It is not that easy getting decent images of Barn Owls even when they are in your garden. 




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