A COUPLE OF VISITS OUT AND THE BARN OWLS.

Firstly an apology to all my friends in Bloggerland, I have been somewhat slow in commenting on Blogs but with being out making the best of the Barn Owls most evenings {even in the rain of which we have had plenty } my time has been very limited on the blog.

I had a visit to Rutland Water on Saturday the 12th of August going on a direct route through to Egleton as I had not got a great amount of time, so I missed the Little Owl Sites that Richard had visited on the Thursday.

On arrival I parked in amongst all the marquees that were all ready in place for Birdfair, I booked in at the centre and headed for the Lagoons to see what was about. It was really a very disappointing visit and very little was seen at a reasonable distance, two Marsh Harriers were spotted by some others on Lagoon 4 but even for me they were a silly distance away. 

So after this I decided to have a visit to Eyebrook Reservoir for a look for any Ospreys and Red Kites, saw the Ospreys but no Red Kites.  

RUTLANDWATER,
EGLETON RESERVE.

Shelduck In Eclipse Plumage. Lagoon 3, Shoveler Hide.

 This pair were in the pool to the front of the hide.

Mute Swan Cygnets.

These four were on the first island out from the hide and mum was close by. 

Great Crested Grebe, Lagoon 4, Sandpiper Hide.

This bird suddenly appeared from the reeds and dived and came back to the surface with a fish. 

Egyptian Goose, Osprey Nest, Lagoon 4. Sandpiper hide.

When I first arrived in the hide, two of the birds sat on the nest, one then flew up onto the T post. This is the nest where these birds destroyed the only egg laid in the nest last year.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

I arrived at the reservoir at 16.40 hrs and it was not long before I saw my first Osprey. By the end of my session I had seen three Juveniles and two Adult birds. Its a lovely place to visit and you can at times get much closer to the Ospreys than is possible at Rutland. 

Adult Male Osprey.

This bird flew down the far side of the reservoir and carried on down towards the dam. 

Juvenile Osprey.

This bird was again on the far side of the reservoir this time flying back from the dam. 

Same bird just a little bit closer. 

Again the same juvenile but not possible to see the ring. 

Still no ring visible. 

A quick turn but I still cannot see or read the ring number. 

Adult Osprey.

This bird returning with a very small fish, someones going hungry this evening. 

Adult Osprey.

This bird made a sudden appearance, hovered on the far side of the reservoir.

And then headed down the reservoir towards the dam. 

Female Juvenile Osprey, 3 AF, A Bird Fledged At Site O.

At last a bird came a little closer and it was possible to almost read the ring number. I made the bird to be 3 AT but I sent the image to Kayleigh at the Lyndon Centre who got John Wright the Field Officer to have a look and he told me it was 3 AF.  

She circled down the middle of the reservoir and eventually headed farther down. 

She eventually finished up fishing to the front of some trees about half a mile away where she caught a small fish. I only can confirm this as I had a gent with me with his scope and he watched her dive and catch the fish, and I saw her fly away with it. I have never seen a juvenile catch a fish before. 

You cannot but admire the beauty of these birds.

OSPREY DUTY.
13 th August.

I got away from home at 14.10 hrs and headed for our Little Owl sites, I just wanted to see a bird, it is a while that I have been Little Owl less.

I arrived and followed my normal route and eventually at Site 9 I saw a Little Owls, what a relief. mind it was so buried in the tree I was unable to get an image but at least I had seen a bird.

Then on my return journey I saw a bird sat on the barn roof at site No. 11, it was virtually dark by then so I didn't even attempt an image.

On arrival at Waderscrape Hide, I found it to be bulging at the seams with visitors, most of whom were on site for Birdfair at Egleton and were staying locally, luckily later on things got considerably steadier with visits.

Adult Female, Shallow Water Hide.

Virtually a carbon copy of two weeks previous with the female on the T post, juvenile male on the nest and no sign of the adult male 33/11. 

Juvenile Male 2 AM.

He had moved from the nest up onto the camera post and was having a quick preen.

Female Osprey Chasing and Egyptian Goose.

She is still very protective of her youngster and gave a real chase to this unsuspecting goose that just happened to fly by. 

Juvenile Osprey 2 AM.

Had a quick fly and thought about having a chase with the female after the goose, but then why bother.  

Common Tern, Shallow Water Hide.

Numerous of these birds still about and could not resist this image. 

Mallard Duck, Shallow Water Hide.

A long distance image, they look so dowdy this time of the year. 

Juvenile Little Egret, Waderscrape Hide.

This is I'm sure the same bird as last time I was on duty but this time it only was with us for a short time. 

Then someone came into the hide and that was it. 

Left to Right, Great White Egret, Cormorant, Great White, Heron and Little Egret.

Unfortunately this is the closest the Great Whites came to us, this was a 530 metre shot.

OUR BARN OWLS.

We still have all three young with us but they are still not coming out of the box any earlier. I have been out with these birds most evenings either in the hide or in the car on evenings when its been raining, and I've had several evenings in the car, the weather has been awful.

Please remember all these images are taken at high ISO numbers, up to 28200.

Just about to go out with the birds and hope they will appear earlier.

Female Juvenile Barn Owl.

First to appear from the box. 

Second Juvenile Female.

Second female appeared in the front and flew away {plus I was slow in pushing the remote button} but then returned and sat on the left of the box for me. 

Then up into a tree at the back of our land, so it was a case of moving about in the hide, swinging the camera round on the tripod, falling out of my seat and being amazed she was still  sitting in the tree still with all the noise I made {and must admit to a bit of cursing}. At least I managed an image away from the box. It was getting really dark  and I had great difficulty in finding this bird.

Male Juvenile Barn Owl. 

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