TWO TRIPS TO RUTLAND WATER.

I decided to have two trips to Rutland, one to the Egletone Reserve and one to Lyndon, neither were that productive bird wise but I had a good walk about and saw several people I had met on previous visits.

On my first visit to the Egleton Reserve, I made my way through the hides and eventually arrived in Sandpiper Hide, here I met a gent who said "we have a Kingfisher keeps landing in the reeds to the front of the hide", so it was keep your eyes peeled and see what happens. After about five minutes I saw the bird flying around at the end of the bay and it eventually landed some  80 metres away from the hide, somewhat different to my last post where I had to change the focus distance onto the shortest for the lens, they were almost in the lens hood. 

I then visited Shoveler Hide but nothing much was showing so I headed for Buzzard Hide where a Bittern had been reported, here I met up with a husband and wife both firing of shots at a great rate of knots, the husband said Kingfishers to the front of us, which I soon spotted but these were in excess of one hundred metres away. 

I then had a quick visit to Crake Hide where another gent said "Kingfisher in the reeds," which sure enough it was, but buried much too deep in to get an image. I then returned quickly to Shoveler hide as I thought the Kingfishers would be closer than I had seen them from Buzzard hide, and sure enough they were { still about 60 metres away} and the couple from Buzzard Hide and the gent from Sandpiper Hide were already in place.

I have returned several times to the Leicestershire Reserve to try for more close up Kingfisher images but the birds appear to have moved on and not been seen for a couple of weeks unfortunately.

I then on the 6th of October had a visit to the Lyndon Centre, my first return since the Ospreys headed South. I had a very pleasant, but very quiet with only me on site walk about and visited all the hides but similar to Egleton, still short on Winter visitors.

After both visits out I had my tea at Eyebrook Reservoir but nothing of consequence was seen either times.

I drove through the Little Owl sites on both outings and again saw no birds unfortunately.  

EGLETON RESERVE.

Great White Egret. Grebe Hide. Lagoon 2.

Unfortunately a long shot, hopefully in time we will find the birds closer to a hide. 

Little Egret, Sandpiper Hide. Lagoon 4.

Kingfisher, Sandpiper Hide. Lagoon 4.

First seen by a gent already in the hide when I arrived but then he had lost it. I managed to find it some 80 metres plus away sat in some reeds.
Sorry for the image quality. 

It then moved onto an old tyre where it sat for a good time and was still in place when I left the hide.

Kingfisher, Buzzard Hide.

This bird upon checking was 120 metres from the hide and the lens was more tending to focus on the box the bird sat on.

This being the second bird from Buzzard hide. 

Kingfisher Female, Shoveler Hide.

This is one of the birds I had seen from Buzzard Hide, the second bird had departed, probably sitting to the front of Buzzard. 

Green Sandpiper, Shoveler Hide.

Just I was about to leave when this beauty turned up.

LYNDON CENTRE.

6th October.

I arrived for about 14.30 hrs and had a walk around all the reserve, I spent some time in Waderscrape Hide and it seemed lonely without the Ospreys to amuse us. Lets hope they have all arrived safely in Africa.

Kestrel, to the rear of the Centre.

This bird was hovering over the grass area to the rear of the centre.  

Heron, by Tufted Hide.

This bird flew in and landed on this branch and put the fear of god into the poor Egret.

Cormorant, Tufted Hide.

This bird sat on these dead roots about fifty metres from the hide, Rutland is a wonderful place to visit but most of your images are over a reasonable distance. 

Ruff, Shallow Water Hide.

This bird was with me most of the time I was in the hide but never came very close. 

Cormorant on Osprey Nest, Shallow Water Hide.

As you can see the Ospreys have placed plenty of nest material ready for next season. Before they return the nest will have been rebuilt by the permanent site staff.  

Lapwing, Shallow Water Hide.

Still not arriving in large numbers, more have arrived at Eyebrook Reservoir.

 

Cock Pheasant, on the fence opposite Deep Water Hide.

As I walked back to the car park, I saw this bird fly in and couldn't resist a shot.

He then decided to have a call.

UPDATE ON OUR BARN OWLS.

We still have the young male with us keeping himself very comfortable in the large box. Hope fully he will move on sometime soon, lets hope its before the next mating season. Trying to get confirmation as to whether this is still an active nest site, the law for schedule 1 birds states " A nest site is still active until the last bird leaves or dies." Will keep you up to date.  

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