A VISIT TO EGLETON AND LYNDON.

Two weeks ago I decided to have another visit to Rutland Water, Egleton reserve to see if I could get any better images of the American Wigeon,  this was not to be as the bird was still on Lagoon 2, as its still is, but this time was even farther away, so I got on my way round to Sandpiper Hide, not much to see here either, so onto Shoveler Hide and unfortunately a very similar outlook, the water level had risen but very few birds at a reasonable distance. Onto Crake Hide  and a few birds not that distant but nothing to get excited about. Unfortunately it was very slow and only during this last week I see some Pintail Ducks have arrived so hopefully things can only get better. 

However I had a good walk around the Reserve and visited most of the Hides.

   

Juvenile Great Crested Grebes, Crake Hide.

This bird and the one below were swimming around together, and kept stopping. The bird to the front would turn around, the bird to the rear stopped, then the front bird would turn back around and carry on swimming. This process would then be repeated. 

Not got the beautiful red eye yet, still orange. 

Tufted Ducks. Crake Hide.

This pair were diving on the far side of the Lagoon.

One gone under the water boil and the other following.

Heron, Crake Hide.

As I have said before, I always find it difficult to resist taking an image of a Heron.

THE LYNDON RESERVE.

I arrived at Lyndon at approx 14.30 hrs having passed through the Little Owl sites and again seen nothing, its getting really depressing. After walking down to Deep Water hide and seeing nothing I then followed on down the site and arrived at Tufted Duck Hide. It was then I realised how much the reservoir had fallen in level with large areas that were water just a couple of weeks previous being dry, so very little was seen. It was a very peaceful visit being the only person on the reserve.

I then headed for my normal haunt Waderscrape Hide, the Osprey Hide, and on arriving  it really struck me as to how low the water had become in such a short period of time.

I would have normally followed on down to Shallow Water Hide but such low water any waders would have been a considerable distance away.

Osprey Nest, Manton Bay, Shallow Water Hide.

Normal water level is at the start of the long grass, the short green grass has grown this Autumn. The cameras have been taken down and sent away for a service, hopefully normal service will be resumed in the Spring. 

Great White Egret, Shallow Water Hide.

This bird is one of four I could see, it was walking along the far side of the bay at a distance of 360 metres. 

This one was to the left of the hide in the shallows some 150 metres away.

Number three is just below the embankment to Heron Bay. 500 metres away. 

Then a fourth bird flew in and pestered the first, always one trouble maker.

A QUICK VISIT TO EYEBROOK FOR TEA.

After leaving Rutland I headed for Eyebrook as a Marsh Harrier had been reported but never unfortunately it never appeared for me.

Unfortunately again very little was seen other than a large number of Greylag geese. Had my tea watching gulls chasing each other.

Less than a quarter of the birds, I kept think they were going to fly as they became very noisy, but unfortunately not in the end deciding to fly.

Heavily cropped version of the above image. 

MORE OF THE KINGFISHERS.

I had another visit for these little beauties and again they came very close, I have peck marks in the lens hood!!.

I only had a very short visit but it was most certainly worth it. I have been advised by Noushka that she believes these birds to be Juveniles due to the colouration of the feet . 

Juvenile Female Kingfisher.
Only visited the once and then only for a very short visit and then appeared to fly towards the stream and that was it. 

Even with a mostly rear view she is still a stunning bird.

Juvenile Male Kingfisher.
This young bird eventually arrived but he appeared to come in from the stream. He as in the case of the female didn't stay around very long. 
 

He had just landed with a fish but by the time I took the image he had swallowed it but his beak is still open. 

Barn Owl Update.

Our young Male is still in attendance in the large box. Having contacted the experts, they feel he will probably see the Winter out in the box and then move on as the weather improves. 

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