WHAT A DIFFERENCE HAVING SOME

                ''SUN''

For my Thursday trip I decided as the sun was shining to have a visit to the Egleton Centre and have a try for the Ospreys in the sun, something that has been a very rare commodity of late. Also I am on duty next week so I thought I would make the best of a look around at my leisure.

So I got underway from home for about 12.00 hrs and headed directly for Rutland, arriving at the centre at about 13.00 hrs. How different it all appeared with people sitting outside on the benches having lunch enjoying the sun, I spent a few minutes with Anya as she was also outside having lunch and had an update on the activities with the Ospreys around the reserve.

I then got underway down the site calling in at all the hides through to Waderscrape Hide, I should have seen a Slavonian Grebe and two Great Northern Divers at Deepwater Hide, but with three people in the hide with scopes, non of these birds were about.

Luckily I had put my boots on as the path between the hides was very muddy but a route I prefer rather than the stoned path as it keeps you closer to the waters edge and the birds, 

Next I had a quick visit into Tufted Duck hide where I only saw two swans at about 35 metres away.

So onto Waderscrape Hide and a quick chat with the two ladies on duty, a check on which bird was where then onto Shallow Water hide for a leisurely afternoon. 

Little Egret, Shallow Water Hide.

This single Little Egret was minding its own business and happily feeding in amongst the reeds, this image I took when first arriving in the Hide. Then two of the local hooligan Egrets arrived and the following ensued.

I was here doing catch up as I missed the first encounter and by this time one of the intruders had already departed.

It appears one intruder bird was trying to land on top of the first.

One bird well airborne but both with bills open and ready to attack. 

As is evident the encounter became heated and both birds really attacked each other.

A locking of bills. 

Both birds airborne again. 

This all happened just over fifty metres from me so all the images are heavily cropped. 

And then after about ten minutes it was all over and done with and both birds headed across the bay towards the Osprey nest.

Female Osprey, Shallow Water Hide.

As I arrived, 33/11 took over incubation duties and the female flew onto the 'T 'post for a quick preen.

Shallow Water Hide to the 'T 'post measures 240 metres.

The female then had a fly about, here showing to the left of the nest whilst 33 sits on the eggs.

  

She approaches the nest having flown around the bay and the field behind the nest, 33 keeping an eye on her to see what is happening. 

Just about to land and you can just make out 33 head below her. 

And down, what a difference the sun makes in quality. Very heavily cropped images. 

The she flew onto the camera post where she was for the remainder of my visit.

Mute Swan, Male, Tufted Duck Hide.

A pair of swans were feeding at about 35 metres away.

Here with a bill full of reed stems.

Juvenile Mute Swan, Male, Shallow Water Hide.

Two juveniles swam across the front of the hide, unfortunately being chased. 

Mute Swan, Male, Shallow Water Hide.

By this heavy weight showing full battle colours chased away both juveniles before they could get any closer to me, shame.  

Mute Swan, Male, Shallow Water Hide.

I then heard some flapping of wings on water to my right, looking out I could see this swan heading towards me.

  

Pleased to have caught the water reflections on the underside.
  

Suddenly decided to land short of the hide, I was hoping it would fly by. 

This pair were doing a circular dance together. 

Great Crested Grebe, Shallow Water Hide.

Normally at this time of the year we get Grebes coming close to the hide but not this week, usually we have nests close by.

Mallard Drake, Shallow Water Hide.

This bird came for me relatively close, I could not resist taking an image.

They really are a beautiful duck.

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

TWO TRIPS TO EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

I decided on Monday the 26th as the sun was shining to have a quick trip across to Eyebrook Reservoir, firstly to meet up with a friend and also hopefully see some Ospreys closer. The friend I met up with but I missed the Ospreys by about an hour, mind it was wonderful to be out on this lovely sunny afternoon with really mild temperatures, I just stood about in just a shirt and thin sweater, I thought make the best of it with what is forecast for Easter, they say more snow.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR, FIRST VISIT.

26th March.

Red Kites.

These three birds appeared very high, this image on 600mm lens prior to cropping.

 Red Kite very heavily cropped.

Getting lower but farther away.

I had really gone to visit hoping for the Ospreys but Red Kites are a good second best.

After this time was going by and so I started to head for home.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR, SECOND VISIT.
29th March.

The weather forecast said sunshine and showers, they were partially correct with the showers bit, at one time it absolutely poured just as my first Osprey arrived, I managed a couple of shots in the rain but then it poured and the bird just went out of view, blocked by this wall of rain.
I spent about half an hour waiting for this storm to subside and when it eventually did we had about ten minutes of sun then the clouds returned but then a second Osprey turned up looking for fish.
Even though cloudy I stood a better chance of seeing this bird, I was told later on that the first bird fished by the dam, caught a fish and headed away.
Later on a a very pale Buzzard flew by.   

Red Kite, Near Horninghold Village.

This bird was flying around a field just outside the village.

Black Headed Gull, Eyebrook Reservoir.

This was a practice shot for when or if the Osprey turned up, shame the Osprey didn't come as close, but I'm sure through the Summer they will.

  

 First Osprey to visit.

By this time it was raining really hard, hence the bad quality, after these two images the bird just disappeared, engulfed in the rain. It was flying just over the Tern raft which on checking is 180 metres from me. 

Second Osprey to arrive.


No rain but very cloudy, I had to work at ISO 3000, not the best. The bird was again in the area of the Tern raft so in the region of 180 metres away. 

They are such a wonderful bird to watch, mind if I had the choice, I think I would have stayed in Africa a little longer. 

After this the bird went down the reservoir towards the dam.

Common Buzzard.

When I first saw this bird, with it being so pale I thought it may have been a Honey Buzzard. Honey Buzzards will not pass through until May and it has not got the dark banding on the tail. Just a very pale bird. 

It did just a few circles and was then gone on the wind. 

Little Owl Site No. 8.

What with Osprey duties and other things, this is the first time for a week or two I have passed through the Little Owl sites. Saw a couple of farmers who have seen birds but this was my only positive sighting.

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