After seeing the Barn Owl on my last evening trip to Eyebrook, I decided to have another visit but later in the day. So after getting my wife's tea I headed away with my packed tea to see what if anything was about.
On arrival I could see plenty of Common Terns around the rafts. So I settled for my tea and kept a watch out for anything happening.
After a short time two Ospreys appeared on the far side of the reservoir, this even for me was pushing the distance so left the camera on the seat and finished my tea, my thoughts being they may fly closer on the return but unfortunately I never saw them again.
After a short time two Ospreys appeared on the far side of the reservoir, this even for me was pushing the distance so left the camera on the seat and finished my tea, my thoughts being they may fly closer on the return but unfortunately I never saw them again.
EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.
7th May.
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Common Tern,. Tern Raft. A bird I am always very fond of, such acrobatic flying. After being on site for a while a lady arrived and was talking to a gent , they then came and had a chat, they ring the young terns. Apparently they ringed 39 last year from two rafts, not bad going. |
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We had a continuous movement of birds all the while I was on site. The raft was 232 metres away from where I was parked. |
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Bird caught in flight, just over 120 metres away. |
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Immature Black-backed Gull. This bird suddenly appeared, initially it flew over the Tern raft but then it flew back up the reservoir, turned back and flew by me about 120 metres away. My they are a big beast indeed. |
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It eventually landed about 50 metres short of the Tern raft and caught a fish. The yellow effect on the water is the reflection of a field of oil seed rape on the far side of the rervoir. |
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After a short time it decided to be away. |
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This bird has a wing span in excess of 1.8 metres so very difficult to miss. |
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Whilst taking these images another gent joined me trying for some shots, we then spent the remainder of the evening together watching for the Barn Owl that unfortunately did not appear, always another evening. |
MANTON BAY,
WADERSCRAPE HIDE.
10th May.
This week I was able to carry out my Osprey duty at the Lyndon Centre and had a duty with Shelagh, we had a very busy afternoon as we have all three eggs hatched and mum is feeding the young on a regular basis and the weather was reasonable, a little windy but not over bad.
We had several intruder birds into the bay but all were seen way by the male and peace soon returned to the nest.
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Sedge Warbler, Waderscrape Hide. These delightful little birds were darting around in the reeds all afternoon, but with us being so busy with visitors it was difficult to pick up the camera. We seemed to be monitoring as to what the birds were doing or explaining to people about the Ospreys and moving the scopes. It was a wonderful afternoon. |
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Male Osprey, 33/11, Waderscrape Hide. Just having a quick snack on a roach. |
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Female Osprey, Waderscrape Hide. Here sitting up alarmed as we had an intruder in the bay. 33 was straight onto the job, dropped the fish on the nest on the way by and up into action. |
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This time it was an immature Great Black-backed gull. We had three further intruders, all Ospreys and all three were sent away. |
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The victor returns but before landing on the nest he has a trip around the field behind the nest. |
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And pick up a lump of hay for the nest. |
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Here the female is feeding the young and the male is sitting on the camera post. When the female had finished feeding he shot in and stole the fish. |
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And was away to his favourite perch on the fallen tree and had a feed for a few minutes, but then we had an intruder so he returned the fish to the nest and got on with his job.  33/11 returning with a fish. 33 bringing a fish to feed the three young in the nest bowl. |
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Canada Goose, Shallow Water Hide. After finishing our duty I had a quick visit to Shallow Water hide. This goose swam by about 30 metres away. |
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It then came slightly closer. |
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It then proceeded to have a bath, a much more sedate happening than last weeks with the Greylag Goose. |
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This was the end of the bath and then the bird flew away. |
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Mallard Drake, Shallow Water Hide. This bird decided to have a stretch and a good flap of the wings. |
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Beautiful duck which after this flew away, all the birds have done this today!!!! |
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Whitethroat Male, walk back to the car park. This bird attracted my attention as it was singing its head off. In a bush where I have seen them before. Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did in the getting of the images. |
Absolutely stunning John, I love the Terns and the Osprey, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob,
DeleteThe Osprey duty was very busy hence so few images, unfortunately one of the chicks died last night but we still have two strong looking young.
Terns to me are always a delight to watch as they fly about, mind always difficult to get an image from as they twist and turn.
All the best, John
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteSorry I didn't visit your blog earlier but I am still beween trips to Africa!
your post is great with lovely flight photos and I know how difficult it is for th AF to grab the subject when there is a backgroung! LOL!
I hope you are well and enjoying better weather than where I am at the foot of the Pyrenees!
Take care :)
Hi Noushka,
ReplyDeleteYou are becoming a real world traveller, where nest??
Its always a difficult decision with AF to get decent images over a long distance. Do you use single point or twelve point, as you say I invariably get some superb background images.
I am very well thank you and we are having some very good weather at last, I hope it improved for you.
All the best, John
Hi John.. Fantastic place to birdwatching.. Nice shots.. Congrats.. :-)))
ReplyDeleteHi Ana,
ReplyDeleteI have had some wonderful times in the hides at Rutland and in the car at Eyebrook.
Glad you enjoyed my efforts.
Enjoyed your last post, very different.
All the best, John
Hi John,
ReplyDeletethe fish thieves are also very nice to see.
You had the tea on the go and that way you could take pictures anyway.
The common tern in flight and the seagull are nicely shot. I also see a beautiful and sharp reed singer. Really super! The common tern is perhaps from a little too far away but there are really nice and nice pictures. Cool to see the three guys :-)))
The Canadian goose is very beautiful but the wild duck with its spread wings is fantastic! Beautiful photo of the warbler.
I enjoyed your photos again.
Very nice weekend.
Kind regards, Helma
Hi Helma,
ReplyDeleteThe Osprey are such fascinating birds to watch, I can never get bored in watching.
I find to take my tea with me is lovely way to spend an evening, very relaxing.
I agree with the common Tern, why are they always just that little to far away.
That was one of the last images of the three young, since then we have lost one and are down to two.
Must admit my favourite is the White Throat, such a beautiful little bird singing away wonderfully.
All the best and you have a good weekend and week, John
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful diversity in your post ! It's a nice colony of Tern. Have you ever seen juvenils ?
Good activity with Osprey.
And Mallard applaud with me :) Thank you for your debrief with birds.
Have a good sunday.
Hi Nathalie,
DeleteI must admit I had a wonderful afternoon out, busy but great fun.
The Terns breed at Eyebrook every year, last year they ringed 39 young, not bad going.
The Ospreys are doing very well, we unfortunately lost one of the young last week, but the other two are really looking strong.
Sorry for the late reply, all the best, John
Extraordinarias fotos e información, la foto del águila pescadora dentro del nido con la cámara de seguimiento me ha encantado. Un fuerte abrazo John desde España.
ReplyDeleteHola German,
DeleteGracias pot tu visita.
Tuve una tarde maravillosa de srvicio con las hermosas aguilas pescadoras.
Si vas a mi blog y las parte inferior de las publicacion de Osprey, si haces clic en esta en la parte superior derecha estan las camaras en vivo en el nido.
Todo lo mejor de Inglaterra, John
Super collection of images! Favourite shots are the Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat, also love the sequences of Canada Goose and Mallard. Beautiful! Also like the various reflections on the water. Would not have expected some due to Oil Seed Rape in fields. M
ReplyDeleteHi Margaret,
DeleteSorry for the late reply but I have had a connection problem with the internet.
I was most surprised with the yellow effect on the water from the oil seed rape, something different I suppose.
My favourite has to be the White Throat, it was singing away.
See you soon.
All the best to you both, John.
It is always a great delight to see pictures of Common Terns, John. When I see them in flight I always think that they are masters of choreography. And how could I not like the shots of a CANADA Goose!
ReplyDeleteHi David,
DeleteCommon Terns are as you say always a delight to watch, they are so like acrobats in flight, I was watching I White Winged Black Tern on Sunday but it never came close enough for a decent image, beautiful bird with its white tail and red beak.
Of course the CANADA Goose has to be tops for you, who wants to live in somewhere called Mallard!!!
All the best to you both, John