ANOTHER VISIT TO EGLETON, FOLLOWED WITH A TRIP TO EYEBROOK.

I decided on Thursday the 18th to have an afternoon visit to Egleton to see what was around, on arrival at the centre and a quick talk with David it appeared very much the same as the previous week, apparently the Great White Egrets had risen to nineteen in number. So after a quick walk down to Shoveler Hide where nothing other than well in excess of a  thousand Tufted Ducks  well out in the lagoon was evident.

I then made my way around to Lapwing Hide, this hide covers both the Main Arm of the reservoir {South Arm 3} and Lagoon 2 from the other side, at times later in the year it get large numbers of ducks but very little was evident in the main area so I then looked into Lagoon two where I could see some Shoveler ducks.

I then finished up in Crake Hide for most of the remaining time.

Shoveler Duck, Lapwing Hide, Lagoon 2.

This was the only bird that was in a reasonable distance, but she unfortunately swam away and tucked herself away in some reeds instead of coming closer, why do they always do this.

   

Chiffchaff, Lapwing Hide, Lagoon 2.

Then after a few minutes waiting to see if any of the Shovelers came any closer or anymore flew in, all of a sudden I saw some movement to my right and this little beauty flew in to a bush within 15 metres of the hide.

It sat for a good five minutes and most certainly had me spotted but made no attempt to fly away.

It eventually flew away when another couple entered the hide but not until I had had my fill of getting some images. I then moved to Crake Hide as a Jack Snipe had been visiting in the morning and for several days previously, but not for me.

  

Great White Egret, Crake Hide, South Arm 3.

Nothing like the numbers that were evident previously, I counted twelve around the bay. This bird I caught just as it flew in and still has the air brakes and flaps out. 

This bird perched itself on a pile of weed that was no doubt washed up during the windy day a week ago. Decided just to have a quick scratch.

This bird also had just flown in and this time joined up with another GWE on a heap of weed.

Little Egret, Crake Hide, South Arm 3.

Here striding out with a purpose. 

Who's that down in the water!!!!

Grey Wagtail, Buzzard Hide, Lagoon 3.

Not the best of images, the bird sat on an island just over thirty metres away but I just had to try for some images, they are really such a lovely bird.

I suppose not that bad for saying the distance and the amount the image has been cropped.

Thufted Ducks, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

This image shows about a third of the birds that were way out in the lagoon, this is an uncropped image and they extended a  similar distance to both left and right.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

25th October.

I decided to have a visit to Eyebrook Reservoir, it was a beautiful sunny and warm day and likely to to be the last for a while to the forecast that has said we could have snow a bit farther North over the weekend.

Several reports of Whooper Swans visiting really swung my decision and again I would have the bonus of some Red Kite.

On arrival I met with a gent who I have met numerous times who likewise had not seen any Whooper, he said the same as me and also had seen no Kite.

During the afternoon I saw six, five of which would have been shots direct into the sun and the sixth was so high in the sky, I attempted and failed miserably, we did however manage some flight shots with both Canada and Greylag geese and in general had an entertaining and enjoyable afternoon and chat. 

Greylag Goose, Eyebrook Reservoir opposite Stoke Dry.

A large area of the top part of the reservoir  had large numbers of both Greylag and Canada geese that would take off and fly into the fields behind us on a regular basis. 

These four in close formation, how they were not touching wings.

Starting to split up a little.

At last getting more into a line. 

Three Canada and a single Greylag in this image, more were in the flight but this one I had to crop a great amount.

This is the bird of the left of the above pair, cropped for the above image and then some more for this.





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

I may try for the Deer Rut at Calke Abbey next week.