WE HAVE HAD SOME AWFUL WEATHER THEN HOPEFULLY A CHANGE, BUT NOT FOR LONG.

The weather with us has been dire and I have had three trip out with a mixture of very dark clouds, rain, sleet and snow then eventually some sun but this was interrupted by a very sharp downpour of rain.

My first trip out was to Rutland Water on the 11th of January for a try to see the Smew of which fourteen had been recorded as being on Lagoon 4.  So I headed for the Volunteer Centre to cut down the walk to the lagoon, parked the car and had a quick chat and got under way to Plover Hide, where no Smew were evident. I then got under way to visit Sandpiper Hide to see if I could locate them, but meeting up with a gent walking the other way from Sandpiper Hide who told me they were not anywhere to be seen from the hide I turned round and headed towards Eyebrook Reservoir. The light was awful and it had started to drizzle with rain, so it was a quick visit to Eyebrook and then onto home.

Little Owl Site No. 6.

Having visited this site on numerous occasions, it was excellent to pass by and see this bird sat in its normal position keeping out of the wind and rain. 

Red Kite Between Little Owl Sites 6 and 7.

Took this image quickly in the hope the bird would come closer, this was not to be as it circled and went farther away. 

RUTLAND WATER.

LYNDON CENTRE. 

This was my second visit out on the 18th of January and I decided to visit the Lyndon Reserve as some waders had been reported at Shallow Water Hide  so after a steady walk down the site in the sun!!! calling in at Deepwater Hide, Tufted Duck Hide, Waderscrape Hide and eventually Shallow Water Hide. Very little was seen unfortunately so I decided to head back to the car park and then onto Eyebrook. The sun was still shining but by the time I arrived it had clouded over and started raining, so I parked in my normal spot and the rain changed to sleet and then we had about 20 minutes of very heavy snow which eventually turned back to sleet. This eventually stopped but by this time even though the sun was showing on the horizon, the light was going and so I decided to go home. 

Osprey Nest, Waderscrape Hide.

Still empty and awaiting the return of the cameras, the nest and cameras will be looked at in the next week or two. Its not that long before we will have the birds returning hopefully for another successful season.

Cormorant, Tufted Duck Hide.


This tree is normally covered in the birds but only two were visible today.

Red Kite, Near Stockerston Village.

Awful image but shows an orange wing tag which indicates this bird was tagged in Yorkshire.

A QUICK VISIT TO THE LYNDON CENTRE AND THEN ONTO EYEBROOK.

I decided to have another visit to the Lyndon Centre as it was reported that Goldeneye were showing at Teal Hide. I drove over to Rutland and passed the Little Owl sites but again none were seen unfortunately.

Teal Hide is very close to the centre so on arrival I was in the hide in a matter of minutes and upon opening the shutters I could see some Goldeneye but about 100 metres away but with the noise of the shutter opening they were all moving away from the hide so it was a case of sit tight and wait to see if they came any closer. initially only one Drake came any closer but never as close as I would have wished.

So after about half an hour I decided to have a visit over to Eyebrook as a Merlin had been reported the previous afternoon, again no report for me. I have never seen a Merlinn but as they say 'live in hope'.

The sun was out for a reasonable time but rain returned later in the afternoon, will this weather ever pick up.

One good point from all the rain and bad weather, Rutland Water has really come up in level so hopefully by the time the Ospreys return it will be full.

  

Mallard Drake, Teal Hide.


This bird swam by about 50 metres away whilst I waited for the Goldeneye to decide to come closer.

Goldeneye Drake, Teal Hide.

This bird was the first to start to venture back towards me and this image was taken whilst the bird was in excess of 100 metres away.

A little closer and a stretch and shake.

This taken at about 70 metres, I think they are a really delightful duck. No signs of any courtship displays, give it another month. 

A second bird then came in that bit closer, the females were much farther out into the reservoir.

I must have had about 30 ducks away from the hide but the above were the only ones that came that bit closer.

Cormorant, Teal Hide.

This bird flew then flew by so a quick change of settings and hope for the best.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

  

Red Kite, Between Stockerston and Horninghold Villages.

This bird has a small white wing tag indicating it is an East Midlands tagged bird. {local}

Cormorant and Lapwings, the Island point.

These birds sat on the point of an area they call the island, the water level has again dropped from being full two weeks ago. Looks like a Golden Plover to the front. 

Another Lapwing arrives.

Red Kite, Opposite Stoke Dry.


I had just parked when this bird flew by being pushed along on a brisk wind.

Same bird.

These two birds were seen whilst I stood on the bridge crossing the entrance stream, {the Eye Brook} entering the Reservoir.

This bird flew virtually directly over the top of me.

This bird then flew by from the right but a reasonable distance away.

In total I had seen ten Red Kites during my visit, some of which however were much to far away to even consider trying for an image. 

Teal Drake and female. Entrance stream.

With the Garganey Duck, Teal are the smallest of our ducks.

  

Hen Pheasant, Under the Bird feeders by the Bridge.

We always take images of the Cock Pheasant but the Hens are also a beautiful bird.

Blue Tit, Near the Bird Feeders.

Hardly in pristine feathering but still a beautiful little bird. 

Great Tit, by the Bird Feeders.

About in reasonable numbers picking up seed where others had dropped it. Only about 18 metres away, why can't some of the other bird come this close. 

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