A LITTLE OWL SITE RETURNS. THEN ONTO RUTLAND AND EYEBROOK.

I had my normal Thursday visit out and as usual took the route through the Little Owl sites and  I have my lunch at site 9, and sat to the front of the hole was a bird, I must admit this really lifted the day. I had seen a bird also at site 8 so still time to make up the numbers as Spring comes along.

I then visited the Lyndon Reserve as I had been told that some Little Grebes were about at Teal Hide. On arrival I could see the birds, three in total but a considerable distance out from the hide. The wind was really blowing and straight into the hide with the waves splashing into the concrete base blocks the hide sits on and several times great lumps of water came in through the windows all over me and the camera.

Eventually one and then two of the birds came that bit closer, to within about 50 metres of me but still a good distance away. I spent about an hour trying for some decent images and then got on my way for Eyebrook Reservoir to see what I could find, Smew were reported  at Stoke Dry and also clouds were starting to roll in. I was told on Wednesday that as soon as I put my camera in the car, that's the death knell for the weather {and it does appear that way unfortunately}. 

It does seem at the moment I am having to take all long distance images, just wish some of the birds would co operate and come that bit closer.

Little Owl Site No. 8.

This bird had tucked itself well into the hollow in the tree to get out of the wind.

 Little Owl Site No. 9.

What a wonderful surprise to stop for my lunch and to find a bird in the nest hole, the first sighting for a considerable time and long over due. Lets hope both birds have returned or two new birds have taken over the nest.

RUTLAND WATER.

LYNDON RESERVE.

Little Grebe, Teal Hide.

Two of the three birds I could see from the hide. This image has been very heavily cropped but then eventually one of the birds came that bit closer.

This bird came within about fifty metres of the hide, so again images were heavily cropped.

This wave started to break in front of the bird. I had many wasted images due to the birds suddenly going out of view as the wave passed.

Such a beautiful and very busy bird, as soon as I focused on any of the birds they had gone and I then had to wait for them to return to the surface, find them and start again. 

Coming to the top of a wave. 

Birds are all in Winter Plumage.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

I then drove over to Eyebrook with the hope of seeing the Smew , this I did but they were just off from Stoke Dry which was a direct into the sun shot so no chance of anything any good unfortunately.

I had a drive about, spent some time on the bridge  and some time in one of the bunker hides but by then the sun had gone and we finished up with it raining, must be putting the camera in the car???

 Cock Pheasant, under the bird feeders at the Bridge.

Same spot I took the Hen Pheasant image last week, they are really a very beautiful bird, luckily this bird has moved away from the area where the shoots take place, lets hope it has the sense not to return.

 

Blue Tit, by the feeders.

This bird has a crossed bill.

The crossed bill shows more on this image.

Kestrel, Near Stockerston Village.

This bird sat on the top of a tall tree about 50 metres from the road.

Red Kite from Bunker Hide, Near the Island.

Two birds suddenly arrived whilst I visited one of the bunker hides, must admit it was rather cold and windy but went back to the car and put my coat on and it was fine then. Then it became cloudy and eventually rained. 

They are such a graceful bird to watch in flight.

The second bird appeared from over the reservoir but was unfortunately partially obscured by a tree on the island. 




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