OUT AGAIN IN THE SUN.
THIS CANNOT LAST.

The first images are the remaining images from my trip last week to the Egleton Reserve.

This week I had my normal trip out on Thursday afternoon but I had to visit the Volunteer Centre, which unfortunately took a reasonable chunk out of my time out, it also meant I had to drive straight through to Rutland and miss out the Little Owl sites so as to arrive in time. My thoughts being I would hopefully call by on my homeward journey.

Having eventually managed to leave the centre I headed for Eyebrook Reservoir even though the sun was shining the forecast said we had a reasonable chance of rain so I decided to stay as close as possible to the car, also it was not over warm, that is for us softies.

On arriving I had drive round the outer route through Stockerston and heading towards Horninghold village looking for any Red Kites that were about. I only saw the one and as it would have been a shot virtually straight into the sun, I didn't bother in stopping.

So after this it was a case of a drive around the reservoir to see what was about and also look for anybody I recognised to ask what they had seen. I spent about one hour in the bunker hides and had a reasonable afternoon and then headed back towards home passing through the Little Owl sites where I saw two birds.

As I said above this cannot last, we are at the moment in an awful cold blast and have had several blizzards during the day, As I post this blog we are in the throes of a full blown blizzard.    Oh happy days?????




RUTLAND WATER.
EGLETON RESERVE.
15th February.

Mallard Drake, Grebe Hide, Lagoon 2.

As I have said previously, these birds being so common we tend to ignore them but they as such an underrated duck.

Mallard Drake, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.


This bird was in a small area of water away to the left of the hide.

Snipe, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

Another gent in the hide, whom I have met on a previous occasion, asked if I had seen the Snipe amongst the reeds  on the island. my reply being I could not even see the island where I was sitting, so he said I'm away if you want to come in my place you are welcome, so this I did, but the Snipe kept themselves well hidden and took me so time to finish with some images.

You can just make out the two birds in this image, you can see the problem with reeds and grass.

Back to the single bird, after this I put my attention onto other things.

Northern Pintail Drake, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

Several birds were visible from the hide but mostly a long way out on the lagoon. Eventually some birds came that much closer so I had a try for them. Still about 70 metres away.

  

Whilst feeding they appear to use the tail as a counterbalance.

This bird then swam across the front of the hide in the main body of the lagoon with slightly rougher water.

 Pair of Pintail Ducks, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.

This pair then swam in closer.

Duck decides to have a feed whilst the Drake looks on.

Another bird that is on my favourite list for Ducks.

After this they all flew out into the main body of the Lagoon, even farther than when I first saw them.

Wigeon, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.


This group of Wigeon then flew into an area about 150 metres from the hide.

This bird split away from the group and came that bit closer.

Shelduck Drake, Shoveler Hide, Lagoon 3.


My luck was staying with me as these birds flew in and then swam past the hide, not over close but close enough for some reasonable images, I wish the Smew had been as close.

What a beautiful head.

Second Drake.

Single Duck swimming as fast as possible to catch up with the two Drakes.

Shoveler Duck, Osprey Hide, Lagoon 2.

This pair were feeding in a small bay away from the main body of the Lagoon.

Shoveler Drake, Osprey Hide.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.
22nd February.

Goldeneye Drake, Lower Bunker Hide.

This bird was a good distance away from the hide but also upon seeing me it decided to go farther away still. I could see another three but they were even farther away.

Greylag Goose, Lower Bunker Hide.


A goose I have always thought to be a delight., they descend from the Asian Swan Goose.

Great Black-backed gull, Lower Bunker Hide.

This huge gull is a formidable predator, regular victims include other seabirds as well as rabbits and rodents, and with a wingspan of almost 1.6 metres, it has very little that is going to bother it.
This bird sat well out in the reservoir and only decided to fly when I went to take an image.
They have no hesitation in attacking the Osprey in the summer months with the intention of stealing the fish.

Wigeon, Higher Bunker Hide.


This is a problem with Eyebrook, the ducks tend to swim close to the shore and invariably get partially obscured by reeds.

Robin, Stoke Dry.


Stood chatting to a pal when this bird appeared, this is a gent I used to see when I visited the Short Eared Owls when I fed the Robins with Hobnob biscuits, in fact he was the gent who took the image for me of the Robin feeding on Hobnob biscuits in my hand, so his first comment was "give him a Hobnob".

Buzzard Between Little Owl Sites Nos. 1 and ; 2.

Taking my return trip through the Little Owl Sites I came across this bird sat in a tree, it stopped in place whilst I stopped the car and got this image and then was gone.

Little Owl Site No. 2.


I decided before arriving at the site if I could see a bird in the hole I would drive by and turn around as I could then get an image from the drivers side of the car. Drove by and could see nothing but turned around, returned and sat up in the tree not bothered by me at all was this beauty.

Little Owls Site No. 6.


As I approached this site I could see this bird enjoying the last of the suns rays. I'm sure as soon as the sun goes down this bird goes into the barn to get the warmth from the cattle.


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




BARN OWL UPDATE.

I am still finding pellets under the large box but even with the cameras on I cannot see any birds, in this box the adults tend to roost either on the top of the entrance baffle or a roof joist.
If the weather is as the forecast, I will put some food out every evening.