I initially could not decide where to visit on my trip out, our weather has been so very variable, however the Ospreys won, so I headed for the Lyndon Centre at Rutland even though it was initially very cloudy.
On arriving I had a chat with Rebecca, {the new Tim as she has been called}, she is obviously very keen on the Osprey Project so all the best to the girl.
On arriving in Waderscrape Hide, I found it to be virtually full of people and finished up getting roped in to help with questions from people in the hide which is really what the volunteers are on site for so I could not complain.
After a while some people moved on and things got quieter so I had a chance to try for some images of the birds about. I manged a few and then an even larger contingent arrived, a party of people from Nottingham. I was just talking with them and explaining where the nest was, where the adult birds were, the scopes and other things when all of a sudden, a not large bird flashed by the hide very low, a Merlin, four of us saw the bird but none of us got even a record shot, I think we were all so stunned at seeing what is a very rare bird for us.
Things again settled down and I managed some images then said my good byes to the volunteers on duty and people in the hide, my idea being to have a quick visit to Eyebrook Reservoir to have a look for any Ospreys fishing. I only saw one bird but it was a considerable distance away so I didn't bother even picking the camera up.
During this visit we had eight Ospreys on site, this included two pairs.
During this visit we had eight Ospreys on site, this included two pairs.
Female Osprey, Waderscrape Hide.
When I first arrived in the hide, the female sat on the 'T' post eating a fish that 33 had brought in earlier, this is her flying close to the water washing her feet.
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She then flew round the bay and headed for the nest. |
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To join the Male. |
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She then however flew up onto the camera post leaving the Male on the nest. He then departed and returned after about ten minutes. |
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Carrying some hay for the nest bowl. |
Sometimes the return can be entertaining if his aim for a landing spot is not that good.
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He was then away again leaving the female at the nest. |
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Only to return this time with another stick. |
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This time she had to duck with the approaching stick. Male Ospreys will return with all types of things, the other day on the camera he returned with a Teasel stem with Teasels attached. |
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Stick in place. |
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A lady then whispered "somethings moving in the reeds" and this Muntjac Deer made its way into view. |
It walked around the edge of the bay and then something disturbed it and it was away. Unfortunately partially obscured by bulrushes.
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Great Northern Diver, Waderscrape Hide. This bird had been reported by the hide for two days but would not come close, checking the distance with a buoy it was near to, it was 520 metres away. The two images are really only record shots. |
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I am not sure as to whether this is an adult in Winter plumage or a juvenile. |
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Greylag Geese, in Field on my walk back to the Centre About fifty of these birds were in a field on the way back to the centre, I had to find a hole in the hedge so as to be able to see through. |
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Blue Tit, Our Garden. This image shows this little beauty and also that spring has hopefully started with these buds about to burst. |
Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did in the getting of the images.
