AN EVENING AT EYEBROOK AND AN OSPREY DUTY.

I decided to have a quick visit to Eyebrook reservoir on Sunday evening {the 20th} as a White Winged Black Tern was still in residence, a bird I have never managed a decent image from, in fact any image from. So I got my wife's tea and my pack up and got under way for about 17.45 hrs. 

On arrival I could see the bird sat on a marker buoy not far from the Stoke Dry side of the reservoir, much to far away to even think of taking an image. It was a case of sit it out as the bird was very active and hopefully will come that much closer to me, firstly the bird came no closer but also with the flight of Terns it was up and down and all over the place in flight, I had some reasonable images of nothing and some very poor images of the bird invariably to the edge of the image. I had a look through another gents scope and wow what a stunning bird with its white flashes, white tail and red beak.

After this I eventually moved to the top of the reservoir for a look for the Barn Owl, this did not let me down other than the fact it was virtually dark but I still had to try for some images, I also talked with another gent who told me where the nest site was but this will be kept under wraps and left in peace.

Then on Thursday I had an Osprey Duty where the young birds are really coming on very well, the female leaves them sitting in the sun and only tucks them under her wings at night or when it rains, unfortunately we have had a few thunder storms over the last couple of days but they have come through these fine.

I was on duty with Barry and Shelagh and we had a very busy early part of the shift but later on it was the opposite.

We had another good afternoon watching the birds and had another intruder Osprey late afternoon , it was thought to be a recent arrival bird 2AA/16, and was totally ignored by 33.

  


EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

Black Headed Gull.

Having tried to get images of both Common Terns and the White Winged Black Tern, I finished taking the easy option, far less acrobatics with these.

Female Barn Owls,Near Entrance Brook.

It got to about 20.00 hrs so I headed up the Reservoir to look for the Barn Owl and after a bit of a wait she turned up, sorry for the quality but she was a very long distance from me and it was almost dark.
Taken at ISO 10,000 with - 1.00 EV. 

  

After finishing with the Barn Owl I looked up and decided on a quick image of the moon.

RUTLAND WATER.

OSPREY DUTY.

  

Mallard chicks, Tufted Duck Hide.

I had a quick visit into the hide on my way down to duty and out in the bay to the front was mum with eight ducklings.

Female Mallard, Tufted Duck Hide.

Mum bringing up the rear, not sure as to what had happened to the back of her head.

Pair of Mallard, Shallow Water Hide.

This pair were swimming by as I opened the hide window, beautiful ducks.

Male Reed Bunting, Waderscrape Hide.

This bird was appearing every few minutes with his beak full of food for the nest that was about 10 metres to the right of this perch point.

Tufted Duck Male, Shallow Water Hide.

He appeared following a female Tufted, Such a small duck but with a real sheen to its head.

Female Tufted Duck, Shallow Water Hide.

Here showing utter contempt to his advances. 

Male Osprey on Camera Post and Female on nest.

At the start of my duty and all was at peace in Manton Bay. 

Then the Male went on a fly about. 

And suddenly dived into the water. 

Then it was head up and a small flap of the wings. 

Starting to come out of the water. 

A little more. 

And clear. 

Having got clear he had a small fly about and then back in the water which he eventually did three times.

So after three baths, he had a fly about to dry, did the Osprey Shake, {that I missed an image from} and then returned to the nest .

Moorhen Chick, Waderscrape Hide.

This youngster and three siblings were about in the channels to the front of the hide most of the afternoon. Without webbed feet they seem to have to work very hard to get nowhere.
 

Chick with mum. 

Osprey Intruder into the Bay. Waderscrape Hide.

Suddenly both the adults on the nest were mantling and to start with we could see no intruder then Shelagh spotted this bird very high above the nest. 33 never put up a chase so the height must have put him at ease. Unfortunately due to the feathering its possible to see the blue ring but no number.
It was thought by the experts to be 2 AA a 2016 bird that was seen in Portugal in 2016, 2017 and earlier this year and has recently arrived home at Rutland Water.

Then a quick swoop and away towards the visitor centre.

Great Black-backed Gull, Juvenile.


This bird flew past the hide late afternoon, do tend to chase the males when returning with fish in the hope they drop the fish. They have increased in numbers resident on the reservoir over recent years.




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

Update on the Barn Owls, I have seen two birds and I saw a female leave the large box last night, so keep everything crossed.