A VISIT IN BAD WEATHER TO EYEBROOK AND THEN GOOD WEATHER AT RUTLAND WATER.

Having changed my afternoon visit out from the Thursday to Friday the 21st of September due to the weather forecast, I still however whilst at Eyebrook had very cloudy skies, occasional heavy rain and very high winds, so not really the best birding weather.

The best images I managed were of a Buzzard that had decided to sit it out on the ground so as to get out of the wind, so unfortunately that was the sum of my efforts.

I saw a considerable number of  House Martins that had just stopped on the way South for a quick feed and were away after a short time. I tried for some images but what with the high wind and dull conditions none were of use.

My next trip out was to Rutland Water at the Egleton Reserve on Thursday the 27th of September when the weather was considerably better.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

Buzzard, near to the inflow.

This bird sat on the ground to get out of the high wind, even so you can see the feathers on its back being blown about.

If I stand up like this I look so much taller and I can run away.

A split second after taking this image it flew away and was gone in a second as the wind took it.

RUTLAND WATER.

27th September.

I arrived at the Egleton Centre for 13.00 hrs and after a quick chat with David in the office to see what was about before I got underway to visit the hides.

Being a much better afternoon weather wise it was a case of a short sleeve shirt and enjoy the 24 deg weather.

Great White Egret, Buzzard Hide, Lagoon 3.

On arriving in the hide I could see two GWE standing on an island some 196 metres away, and as I was about to get an image this bird started to fly towards me so it was a quick change in settings and the result is above. At this time the bird was about 60 metres away. 

  Remaining Great White Egret, Buzzard Hide, Lagoon 3.

G W E still on island with Cormorants and Tufted Ducks in the foreground.

Grey Heron, Buzzard Hide, Lagoon 3.

I find it very difficult not to take images of Heron, unfortunately I was getting the flight image of the GWE when this bird arrived.

    

Little Egret, Crake Hide, South Arm, Main Reservoir.

Another bird I enjoy taking images of. This one sat on the far side of the inlet from the main reservoir on the rip rap stone.

How times have changed, this is another Little Egret slightly closer to the hide, when I went around the area with the bins I counted fifteen of the birds. I am sure in time it will be the same with the Great Whites. 

Green Sandpiper, Crake Hide,  South Arm.

Squelching around in the mud, this bird had eventually flown across from the far side of the inlet making it possible to get some better images.
 

Such a beautiful little wader nearly up to its knees in the mud.

After having been in Crake Hide for about fifteen minutes a Marsh Harrier appeared down on the point of the inlet and the Main Reservoir, it flew about and then disappeared  over the trees only to return a minutes or so later.

It then slowly worked its way along the far bank but kept disappearing over the trees, it was a case of watching the area and waiting.

It eventually got within 220 metres of me and the following happened.

I would not usually use these images but this bird did something most unexpected.

I have checked with my friend Rhys and several others and none have ever heard of a Marsh Harrier doing an Osprey.

Please forgive the image quality, the camera was tending to focus on the rip rap stone wall.

Female Marsh Harrier, {juvenile I think} Crake Hide.

This is when the bird first saw something and started to hover. 

It then slowly started getting lower.

And lower, by this time I was wondering as to what this bird was doing, I was most certainly not expecting what followed. 

Just dipping its talons into the water.

A little deeper, the water in this area must be 1.0 to 1.5 metre deep. 

And this is how it finished, with its tail feathers up and out the water but with the body well in with its wings up. 

Then it commenced to get out of the water with a black polythene bag gripped in its talons, this damn polythene and plastic gets everywhere. Had it seen a dark shape under the water and thought it was a fish. As to what it was doing I really don't have a clue but whatever it was the bird was very fortunate to get away with it. 

The final image with the black polythene bag deposited behind it. After this the bird flew away and I didn't see it again, but it certainly gave me some entertainment, also a few heart stopping moments.

Cormorant, Crake Hide.

These divers always appear to be on the verge of sinking they sit so low in the water. This bird was diving into an area of thick weed which I found surprising.

After another dive it surfaced and had a wing drying session, you can see the area of weed behind the bird.

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