I decided for my Thursday visit to head for Rutland and the Egleton Centre, on the trip over, the weather was mostly cloudy and bright, but when getting in the Oakham area the heavens opened and we had heavy rain.
I arrived at the centre and decided to head to the Lyndon reserve thinking I could get into Teal Hide {where Whooper Swans had been seen} without getting very wet as the hide is close to the centre.
So I arrived , put my waterproofs on and headed for the hide only to find on arrival, workers were putting in concrete bases for a new hide and demolishing the existing hide, so much for my plans.
I then decided to cut my losses as it was still raining and have a quick visit to Eyebrook, the weather forecast was for the rain to go away late morning and it was already heading towards 13.30 hrs so really nothing to lose.
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Osprey Chain Saw sculpture, The Lyndon Centre. I have walked past this sculpture so many times and only took this image as the light was so poor as a test.
EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.
At least at Eyebrook you can stay in the car for a look about without getting wet through, so I had a look about, didn't see much but a Red Kite attracted my attention.
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Red Kite, Near Horninghold Village. I drove around the reservoir as the rain had decided to get lighter, I saw a Red Kite sitting in a tree, as I drove nearer it flew away but I noticed a road kill by the side of the road. After about 80 metres I found a gateway into a stables so I reversed into this and sat and waited to see what the bird would do. After a short time it landed in the tree but had got me spotted so I sat patiently and the bird seemed to settle down. |
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After a few minutes and some images sitting and waiting. |
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It then decided {as I had hoped} to fly down to the road and inspect the carcass. It looked to me as I drove past like a Moorhen. |
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I had only set the ISO at 1000, should have made it 5000. |
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It had a couple of flights during the time I watched it as cars went by. |
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In the short time I watched the bird, it had a real feast. |
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This is the first time I have ever managed to get any images of a Red Kite on the ground, they are normally so very nervous, but probably with the distance I was away it felt a more secure.
CALKE ABBEY.
2nd November.
As the weather had been so poor yesterday, I decided to have a quick visit to Calke Abbey for the Rut .
I arrived at about 14.30 hrs not wanting to be over late in leaving as it was a bird club evening so I went immediately to the area where the deer are usually about.
All I could see were Fallow deer but I could hear a Red Stag bellowing down in the valley but upon having a walk round I could still hear him but could find no sign of the beast.
The Fallow deer were showing very little signs of rutting so it was a case of take a few images and get home for tea and return another day or try elsewhere.
Fallow Deer Stag.
Showing very little, if any sign of the rut, he seemed perfectly happy just to lay on the ground and snooze.
 These three stags are perfectly at peace with each other, not what I was expecting.  Younger Stag not showing any interest in any of the Hinds.  Young Fallow Deer Hind.  Young Stag.  Another young Stag.  Another young Hind.  This much older Stag was giving the air a good sniff behind this Hind.  Same couple. 
Older female Red Deer with a younger Hind but no sign of a Stag other than the one in the valley bellowing away still, and still was when I went home.
Thank you for your visit, I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did in the getting of the images.
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