AN UNSUCCESSFUL  VISIT TO EYEBROOK.
7th February.

My friends decided to visit again and to have another visit to Eyebrook hopefully to see the Short-eared Owls, they had arrived at the gateway at 09.30 hrs approx hoping to get a start on me, but unfortunately it was raining very heavily. However at about 10.00 hrs the rain stopped for a short time and within a very short time they saw an Owl on the far side of the road. 

So taking the bull by the horn they drove in the new and very clean four wheel drive down the track to the farm so as to get closer to the bird, as they got near to the farm they saw the farmer and asked if it would be alright for them to park to the rear of the barn so as to get some images, luckily the farmer said 'of course no problem', so they managed a few images before it started to rain again.

This rain did not stop until about 12.30 hrs, which is when I arrived and I was given instructions to drive down the track and to park behind them, we did not move all afternoon waiting for these birds to show again but unfortunately they decided against doing so, but that's birding.

We did not see many birds but had a wonderful afternoon.

Very pale Buzzard to rear of Farmhouse, Nr Great Easton.

Whilst we sat waiting for the Shorties to re-appear, this bird came and sat in a tree about 60 metres away, this time it came to us rather than the usual of us approaching the buzzard that usually flies away as soon as you start getting within a reasonable distance for an image.  

Unfortunately the bird suddenly realised we were in the car and as per normal flew away. I unfortunately did not manage an image as it flew.

Kestrel, to the rear of the Farmhouse.

This bird landed in the next tree to the buzzard, this time about 45 metres away and sat for about ten minutes keeping an eye on us. 

RUTLAND WATER.

LYNDON RESERVE.

14th February.

As I was having a singleton visit out I decided for a change to go to the Lyndon Reserve to see what if anything was around.

On arrival I went  straight to Teal Hide, the nearest to the centre and found very little about, a Golden Eye drake was well out in the reservoir and a female even farther away,

I then had a quick walk around to another couple of hides and as I was seeing very little decided to head back to the car park and have another visit to Eyebrook and hopefully the Short-Eared Owls.

Goldeneye Drake, Teal Hide, Lyndon Centre Rutland Water.

This single male bird sat about 80 metres out from the hide and would not come any closer.

Goldeneye Female, Teal Hide.

This bird was in excess of 100 metres away, to me it appears as an immature bird.

 

Cormorant, Teal Hide.

Always look as if they are about to sink, I find the green eye fascinating.
 

Coot, Teal Hide.

Literally thousands of these birds are about the reservoir, but this one came that bit closer and I could not resist an image.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.
14th February.

On arrival I went immediately to the gateway where we had previously seen the Shorties but nothing was to be seen, so I had a drive around the reservoir before returning to the gateway.

No Smew were visible anywhere and everybody I spoke with was saying the same, two gents had been to Rutland at the Egleton Reserve in the morning said they were of the opinion the birds had gone to Lagoon 4, sods law!!!

After a bit of a wander about including a visit to the bird feeder are I returned to the Shortie stake out but again they never came close, I could later on see two birds a considerable distance away and unfortunately for the day the road that would have got me closer to them was closed for surfacing works.

Turned out weather wise to be a very mild and sunny afternoon, I spent the whole afternoon out without having to put my warm coat on, first time for this in a good while.

Lapwings and Teal, Lower Bunker Hide.

We have had a considerable increase in the numbers of Lapwing around the reservoir during this last week.
 

At last I have managed a flight image, however the wrong way around, they are always ducking a diving all over the place. 

Marsh Tit, under the bird feeders.

Not the best of images but the only one I managed of this bird, after this a farmer had a bird scarer going bang and everything was away.
 

Dunnock, near to the bird feeders.

I always think they are such an underrated little bird. 

Blue Tits, near and in the bird feeders.

I never really like taking images of birds on feeders but I could not resist this one, you can almost hear the right hand bird saying "are you sure its empty". 

Long Tailed Tit.

Again a feeder image, as soon as the bird left the feeder I could not find it until it returned. 

It never got completely in the feeder but would have if the gap had been slightly larger.

 

Crow, Near to gateway.

I have never tried for an image of a crow previously, but with such a lovely sunny afternoon the sheen to the feathers shows up well.
 

Buzzard on the top of the small Barn Owl box. Our garden.

This bird keeps visiting the garden and I keep moving it away, luckily the adult Barn Owls are in the larger box to the right. I took this image from our patio door, that is just over 60 metres away.

Update on the Barn Owls.

It appears we still have the two birds in the large box and I am still finding pellets  on a regular basis, so the schedule one licence has been applied from the BTO.

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