AN AFTERNOON AT EYEBROOK WITH A COUPLE OF THUNDERSTORMS!!

I decided to have an afternoon visit to Eyebrook Reservoir on Thursday as we had an overlap on Osprey duties, {I'm on duty next Thursday} so after a quick call into the  Lyndon Centre I headed straight over to Eyebrook in the first of the afternoons thunderstorms,  very heavy rain with some largish hail stones, wonderful birding weather.

On arrival the storm was passing so I had a quick lunch and kept an eye out for any Osprey, but that was for later.

Then a friend arrived and asked if I would take some images for him of  some young Ravens on the nest, but by the time we arrived only one remained on the nest, the other two having fledged. These were very difficult images to get, not only the distance but shooting through numerous tree branches from the surrounding woodland.  

So after an eventful afternoon I departed Eyebrook very satisfied with the results.

2 nd Year, Great Black-backed Gull, Opposite Stoke Dry Village.

I was not sure at all as to what this gull was, so taking the easy option I phoned a friend, hence the accuracy of the heading. They are most certainly an imposing gull with such a wingspan. Unfortunately it was similar to most of the birds during the visit and would not come any closer.

Throughout the afternoon we had two birds flying about but they would never come close unfortunately.

This bird then had a quick dip into the water but didn't appear to catch anything. 

Red Kite, From opposite Stoke Dry.

The first two images I took the camera focused on the hedge, this bird is just over 350 metres away. The gulls had been hovering around the area and eventually two dived into the water instantly followed by the Kite. The gulls then mobbed the Kite as it flew away. I initially thought the bird had stolen a fish.
  

But not sure as to what it picked up, whatever it was, it does not look over tasty, certainly not a fish. Red Kites have been seen picking up fish at Eyebrook for several years, they must be watching the Osprey.
  

Common Terns, Rutland Raft, Stoke Dry.

The general opinion appears to be we have more Terns than last year already so hopefully things look good for numbers of young to be ringed.

Male Osprey, 03/09, Stoke Dry.

I require a wind direction totally opposite to what we are getting at the moment so the bird will be head on to me. To be really truthful they could oblige and come closer as well, are we ever satisfied.

 You can make out the blue ring so a Rutland bred bird, this bird had been seen two days earlier fishing at Pitsford Reservoir, Eyebrook to Pitsford in a straight line is 17 miles.

Kestrel, Opposite Stoke Dry.

 Again the wind was in the wrong direction and the bird was well in excess of 150 metres away.

Always a wonderful bird to watch.

Young Raven still on the nest, Near Eyebrook Reservoir.

The only remaining youngster on the nest, its siblings were flying around with the adults. These were such difficult shots to get, I was trying to get a clear shot through numerous branches from other trees then the camera would focus on the branches behind the bird . I finished up taking in excess of 150 images.  

We had another thunderstorm, so the gent who took me to the nest and pointed it out decided it was best  to take refuge for a while in the car to keep both the camera and ourselves dry. So after this break we set up the camera in a different position, still having to shoot through numerous branches but it seemed I got a clearer shot at the bird. 

   


It may be a head on shot but it was wonderful to see this youngster.
My thanks to Daz for taking me to see these birds, it was a super experience.



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

ANOTHER OSPREY DUTY, AND WE'VE GOT FOUR EGGS.
THEN A VISIT TO EYEBROOK AND EVENTUALLY TO OSPREY SITE 'O'.

I had another Osprey Duty and on arrival at the Centre found great excitement as to the fact we had another egg laid, so we are up to four, let's hope the pair do better than the last time we had the four. 

We had a very busy afternoon with singletons and family party visits which are always good with some good questions to answer, a young boy asked if we baited the nest with meat to tempt the Ospreys to stay and then appeared very embarrassed when his Dad explained they only ate fish, he was also very interested in the migration route and as to why the birds came all the distance. We explained the difference in daylight hours giving the extra time for fishing. In the end he went away happy and kept thanking us very politely for the help bless him. 

It was so busy I hardly had time to take many images so my apologies for so few. 

Osprey Pair, Waderscrape Hide.

The female Osprey flying in with the male doing his bit in the incubation duties, something he appears to enjoy doing his bit with. With four eggs and he being smaller than the female it's is a difficult job for him in covering the eggs without damaging them. 

Then a quick change over to the female incubating.

Then the male flies away to keep an eye on things from the hedge.

Female on the nest and male in the hedge.

Reed Bunting, Waderscrape Hide.

This male appeared for a short visit and was away quickly, just lucky to have the camera in my hand when it happened.

Mallard, Waderscrape Hide.

This Male appeared at the top of one of the channels for a short visit and was then disturbed by a Water Rail flying across the channel, which I missed getting an image from.

Moorhen, Waderscrape Hide.

This bird flew from within the reed beds and landed in the bush and seemed to be feeding on the flower heads.

Mute Swan, Tufted Duck Hide.

Swam across the bay to the front of the hide and then a quick flap of the wings and up onto the raft. 

Male Gadwall, Tufted Duck Hide.

 Beautifully marked duck near to the raft with the swan.

Female Gadwall, Tufted Duck Hide.

This female was swimming around and keeping relatively close to the male, a pretty duck.

A VISIT TO EYEBROOK AND THEN ONTO OSPREY SITE 'O'.

I had a visit to Eyebrook on Thursday the 18th for hopefully some images of the Male Osprey 03/2009 but I'm afraid this did not happen, I eventually met up with a gent who does the bird count at Eyebrook who told me the male Osprey had been sitting in a tree on the far side of the reservoir for the previous two hours but had since flown elsewhere, The tree it was in was about 1500 metres away from me but if I had driven around to the far side of the water I would have got within about 80 metres, what a missed opportunity but never mind.

I saw numerous Red Kites throughout the afternoon but unfortunately most of them were over the fields which would have meant me shooting directly into the sun. 

At the end of the day we both decided to have a quick drive around to the Osprey nest site 'O' and found the female was sitting on an egg or eggs?, we only approached up to a farm gate that is 1200 metres away so no danger of disturbance. 

Red Kite, Opposite Stoke Dry.

Throughout the afternoon I saw numerous of these birds, but only managed images of about four or five, 

Such fascinating birds to watch in flight with the tail twisting from side to side acting as a rudder.

Common Tern, Rutland Tern Raft.

This raft Eyebrook apparently gained from Rutland Water, one bird on the corner post and one on the gravel inside the raft. 

We counted thirteen Terns during the afternoon but that's expected to over double within the next week. 

Juvenile Mute Swan, Opposite Stoke Dry.

 This bird had a quick fly by and headed down the reservoir towards the dam.

Osprey Site 'O', About 4 miles from Eyebrook.

By parking in a gateway and crossing the road, you can just make out the nest site. Upon checking its 1200 metres away so no danger of disturbing the birds. This as taken through a 600 mm lens. 

Female Osprey, { believed to be an unringed Scottish bird} sitting on egg or eggs, Site 'O'.

This image is reasonably heavily cropped but you can make out the bird sat on the nest,

Our Garden Barn Owls.

The news unfortunately is not good, we have seen nothing of the Barn Owls or any pellets for several days and a pair of Kestrels have been hanging about and are going into the box. The young male is not like his father who if you remember killed the male Kestrel back in 2017, I am still monitoring the box and hoping the Barn Owls will return and send the Kestrels packing.

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

A QUICK VISIT TO EYEBROOK.

I decided to have a visit to Eyebrook reservoir on Thursday the 4th of April as the Osprey's with a nest in that direction had returned and I wanted to get and image of the male 03/09. On arrival I visited the area where someone spreads some seed for the birds and managed a few images whilst keeping an eye out for any Osprey. Unfortunately after only a short time my wife called to say our dear old dog was not well so it was a rush home and a visit to the vets where they decided to keep her in and prepare her for an operation on the Friday for a pyometra, this is an infection of the uterus. We collected her and brought her home on Saturday morning bless her. She is still very tired but recovering from her operation and enjoying some home comforts.

Female Chaffinch, Road side.

These birds were all again feeding in the area where some kind person spreads some seed on the ground and they certainly enjoy. 

Male Chaffinch.

Several birds were about during my very short visit. 

Yellowhammer male.

Suddenly these beautiful birds arrived in a flock of about twenty, its a considerable time since I have seen any so this was a real bonus. 

Yellowhammer, Female {I think}

Trouble was they did not stay very long but certainly appreciated the spread seed. 

Reed Bunting, Male.

First time I have ever seen this bird feeding on seed on the ground or at a feeder. 

But obviously making the best of it and enjoying the goodies.

ANOTHER VISIT FOR THE OSPREY AT EYEBROOK.

I decided as the weather forecast was good and our dog was much better to try another visit for the Site 'O' Ospreys on Monday the 8th, and as it happened it was a beautiful afternoon with sun and 17 degrees, so whilst basking in the sun I watched out for the two birds. On arriving I met with two ladies who I had seen previously and they told me they had seen five Osprey in the morning, they had no idea as to ring numbers but had seen two at the same time, so it could have been a case of only two returning to go fishing. I saw the male bird first 03/09  but at a silly distance but I managed some images then he flew away in the direction of the nest but without a fish. Later in the afternoon whilst chatting to a gent I see on a regular basis, we both sat in the back of the estate car with the back up,, I suddenly saw an Osprey above us, by the time I got to the camera that I put on a tripod to make things easier, she had gone, yes it was the un ringed female {this is thought to be a Scottish female} carrying a very small fish, the language from both of us was not very polite I'm afraid, but I then drove round to the nest site and she sat on the nest with the male, I will see her next time.

Red Kite, Opposite Stoke Dry.

I suddenly had two Red Kites flying behind me which was virtually into the sun and not until after did I notice this bird appears to be carrying a bunch on feathers, could be nest materials. 

This is the second bird, this one not carrying anything. 

They are such graceful birds to watch in flight.

Then a third bird appeared later in the afternoon, this one was also carrying something in its beak.

Not sure as to what it was carrying but if its nest material, it will take a good while to build the nest. Sorry for the quality of this image but it was virtually into the sun.

Male Osprey, 03/09 .

You can make out the blue ring on his leg, upon checking this bird was just over 400 metres away so these are really lucky images.

He did a quick fly and hover and then turned around and went back towards the nest.

Black Headed Gulls on the Tern Raft.

The gent I was sitting with looks after the Tern rafts and rings the young birds. He said he had seen a Common Tern in the morning, initially this was all I saw but then.

Not the best of images but eventually I saw this single Common Tern sat on the far corner of the raft, give it a few days and hopefully the numbers will rise dramatically.

Juvenile Mute Swan.

This Swan flew by and I always find it difficult to resist a flight shot.




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