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.