WHAT DO BIRDS UNDERSTAND  ABOUT THE WEATHER THAT WE DON'T.

It was obvious on my trip to Eyebrook Reservoir on the 12 th of August that some birds had gone, no signs of any Common  Terns all but one,  the gent who rings the young Terns  said they had gone much earlier than usual, no Swallows  and for the first time in a while no Osprey to be seen. Do birds have  a sixth sense that tells them its time to go, in a week you will have a head wind or a storm over the Sahara. Where as we with our millions of pounds of satellites and computers have great difficulty in saying what the weather will do tomorrow  let alone in a week with any accuracy.

I have only had two outing since my last post but have spent several evenings attempting to get some decent

 images of the Barn Owl,. the bird does not appear until virtually dark as it seems he may be getting some hassle from a pair of Tawny Owls, I have heard them calling on several evenings when in my hide, so this gives a reason for his speed in leaving the box and  lateness.

So on with my attempts  below with the Owl, all  having to be taken at ISO 125600.

This time he almost stopped  but still blurred.

I had difficulty in seeing the bird it was so dark.

He appears and is gone, I just haven't got any time.

Slight improvement.

Please remember these are all at ISO 125600/

Again it was virtually dark, difficult to see the bird.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR THE 12th of AUGUST.

My last Common Tern of the Year. But this bird disappeared  mid afternoon.

On my trip out I again saw the Peacocks and found it difficult not to take some images.

EEyebrook Rervoir 26th of August.

Then some House Martins appeared for a short time , but these then went away.

They were harder to get a decent image from than the previous few weeks ago  Swallow

Where the Common Terns had nested, now the domain of Cormorants.

Lesser  Black - backed Gull.

Denoted by the white feathers on the back of the wing.

Then a farmer on the far side of the water arrived with his Combine and started harvesting a field, so round to the other side I went and asked if I could drive up the track  as several Red Kites arrived very quickly and were following the Combine,  I was told to help my self but keep on the track and away from the working area.

They really are such wonderful birds to  photograph and watch as they picked up any prey.

Then for a short time they were joined by a Kestrel.



It has been so good for me to get out twice plus the Barn Owl evenings, I hope you all enjoy my efforts. I should manage to get out this Thursday but the week after  I have to return to hospital for the stone that caused the Sepsis to be surgically removed, after this the knee can be replaced and I can start to get out farther afield and walk.

YES WE HAVE GOT BARN OWLS,

As to how many only the future will tell. I have been out most evenings except when raining, but I have still to see a bird, however last night the 30th of July when my wife closed our kitchen curtains, she saw a Barn Owl fly up the back from the box towards the field at the top of our land, hurrah, I went over to the box today to find a large number of pellets under both boxes, I put the old pellets into one of our compost bins so these are all new pellets which does seem a large number for a single bird, I then went out myself and sat in the car on the 31st and just before dark the bird came out of the box as if shot from a gun so no chance of an image, I am however going out again this evening the 1 st of August to see if it ventures  out an d to use a tripod  and a remote to see if I can capture the bird and find out as to whether we have got a male or female, wish me luck. This time as the bird flew out I sneezed  and missed the shot, so its try again tonight John. I had a visit to Eyebrook Reservoir on Thursday the 29 th and had a super afternoon, it was to hot the previous week so I remained in the cool at home. I eventually manage to get an image on the 3 rd of the bird leaving the box but I had to use my hide to keep  the bird from disappearing over fast. Since then the weather  has been  awful so no chance to check the number of birds.

THIS POSTS HEADER.

If anyone has found a way of placing a large image in the header please pass on the informatio.

At last a Barn Owl.

Appears to be a youngish male but when he leaves the box he certainly does it at full speed, I think he's been watching the Olympic games  and has starting blocks in the entrance.

Already getting blurred as he starts to leave.

I was shooting at ISO 25600 but even then he beat me  as shown below.

The following images show he is the most untidy bird we have had, everything gets dumped in the entrance.

Even a Magpie had a look at the rubbish  and could hardly believe it.

This seems an awful amount of pellets for one bird in one night.

EYEBROOK RESERVOIR.

17 th JULY 2021

 I had a very eventful visit  to  Eyebrook in seeing four Osprey  arrive at the  Reservoir during  the afternoon, all appearing to have come from Rutland Water. 

Not all came as close but I cannot read any ring numbers numbers, but they are all  adult males.

This bird came closer but the blue ring is on the leg we can't see.

They are such graceful birds to watch in flight, almost seems a waste to stop watching to get an image.

I think the last bird visiting was the Manton Bay male, 33/11.

Still a considerable amount of activity on and around the Tern raft.

And in the air, , I always try for some flight images,  something I really enjoy even with all the aerobatics.

The three Cygnets are coming on well.

I then had a visit from two Red Kites, one of which was continuously calling.

Eyebrook Reservoir 5 th August.

I had another visit hoping to get another large Osprey visits, at least I can sit in the car and rest my knee.

Little Egret.

On most of my previous visits , they have flown past me  before I had seen them.

Then i had a visit from a Buzzard.

I then set myself a challenge to get an image of a House Martin , in flight, this I failed at but managed a Swallow instead, a reasonable compromise.

Yet another chance top pursue my images of birds in flight ,
This time with Canada Geese.

Then a Lapwing.

Then more action at the Tern Raft.

Then more Canada Geese.

I the fad a visit from two Osprey from Rutland but they both kept to the far side of the Reservoir, the Rutland side unfortunately, the  fishing must bee btter at Eyebrook.

I again think this bird is 33/11.

The   Rutland Osprey Project  have announced this last week that this years young have taken the total young fledged  since the start of the Project to over 200. I think the are established.

Gatekeeper Butterfly.

Common Blue Damselfly, by inlet bridge.

Banded Demoiselle, by inlet bridge.





I hope you have enjoyed your visit as much as I have in putting this post together, I am feeling considerably  better but have been told it could take 12 months to fully get over  Sepsis. I have a telephone consultation tomorrow  with a consultant regarding the kidney stone that caused the initial problem as its still with me even after two treatments to shatter it, until it's gone they wont do my knee, I think this time it will be hitting between two hammers, will find out in the morning??