Phew! Finally sifted through the 560-odd shots I took last week on my first (but definitely not last!) visit to fabulous Rutland Water. My immediate motivation and priority was to see Ospreys 'in the flesh' and to get a perspective of the location - one thing we don't see from the excellent webcams. I did manage this, and saw loads of other amazing sights including a couple more ticks for my life list. My only regret is that many of my shots don't do justice to what I saw and experienced. This is partly down to the shortcomings of my equipment - but mostly just down to my own shortcomings. Nevertheless I hope there's something for you to enjoy.
A good place to start is the first bird I heard as I headed down the lane towards Manton Bay - a gorgeous little Whitethroat
...closely followed by a Blue Tit
and then, there it was - the Manton Bay nest of Maya and 33. This is the site that greeted me from the hide:
As you can see the perching post is quite close to the nest - and I was thrilled to be able to see both birds. Unfortunately the distance from the hide is a challenge for all but the biggest lenses. This is my take of 33 on the perch
and the nest, clearly showing the webcam but sadly only just the top of Maya's head :(
At this point my mobile rang (luckily I was alone!) and as I was answering it I heard a commotion and looked up to see one of the birds in the water! I dropped my mobile and managed to get this shot. I think it's Maya and I was told later that she wasn't fishing but simply having a bath.
As you can imagine it was a thrill to witness this and although it was only 10am my day was already made!
By the way if anyone can identify her two "admirers" in the background I'd be very grateful!
Another commotion alerted me to a Mute Swan, cleared for takeoff and steaming down the runway
Shelduck
Looking out of the side window of the hide I was delighted to see, not 10 metres away, a nesting Great Crested Grebe
As I watched her partner glided in and she jumped off the nest, revealing at least two eggs. He came bearing a gift of weed (no, not wacky baccy!)
Next I turned my attention to a pair of Common Tern, one with a fish
Immature BHG with something fished out of the water
Cormorant Tree in bloom!
A first for me, Egyptian Geese
At the opposite end of the Lyndon site I saw a pair of Moorhens having a real ding-dong, which lasted for several minutes. Thankfully the only thing hurt was the loser's pride!
Having 'done' Lyndon (and had a whale of a time) I adjourned to the car for refreshments, looking forward to spending the afternoon at Egleton.
Thanks for looking
Ian
Thanks all, and Clare thank you for linking my threads to the Rutland thread.