After my morning at Lyndon I arrived at a very warm and sunny Egleton at 2pm. I was greeted by the impressive sight of a pair of Greylags walking on water!
A huge whistling commotion proved to be a pair of courting Oystercatchers - they paraded side by side, whistling at the tops of their voices
Ruff
Greylag coming in to land
Mute Swan bathing
...aaahh, that's better!
and a very handsome young Mute
Little Grebe
A commotion in the distance revealed a Marsh Harrier, possibly a juvenile as he/she didn't seem to know where he was going or what he wanted to do. He flew around for a little while and then, having been harassed by a couple of large crows, flopped down into the reeds. (Edited after comments below for which many thanks!)
Another first for me - male Garganey
Then just as the day was coming to a close, the strangest bird I've ever seen on any nature reserve
...an Apache helicopter, one of a pair which flew right across the reserve. My son tells me they were exercising out of nearby Cottesmore.
I won't be putting that on the list, even though it was a first!
Hope you enjoyed looking
Ian
IAN.Thank you for sharing your day with everyone.
Only just read, as Clare, brought it forward onto the Rutland Thread,the more who post captures of their, Visits, really gives us armchair and too distant to travel, Cam watchers, a real feel for the areas.Especially, when you convey your enjoyment.
Much appreciated.
Another lovely set, Ian! I think your beautiful marsh harrier is a female as it has a white face. I'm not sure about the rather muscular looking bird in the last snap, though.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
I did enjoy looking Ian. Thank you very much indeed. So pleased you had such a good time
Stunning photos and thank you so much for sharing them.
Thanks all for your kind comments, sorry for the delay in replying - computer trouble.
Wendy yes it is a big place - a very big place! Suffice to say I spent the day there from 9am to 6pm and still didn't cover it all! Then again I am a fellow wrinklie lol. Please don't let that deter you from going though - the paths are good and mostly flat and there are loads of hides so there is a lot to be seen without having to go too far.
Thanks for the inside info SG, will have to get into training methinks (or a motorised buggy! Lol)
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
They do have a buggy to hire out - Limpy found it very useful the last time we were there.
Thanks for into C ... what I really need is a vending machine & toilet facilities attached to each hide then I could walk for miles!! Lol
There is actually a Portaloo on the trail close to the Waderscrape hide (the "osprey hide")
Sounds useful SG, thanks!