Before the Scottish Highlands - last half of May, 2014

It's well over two weeks since my last post, and that's because I've just returned from a holiday in the Scottish Highlands. I'll be trying to catch up with my friends in Bloggerland over the next few days and then I've got the 2,823 photos that I took in Scotland to work through! Was Scotland owly? - Yes it was!!

Anyway, just to keep this blog alive, here's a catchup on what I did after the session which was the subject of my last post and before my departure for Scotland.

On Thursday 15th May, pal Titus and I were on duty at Rutland water in the evening. I had a short owling session before going to Titus's place and found a Little Owl at my Site No.03. The foliage in the chestnut tree is starting to make the owls difficult to spot, but I found this one.

Little Owl - my Site No.03

Although I saw six Little Owls and one Barn Owl that day, the owl photography was a bit thin on the ground. However, one of the LO sites was a new one (I'd previously had a 90% sure sighting here a week earlier) and I managed to get some photos (sort of!) of my new Site No.47.

You ain't seen me - right!

Boo! - Little Owl - my new Site No.47

At Rutland water we enjoyed by far the best weather that we've had whilst on duty this season. The Sedge Wablers remained a bit distant during our watch but I quite like the artistic aspects of this shot.

Sedge Warbler - Rutland Lyndon Reserve

A Heron gave another shot which I quite like from the artistic point of view.

Grey Heron - Rutland Lyndon Reserve

We sometimes see Muntjac on the bund in front of the hide, but this was the first time I'd seen two. Sadly they kept a distance between them and so I didn't get them both in the same frame.

Muntjac - Rutland Lyndon Reserve

The Water Vole were showing well, and frequently. Usually one just gets a brief view in one of the narrow channels as they swim from one side to the other. The light is such here that the water often gives an almost white background, as below - not easy for photography.

Water Vole - Rutland Lyndon Reserve

If you're lucky, you catch one in 'dark water', which is better!

Water Vole - Rutland Lyndon Reserve

If it's a bright evening, the light in the left-hand channel (the most frequently crossed channel!)  only allows for the atmospheric shot.

Water Vole - Rutland Lyndon Reserve

If you're EXTREMELY lucky, you might even catch one briefly out of the water!

Water Vole - Rutland Lyndon Reserve

I mustn't overlook the whole point of Titus and I being at Rutland Water, and that is to monitor the Ospreys. We didn't get any close approaches during this session and, frankly, there wasn't a lot of Osprey action during our session there. Here is a 'screen grab' from my tablet which we use to hook into the nestcam.

Osprey (female 'Maya') - Rutland Lyndon Reserve

The following day I was watching the Starlings in my garden (back yard). The noise from up to eleven juveniles was deafening! This one was taken of them on a stick which is well 'buttered' on the back with a suspension of blitzed peanuts in lard.

Starlings (2 adults + 3 juveniles)  - our garden

This beetle was on our conservatory window. I think that it's a Longhorn Beetle

Longhorn Beetle (?) - our garden

On 19th May I had an owling session on my local patch. As I arrived, Rabbits and Grey Squirrels were foraging on the track. I know that many birders despise these creatures, but I'm not one of them.

Grey Squirrel - my local patch

I only saw two owls that evening, with no meaningful photography. However, at the second location, where I'd decided I wouldn't enter the field because of the presence of cows with calves and a bull (!), I heard a Little Owl calling and saw that it was sending out a warning to its mate about an approaching Fox - the nest cavity here is at a relatively low level.  It was at this time that the cattle decided to take themselves off through a gateway into an adjacent field that was out of view of my position. Feeling a little concerned for the safety of the owls I took my courage in both hands and entered the field. As I approached the Fox, it didn't seem to take a blind bit of notice of me. 

Fox - my local patch

I got nearer and nearer and started to wonder if I was in trouble here! I was mindful of Doug McFarlane's experience when a Fox ran at him and Doug was so convinced he was going to be attacked he dived into a hedgerow - but the Fox ran past. In my case, the Fox eventually took to its heels.

Fox - my local patch

My last excursion before heading up to Scotland was an owling session with pal Titus on Wednesday 21st May.  On the way to pick up Titus I stopped by my local patch where there were three Brimstone butterflies flitting about together in the sunshine. I'm disappointed that he second image wasn't as crisp as I'd have liked it to be and that the vegetation wasn't a little closer.

Brimstone - my local patch

Having set off with Titus, near one of my LO sites a Skylark was messing about in the road. I first turned the car sideways so that Titus could take a photo and then, as it hadn't taken fright, turned the car the other way so that I could get a shot. It was only a rider on a horse that frightened the bird away!

Skylark - near Melton Mowbray

 I saw six Little Owls that afternoon, but the photography was not up to much. This is the best of a bad bunch, but at least I get to finish with an owl image!

Little Owl - my Site No.44

Now I must get back to processing those Scottish photos!

Thank you for dropping by.