A Memorable Day! - on 8th April, 2017

I'm still not back in the groove, as far as paying attention to Bloggerland is concerned, mainly because of other pressures on my time.

However, on Saturday 8th April, I was to attend a party in honour of Tim Mackrill, the gentleman who has been the mainstay of The Rutland Osprey Project for many years, the inspiration to all of us volunteers on the project, and who is now leaving us to move on to pastures new. We all wish you all the best for a happy and rewarding future, Tim. 

As the location for the event was on Rutland Water, and around 50 miles (80 km) from my home, I decided to make an afternoon of it and visit Ketton Quarry (only around 4 miles from the venue) before the event.

We were looking after our granddaughter that day, and had promised her a lunchtime visit to the Scottish Restaurant. This took a little longer than expected, so I didn't get away until 13h30. It was, therefore, necessary to take the quick route to Ketton if I was to have any time there before getting to the event by 17h00. This turned out to work in my favour.

As I travelled along Beeby Road (a road that I don't usually take), just outside Barkby, out of the corner of my eye I saw a bird run out from a gateway and run back into the field again. I stopped the car and walked back, quickly locating the bird - a Grey Partridge. I used to see this bird on a regular basis on my local patch, but haven't seen one there in the past few years. I suspect that the local 'shooter' is largely to blame. They are a far-from-common bird in Leicestershire now.

Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) - near Barkby

You may notice that this bird seems to have an abnormal growth from above its upper mandible. If you have any ideas what this might be, I'd be interested to know.

I arrived at Ketton Quarry at 15h00. The sun was shining brightly and it was quite warm. My main objectives were to see how the butterfly scene was developing and to try and find some lizards and, possibly, some snakes.

I found nothing unusual in the way of butterflies, although there were several species present - I'd been hoping for early Green Hairstreak or Grizzled Skipper. There were many day-flying moths around, and I took a little time photographing one. I believe that this is a Common Heath, but this species is not usually seen until May. 

Common Heath (Ematurga atomaria) - Ketton Quarry

There were also a number of  Peacock butterflies around.

Peacock (Aglais io) - Ketton Quarry

There were two other people in the area at the time (I only know that their names were Chris and Colin) and we chatted about lizards and snakes. One of them told me that he knew where there was a Grass Snake and that he'd be happy to show me it when he was on his way back in about 20 minutes. I continued to look around the area, and met up with these two  gentlemen again about half an hour later. We headed back towards the car park and, as we entered the area known as 'The Barbecue', we saw a couple busy taking photos of something on the ground. I called out to ask what they'd found and was told "a couple of Adders". The three of us headed over there, by which time the snakes had headed into the undergrowth. I did manage a record shot, however, of this male which had, apparently, recently shed a skin.

Adder (Viperus berus) (male) - Ketton Quarry

We then headed off to find the Grass Snake. It was a youngster, and exactly where they said it would be.

Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) (young) - Ketton Quarry

Chris and Colin then headed to their car for a cup of tea whilst I went off in a direction not previously covered that afternoon and where, in the past, I'd had most sightings of lizards. Unfortunately I came across a large family with noisy children who ware clambering over the rocks, so turned back empty-handed.

I did, however, stop briefly to photograph a Comma.

Comma (Polygonia c-album) - Ketton Quarry

I'd set myself a deadline of 16h30 to set off to the party, which would give me time for a quick sandwich and drink, and a change change of clothes. I now had a few minutes in hand so headed back to the Barbecue area. Here I found Colin and Chris once more, and they'd re-located an Adder, which was mobile but well-hidden for most of the time, giving its whereabouts away by movement of the foliage. I managed a few more photos (none of them more than records shots) and was increasingly aware that I was starting to seriously overrun my deadline!

The images, below, hopefully show the size of the problem - trying to get a meaningful shot when less than 5% of the snake was ever visible.

Adder (Viperus berus) (male) - Ketton Quarry

In the end, I decided that I had to go, or be embarrassingly late. I got there in time, but not with enough spare to change clothes or have my sandwich. Fortunately there was food and drink at the party.

Tim's farewell do was a splendid affair, and it was good to catch up with some old friends again.  The last half hour was given over to key people talking about their association with Tim, and expressing their appreciation of this truly remarkable person and his achievements. There was also a video  sequence shown at the end, featuring some people that weren't able to be there, and which included some light-hearted moments. My only regret was that I didn't take any photos at the event. The setting, in Normanton Church, on Rutland Water, was stunning and weather-wise it was undoubtedly the best evening of the year so far.

It was still daylight when I set off homeward, taking my usual owling route from Rutland Water. One of the Little Owls was visible at my Site No.34. However, I didn't bother with any photos.

John and I had not seen a Little Owl at my Site No.41 since Friday 24th February - the day after the big storm, when the nest tree had come down. The farmers had been hearing an owl and had a recent sighting of one on the debris of the old nest tree. When I arrived this day, it was nearly dark, and I spotted a Little Owl on the fallen tree.

It was so dark that I had great difficulty finding the owl in my viewfinder - I was standing approximately 60 metres away. A couple of attempts resulted in me finding that I'd been pointing the camera in the wrong direction. Eventually I managed a record shot.

Little Owl (Athene noctua) - my Site No.41

It wasn't until after I'd phoned pal John the following day that, when I came to process my photos, that I found a second owl was present in the top left corner of one of my 'mis-directed' photos! Great news - we still have a pair here! I suspect that they are nesting in one of the hollow limbs of the fallen tree.

2nd Little Owl (Athene noctua) - my Site No.41

After this it was an uneventful journey home.

Thus ended a day which will stay with me for some time. I managed images of a bird (Grey Partridge) that I'd not managed to photograph since June, 2011, I had my best ever image of a Grass Snake (with lots of room for improvement), my fist ever images of a wild Adder (with even more room for improvement!), excellent company, a party to enjoy, and the relief of knowing that a site feared lost is still home to a pair of Little Owls.

Hopefully I'll now find time to do a post on my week in Devon in mid-March.

Thank you for dropping by.

LROS Visit to North Norfolk - on Saturday 18th June, 2011

On Saturday I joined the Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society (LROS) visit to North Norfolk, led by Andrew Cliff. In fact, This meant a 5.30 a.m. start, and I had the privilege of having Andrew in the car with me on the way there. The weather forecast was not good, but we made good time and stopped about ten miles before Hunstanton for a cup of tea. This stop gave us sighting of a Muntjac, and several birds including a Green Woodpecker and a family of Jays.

Having met up with the rest of the group at Holme-next-the-Sea we set off across the golf course to the beach. I soon realised that I was going to be lost without a telescope - it had been a choice of either a scope or a camera (I can't manage both), and I'd decided on the camera. This meant that the rest of the group saw plenty that I didn't. We started to the east of the access path. I didn't keep notes, but I did see Knot, Grey Plover, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, amongst some of the more usual suspects.

Grey Plover

Whilst we were looking out over the beach, a Muntjac came scampering by in front of us.

Muntjac

With just binoculars and a camera, I was finding it difficult to identify much in the seaward direction, so I went off to try and find some birds in a different environment. I soon spotted a couple of Grey Partridge on the golf course, and these were disturbed by golfers and headed towards me, giving me a somewhat better view. Back with the group I remarked to Andrew that he could add Grey Partridge to the list, and caused sudden interest to the rest of the group. I'm used to seeing Grey Partridge on a fairly regular basis on my home patch, but apparently they're not so common. Soon most people had stopped looking seaward!

Grey Partridge

For the second half of our visit to Holme we set off on a walk to the east, taking an elliptical path which took us past some pools. In one, we found a pair of Avocet.

Oystercatcher

Avocet

Further on I stopped to take some photos of a Meadow Pipit that was posing nicely on the vegetation - even if it was a bit distant!

Meadow Pipit

From Holme, we set off for the famous RSPB reserve at Titchwell Marsh. We arrived to find signs announcing that the Caspian Tern (reported earlier from Holme, but had flown east before we arrived) was present on the reserve. However, enquiries informed us that it had not been seen for some time. We therefore settled into our sandwiches before heading off into the reserve.

We'd just set off when it started lashing it down with rain. We hurried to Island Hide (the nearest hide) and arrived to find an Avocet, with its two young, near to the hide, and many more Avocets with young in view. I have to confess that, until this day, I'd only ever had really distant views of Avocet, so I spent most of my time concentrating on photographing these.

Avocet chick

Avocet

With a somewhat different agenda to the rest of the group (because of my lack of scope) I then went my own way for the rest of the visit. On the way to Parrinder Hide, I realised that I'd not actually got an image of an Avocet with a chick - the adults, although aggressively defending their chicks, did not keep close to the chicks, but kept a watchful eye from a distance. I did find one reasonably close to its chick, but at a rather great distance from me!

Avocet with chick

On the approach to Parrinder Hide I stopped to photograph a Black-tailed Godwit. There were others a bit more distant when I got to the hide but all were 'into the sun' not that there was much sun at that time!

Black-tailed Godwit

From then on I just concentrated on the Avocets, allowing an hour at the end of the visit to try and find a Bearded Tit. The sun started to show a bit more, which made photography on the south-facing side (where the birds were) difficult.

Avocet

 However, a visit to the smaller north-facing hide revealed some distant resting Avocets, and a solitary bird foraging right in front of the hide. The shallow muddy water meant that it was possible to capture the effect of the sweeping bill, and the bird's footfalls.

My search for Bearded Tit was unsuccessful - not surprising really as it was a windy day (!), but I did stop to photograph yet another Avocet - this time resting on one leg.

I decided to finish the day with some time at Fen Hide, stopping to photograph a male Blackcap on the way - something that I was to regret later!

Blackcap (male)

Arriving at Fen Hide, I was just taking off my rucksack when a Bittern flew up from the reeds in front of the hide. If I hadn't stopped for the Blackcap, I'd have probably been settled in and have stood a chance of a Bittern image!

Nikkor. My biggest disappointment was that not one single dragonfly was seen - I was expecting better from Titchwell!

On the way home we managed a Cuckoo and a Little Owl, plus a probable roadside Turtle Dove, and a probable Ring-necked Parakeet near Oaks in Charnwood! Thank you Andrew for a great day!

A Day With The Master - on 3rd April, 2010

Today I had the very great pleasure of a day out with Leicestershire Little Owl guru, Paul Riddle. Paul kindly invited me to come and see some more of his patch. Paul is the absolutely perfect host, always doing his best to make sure his guests get the best views, often resulting in him missing out on photographic opportunities himself. This day resulted in ten Little Owls being seen (and, for me, two more being heard!).

I set off a bit early for our meeting, so decided to call in at my Little Owl site near Packington, where I have not seen either of the birds for a few weeks. They were not visible at 08:00, but there was a pair of Mallards on the roof of the barn where the LOs live! I took a few shots of some distant Goldfinches, and then managed to grab a few shots of some scurrying Grey Partridge.

Mallards

Goldfinch

Grey Partridge

Having arrived at Paul's house, we decided that, for a change, we would indulge in some non-owl birding, and set off towards Eyebrook Reservoir. However, the lure of the Little Owl is never that distant, and so we called in at a few places en-route. At one of Paul's sites near Countesthorpe we didn't spot the bird until it flew from a barn - we had been looking at the nest tree on the opposite side - so no photos taken. At another of Paul's sites, near Kilby, we had more luck, with the male bird (which Paul has affectionately named "Scabby") sitting there for our delectation. The second image below shows the female bird that was there when we returned in the evening!

Little Owls at Kilby

We stopped on the approach road to Eyebrook Reservoir to scan the tree where Paul knew that there were Little Owls. They were soon spotted, but far too distant for my camera to do any good with. From the bridge over the inflow, we found a Red Kite, then an Osprey, then three Buzzards. At one point we had them all in the air together, although at a great distance. Paul spotted my first Swallow of the year. Whilst there, it was a pleasure to meet Eyebrook aficionado, John Turner

the bird on the right was very well hidden!

Little Owls, from the approach to Eyebrook Reservoir

Eyebrook Reservoir from the inflow

Osprey from Eyebrook Reservoir

Having left Eyebrook, we headed back to Paul's home to pick up his Landrover for a bit of off-roading. One of Paul's Little Owl sites at Whetstone was our first destination. Here, both the birds were found.

Little Owls at Whetstone

From here, we set off for another of Paul's sites at Countesthorpe. This one was inaccessible to the Landrover, and so we only had very distant views. The images here are only really record shots. I include the first one as it shows how the breast feathers on this bird produce a striped pattern. If you double-click the image (as with all the images on my later postings) you will see a larger/clearer picture.

Little Owl at Countesthorpe

After this, we headed off to Peatling Parva. The Little Owls were on the wrong side for me, and so most of my shots were through the windscreen. In my car, this would have been hopeless, but as Paul's Landrover has a relatively flat and vertical windscreen I found that this was not too much of a problem.

Little Owls at Peatling Parva

Thank you Paul for a brilliant day! Paul has his own report of this day, on his blog at www.owlsaboutthatthen.blogspot.com. Unsurprisingly this, to a large degree, is very similar to my own!

After this I headed home, with the intention of trying to find some new LO locations on the way. However, it started chucking it down with rain before I'd gone far, so I dropped this idea. Near home it brightened up again, so I called in at my LO site near Packington again. No LOs were seen, but they were heard - one in the barn, and one faintly heard returning its call from a great distance. I wonder if this is a new site, or just a far reaching bird?