Called in here around 9 a.m. on our way back from our East Anglian weekend. Sunny but cold. Spent some time watching the Manton Bay birds, including on the nest cam, where we could see the process of the third egg starting to hatch. The male tried a few fishing circuits of the bay then headed off and so did we. Great Egret, plenty of waterfowl, hirundines and swifts, distant pair of Lapwings, 1 Stock Dove, assorted warblers heard but keeping low in the cold wind.
My first trip to Rutland water. The weather was against me somewhat as it was either raining or incredibly windy! But I saw some firsts and the highlights were...
Whitethroat
Sedge warbler
Egyptian goose
Reed bunting
Red-legged partridge
Avocet
Greylag geese in abundance
Dunlin
Ringed plover
Pochard
Amongst plenty of other treats but these were either my firsts or goals. There were reports of whimbrel but I failed to spot then.
It was really fruitful but I am off to Amble at the end of the month and hoping for some more first spots!
A multitude of great white egrets and a yellow legged gull whilst on a holiday break with the family. Both firsts for me. Also at least 20 odd shag at the dam end of the reservoir which I thought of as odd.
As there was nothing in particular to look for this morning in East Anglia we called in here on our way home from our Norfolk weekend. A total of 52 species seen and heard, with the highlight obviously being the Ospreys. Only one pair is actually nesting on the reserve but another 7 pairs and 7 unattached birds (mostly male) are in the area. This doesn't include this season's chicks. The pair on view to the public have two quite well-developed chicks (a third was lost during a bit of slightly incompetent nest-building) and possibly the quietest mother I've heard in several encounters with this species (or is it just Scottish birds which call incessantly for food?). This female was certainly quiet during the time we were watching her. Even when the male did return, with a new twig for the nest, there were no persistent demands for food from her.
The 'dirty stop-outs' headed round to Teal hide to look for the unexpected immature Great Northern Divers reported from there, but failed to find any trace of them. However, fishing dinghies were out in the area reputed to be favoured by them so the birds may have moved to another area, We did get a good view of the male Osprey as he brought in a large Roach, at one point avoiding the attentions of a piratical Lesser Black-backed Gull, and added the only Tree Sparrow of our trip on the feeders outside the main viewing window of the visitor centre. A nice bird on which to finish our weekend, with totals of 116 seen and 4 heard -plus the 'plastic' Barnacles and Red-crested Pochards at Minsmere and Titchwell respectively.
Cracking male Smew with 2 females ( Lifer ) 7 Red Crested Pochard 5 Egyptian Geese 2 Black Necked Grebe 1 Slavonian Grebe 1 Great White Egret 1 Great Northern Diver
-- Edited by Steve Thomson on Sunday 19th of February 2017 10:27:23 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 20th of February 2017 07:16:30 AM
Finally got a day off to coincide with an opportunity to get to Rutland yesterday. 70 species seen around a brilliant reserve on what was a brilliant day in hot sunshine, and with a plethora of hides around you are spoilt for choice!
On approaching Egleton village, I stopped the car at the side of a field that was packed with Fieldfare and Redwing all feeding. Impossible to put numbers on them but a conservative estimate would probably be around 100-150 Fieldfare and 50-100 Redwing.
Long-billed Dowitcher - a Lifer for me, wasn't reported since Wednesday and I was told by a birder on arrival that it had probably flown on Weds. However I was reliably informed a bit later that it was still present. It showed well at Shoveler hide for a good 25 mins before being flushed by a Sparrowhawk and it flew off high to another part of the reserve.
Firecrest - this was another star bird (with a singing Goldcrest) posing for everybody within 10 feet at the edge of the woods near Shoveler hide.
Lots of Wildfowl and difficult to put numbers to. Egyptian Goose 5 Shelduck Pintail Gadwall Shoveler Wigeon Teal Pochard Goldeneye Tufted Duck Oystercatcher 6 Curlew 5 Black-tailed Godwit 1 Common Snipe 3 Redshank 1 Lapwing Cormorant Great Northern Diver 1 (North Arm) Red-necked Grebe 1, almost full summer plumage (North Arm) Slavonian Grebe 1 (North Arm) Little Grebe 1 Great Crested Grebe Common Gull 1 at Shoveler hide, more at North Arm Great Black-backed Gull 1 over Snipe hide Mediterranean Gull 1 over Snipe hide Lesser Black-backed Gulls Herring Gulls Black-headed Gulls Grey Heron 3 Little Egret 2 Common Buzzard lots around Red Kite 1 seen from Shoveler hide Sparrowhawk 2, or same male seen twice at Snipe + Shoveler Kestrel 1 Stock Dove 2 near Fieldfare hide Collared Dove 1 in main car park Song Thrush 1 Treecreeper 1 Chiffchaff at least 5 seen, more heard around Greenfinch Chaffinch Goldfinch Bullfinch 1 male hanging around near the Firecrest Yellowhammer 1 cracking singing male near the reserve entrance Green Woodpecker heard only. Lots of usuals around too.
Ring Ouzel 1 male flew right passed me near the car park and it landed in a hedge near the farm barn adjacent to the main path for the visitor centre, I tried to get a photo but it flew out of the hedge and round the back of the barn, I lost it and couldn't relocate it despite scanning the immediate area around the farm.
Also of note...
A great reserve with some brilliant birds on offer and I met alot of nice people, making for a top day!
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 26th of March 2016 08:11:28 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 26th of March 2016 08:12:59 PM
late post for yesterday 20th march. after seeing simons post from a great day out, I decided I wanted some of that & what a great day I had to a place I have never been to before. much the same as simon & chris but still going to list my sightings, plus a few pics. 10-4.15pm 72 species seen.
long-billed dowitcher, lifer 1 osprey flying around with a fish in its talons being followed closely by 3 buzzards & a red kite. 5+ red kite 1 peregrine falcon 1 sparrowhawk lots of buzzards all around 1 red-necked grebe 3 black-necked grebe 1 slavonian grebe 2 great northern diver 5 smew, 4 redhead, 1 male 1 female scaup 1 raven 13+ Egyptian goose 1 yellowhammer 4 snipe 1 redshank 1 curlew 10+ golden plover lapwing & oystercatcher lots of tufted duck & goldeneye all around great crested grebe, shelduck, teal, wigeon, pintail, shoveler & pochard. plenty of all the usual stuff around, several treecreepers also. like simon & chris I also heard only cettis warbler, green woodpecker & great spotted woodpecker.
Despite some great birds about in Manchester, Chris Chandler and I got a train (well, 3 trains) down to Rutland Water today. What a brilliant place. We were on the reserve from about 10.30 till 16.30
We walked across from Oakham and an early delight was a singing Yellowhammer by the side of the road. Once at the village of Egleton the atmosphere just screamed 'wildlife' and the feeling of anticipation was brilliant.
Highlights: Long-billed Dowitcher - the star bird, showing superbly at around 50m range on Lagoon 3 Smew - 3, 1 Male and 2 Redhead on Lagoon 4 Peregrine - 1 or 2, an immature on the ground on Lagoon 4, then the same or another one in flight over North Arm Red-necked Grebe - almost in full summer plumage Slavonian Grebe - winter plumage Black-necked Grebe - 3 in summer plumage Great Northern Diver - 2
All the Grebes were on the 'North Arm', a fair way from the reserve. We got a lift round with a guy we met called Andy, who was great company as well as extremely kind in ferrying us about. All 3 scarcer species on the same bit of water, plus Great-crested, quite something. With 2 Little Grebes back on the reserve that meant all 5 UK species, a nice trick!
Viewing the 'South Arm' back over towards the reserve we found a Great Northern Diver and we were looking for a reported Black-throated, but all we could find was another smaller Great Northern. The last good sighting was our collective first Sand Martin of the year, but we didn't manage Osprey, despite one being about. We saw a few Egyptian Geese too and I got 65 species for the day, but a less giddy birder than me would have been looking at 70-75 I reckon. Heard only was a Green Woodpecker and several Cetti's Warblers.
Andy dropped us at the station, what a legend! And so ended a top day out.
Oh yeah, we met Tim Appleton too, who was a smashing bloke. I didn't know who he was, so he modestly explained that he had built the reserve and co-founded the Birdfair! An absolute gent, especially when confronted by muppets like me! His passion for the place was really impressive.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of March 2016 10:35:03 AM
The most exciting sighting was six redhead Smew (somebody else claimed to have seen eight).
99% sure that a 'large brown job' that flashed across my scopeview while I was watching the Smew must have been a Bittern. Saw it briefly fly very low across the lagoon, tried to swing the scope round to track it, but it had vanished by the time I'd got myself sorted. I am still absolutely gutted not to have seen it properly.
Elsewhere, a group of Fieldfare and Redwing atop a tree, small numbers of Dunlin and Redshank associating with the Lapwing, a Little Egret in flight, couple of Shelduck.
Also a brief view of a small, dark, dumpy-looking gull which I thought might have been a Little Gull. This git of a bird flapped high above the hide briefly, then vanished, gone by the time I'd come out of the hide to see where it went.
Paths were often waterlogged and I'm sure they still will be.
First visit spread accross two sites with over twenty five hides. Five pound fifty is the price and that does both sides. Staff very helpful and informatives at the visitors centre and the hides. Lots to see tree sparrows siskin kestrel nest commn artic tern reed warbler all other more common warblers and of course the Osprey pair with two chicks. Good live cams of this in visitors. Two hides give good if slightly distant views. If you prefer it quiet use the far hide. Didn't get chance to see the other centre buit no reason it won't be as good as this and just missed the very large pike brought in. Well worth a visit.
A couple of hours visit to rutland today. My 1st time and it was great, nice walks and fantastic views and so,me decent birds to boot.
Most notable and some new birds for me
2 Hobbys & i found them .. woohoo - Lifer 4 osprey - m & f and the 2 young - Lifer green woodpecker loads of cormorant Turtle Dove - Lifer Lots of tree sparrows Tufted duks Ruddy Ducks Shell Ducks Swift Swallow Sand Martin House Martin
). This female was certainly quiet during the time we were watching her. Even when the male did return, with a new twig for the nest, there were no persistent demands for food from her.
