Rutland Water - 31 March 2012

A week of non-stop hot, wind-free sunny weather without a cloud in the sky and I choose Saturday, the day when the weather changed for the worse, to visit Rutland Water with close friends Ron and Margaret Gregory. Gone was the sun, in was the cloud and cold wind but at least it did stay dry. As usual, no camera with me in England so much was expected! In the end we had well over fifty species of which at least 17 were new for this month so it looks as if the final total for March will be well over 170.

With a Red Kite and Kestrel in the sky and Rooks and Crows on the fields below we approached the Visitors’ Centre to be greeted by the usual hordes of Jackdaws and, this time, scores of Mute Swans on the neighbouring fields along the approach road. Naturally, we also had Wood Pigeons and Collared Doves all around but, perhaps, the best sighting was a fly-past of a pair of Grey Partridges which Ron had seen on his way over to Stamford from Wigston in Leicestershire. A very special sighting indeed.

Whilst preparing to set off from the car we had Chaffinches and Greenfinches above with a Robin walking besides us and then the arrival of a very small flock, more a group, of Goldfinches. On to the Visitors’ Centre to pay our entrance fee and check on the latest sightings noticing Great Tit and Dunnock near the feeding station. The open water in front of the Centre contained both Greylag and Canada Geese plus Great Crested Grebe, a single Cormorant and a small number of Black-headed Gulls. Ducks included Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Wigeon and Shelduck and, of course, there were Coots and Moorhens to be seen.

Before returning to the car for a packed lunch we headed off to the south and the hides overlooking Lagoon 1. A small flock of Snipe were put up by a rapidly passing Sparrowhawk and then we also found a resting Buzzard. The only other waders noted were a small number of Lapwing and a single Redshank. However, to remind me of home, there was also the first of a trio of Little Egrets to be seen during the day plus a solitary Grey Heron. A Pied Wagtail put in an appearance and there were loads of Blackbirds all over the place. Indeed, on the return journey we also had a Chiffchaff, no doubt recently arrived from his winter holidays in southern Spain; perhaps already seen by me near the Guadalhorce in Malaga?

After our lunch break it was off to the northern hides overlooking Lagoons 2, 3 and 4. Having listened to both the drumming and calling of a Great Spotted Woodpecker we found a Jay feeding on the first field. The Sandpiper Hide produced four Avocets and then on to check out Lagoon 3 where we found a whole mix of new birds including a dozen Ruff, a single Goosander and a pair of Oystercatchers. On the main water were scores of Tufted Ducks along with a good number of Goldeneye and a single female Scaup. Even a pair of Egyptian Geese had wandered down to this end of the reserve. Overhead we had a selection of hirrundines, mainly a mix of House Martins and Sand Martins but with the occasional Barn Swallow. Both Common and Herring Gulls put in an appearance, albeit in singles, before, on the return walk to the car, we recorded first a rather lovely Green Woodpecker feeding on the ground followed by a Mistle Thrush.

All in all then a rather pleasant day even if somewhat cold and cloudy and a finally tally of 58 species.

Birds seen:

Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Tufted Duck, Scaup, Goldeneye, Goosander, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Heron, Little Egret, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Lapwing, Ruff, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Common Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Goldfinch.

Photographs from top:

Robin Erithacus rubecula

Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs

Mute Swan Cygnus olor

Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus

Ruff Philomachus pugnax

Dunnock Prunella modularis