More Rutland Water

Thursday 26 November 

With my expected parcel arriving late last night and jenny out for the day with her friend, what better opportunity to slip over to Rutland Water and try out the new Kowa scope.  But first a quick call at the feeding station where very little activity going on, still very mild, but in addition to the Great and Blue Tits I actually also observed both Marsh and Coal Tit along with a Robin and Moorhen. In the trees near the feeders I managed to find a small number of Greenfinches.  As usual, there were plenty of Wood Pigeons and Jackdaws about with the occasional Magpie and both Crow and Rook observed as I approached the site.  Also on the neighbouring field was a pair of Egyptian Geese.

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus

Looking out over the lagoon from the Visitors Centre I could see one of the Great White Egrets along with Cormorants, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler and Gadwall.  A Shelduck hove into sight and then a few Mute Swans, Pintails and Coots.  Still plenty of Black-headed Gulls to be seen along with a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls.  Similarly, there were plenty of Lapwings to be seen before I took myself off to check out the inflow to the water but very little to add other than a freshly-killed (hit by a car - not mine) Kingfisher which had been laid out on the bridge parapet.


Then it was up to the Northern Arm to find the geese and anything else.  Still very many Greylag  along with a good number of both Canada and Egyptian Geese.  here I was able to add many of the missing ducks including Tufted Duck, Pochard and Wigeon.  A pair of Goosander were also on the water and the main reservoir and, unlike Tuesday, were not accompanied by the female Smew so no chance of mixing up the photographs.  Unfortunately, by the time I took the photograph the female had disappeared and the male decided it was time for a late morning nap!  The main water held a good number of Great Crested Grebe along with a few Goldeneye.  Starlings were moving about and on the far bank a number of Rooks were feeding.  Then, at last, the first sighting of a Common Gull.The sighting of both a Pheasant and Collared Dove took the total up to a round 40 species in the allotted two hours.

Sleeping male Goosander Mergus merganser

Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Pintail, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Goldeneye, Goosander, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Kingfisher, Robin, Blackbird, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Greenfinch

Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information.