Rutland Water

Saturday 11 June

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus

Back for one day and grass cut, shopping done and the British rain initiation where I get soaked to the skin!  But all calm with a good cloud covering and some hazy sunshine ion Saturday morning as I drove over to my local patch of Rutland Water to collect a replacement head for my tripod. passing numerous Jackdaws and Wood Pigeons on the way along with the occasional Crow and Common Starling.  From the road I could see a number of Mute Swans and Pochards on the water and a Mallard flew over the road.   Once in the car park welcomed by both Collared Dove and Blackbird and then off to see Mike at In Focus re the tripod head and have a general catch-up on what's been going on over these past four months.

Having arrived at the Visitors Centre it would seem a shame not to check out the feeding area even though I was only supposed to be out of the house for less than an hour.  Lots of Chaffinches and Jackdaws about plus a number of Blue and Great Tits along with a few House Sparrows and a Robin.  Checking out the repaired scope I took a look at the water in front where just the one Mute Swan was in residence along with a handful of Cormorants and probably a score or more Black-headed Gulls.  Also on the water a couple of Coots along with Shelduck families, Tufted Ducks and Mallards.  A whole raft of Greylag Geese and goslings drifted by whereas the Canada Goose was hunkered down in the grass to my right and the breeding Sand Martins hawked over the water.

Marsh Tit Parus palustris to the left and Tree Sparrow Passer montanus to the right

Ospreys Pandion haliaetus on the Manton Bay nest with 3 chicks

Rather than go straight home, or even call in at the North Arm on my way, I took the ant-clockwise circuit of the Water and stopped at the bridge to check out the Osprey's nest where both adults were in residence along with their three chicks.  Below them mainly Mallards and Black-headed Gulls but also a couple of Gadwall.  Then it was a quick call in at the Manton Visitors Centre where, on the feeders, I picked up Marsh, Blue and Great Tits along with Chaffinches, Greenfinch and Goldfinch with a pair of Yellowhammers foraging below the feeders along with a pair of Mallards.  A Magpie came in to join the feat but the most common species was the local, resident, Tree Sparrow.

Off you go Dad, the youngsters need a fish for lunch!

Now well late so I made my way back to Stamford and before rejoining the main Oakham to Stamford road was able to watch a Red Kite overhead.  No Kestrel, Dunnock nor Rook seen this morning otherwise I would have achieved the round 30 mark or more in my short visit.


For the very latest on the Rutland Ospreys you can watch the Manton Bay nesting activity on a live webcam.  CLICK HERE for link and then click on the preferred camera.

Both Ospreys with their 3 chicks on the nest at Manton Bay - from live feed

Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan,Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Common Pochard, Osprey, Red Kite, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Sand Martin, Robin, Blackbird, Marsh Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Yellowhammer.

The resident Tree Sparrows Passer montanus

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