More from Rutland Water

Monday 1 December

Redwing Turdus iliacus awaiting my arrival

Not long to go before we get back to "sunny Spain" so took the opportunity to meet up with my God-daughter's father, Ron for a late morning at Rutland Water.  It was a typical late autumn grey day; calm and cloudy with very poor light so yet to try and assess any photos taken.  We undertook the usual walk to lagoons 3 and 4 starting at the Information Centre where it was also good to meet up once again with Tim Mackrill, the assistant warden and officer responsible for the Osprey Project.

Any different from last week?  The icy last last Monday and Tuesday certainly seems to have brought in more birds but m not necessarily in great numbers.  A very good range of ducks including all last week's species plus almost a dozen Goosander, scores and scores of Pintails, Shelduck, a female Red-crested Pochard and a Slavonian Grebe- but the Red-necked Grebe had gone walkabout, or "flyabout" even!

Scores of Pintail Anas acuta to be seen on the various lagoons (above and below)

 Yet more ducks to be seen:

Teal Anas crecca

Goldeneye  Bucephala clangula

Wigeon  Anas penelope

In addition to the hundreds of Lapwing we also found a pair of Black-tailed Godwits and a score or more of Golden Plover, the latter on Lagoon 3.

A pair of visiting Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa

Plenty of Blackbirds and a good number of Redwing but no visible Fieldfares.  Again, Robins everywhere and a few Greenfinches on this occasion at the feeding station but no Bullfinches, Reed Buntings or Marsh Tit.  On the other hand, we did have a couple of Goldcrests and a rather delightful Wren to attract our attention.  Of the larger birds, Canada, Greylag and Egyptian Geese were conspicuous by there absence.

See the yellow flash on the crown and you see the Goldcrest Regulus regulus

On the whole a very pleasant three hours before the cold and lack of different species got the better of us and we headed back to Stamford for something warm to eat.

Just a fleeting glance to get the record shot of a "Jenny" Wren Troglodytes troglodytes

Always a friendly Robin Erithacus rubecula to welcome you to Rutland Water

Birds seen:
Mute Swan, Shelduck, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Shoveler, Pintail, Teal, Red-crested Pochard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Green Woodpecker, Dunnock, Robin, Pied Wagtail, Blackbird, Redwing, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch.

The ever watchful Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

 

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