19th April Rutland Water - Sunny and warm, 16C

A trip to Rutland water was on the cards today, over 70 species of bird were seen/heard.  Many insects were responding to the warm weather, a nice selection of early butterflies were seen, including Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Orange-tip and Brimstone, like the one hiding under this leaf.

Lagoon IV is often good for waders, today 2 Whimbrel were feeding on the far bank, a Greenshank fed in the shallows and several Dunlin and Ringed Plovers were around the island edges.  Oystercatchers and Redshank were busy protecting their territories. Two Osprey were occupying a nest pole and were often flying overhead.

On the lagoon bank a male Wheatear was feeding and a male Yellow Wagtail was feeding on an island which was attracting several Common Terns.  

One the water there was a good array of duck, including Teal, Gadwall, Shelduck,still c20 Wigeon, maybe some will stay the summer, 4 Pochard, a pair of Pintail and c20 Shoveler were seen.  Egyptian Geese are becoming quite numerous now, and two pairs had duckings.

A good number of warblers are now present, with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap everywhere. Sedge Warblers were singing in the reeds, and a single Reed Warbler was heard too.  A single Lesser Whitethroat was singing from the hedge.

From the 360 hide a Common Sandpiper was seen feeding, also the Sand Martin colony was very busy with many entering the nesting holes.  From the Snipe hide a single Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit was found feeding on the shore.  Several pairs of Oystercatchers were around the reserve, many sitting on eggs or feeding.

Two Little Egret were seen and several Grey Herons were feeding in the shallows and wet meadows.

Red Kite, Buzzard and a distant Raven were enjoying the thermals today. 

Great crested Grebes were on several of the lagoons, like this one photographed from the 360 hide.

In all a good day at sunny Rutland water.