Sunday 9th April and a stunning day was spent at Rutland Water and Eyebrook Reservoir, both locations in Leicestershire and two of my favourite local birding sites. An adult summer Little Gull was feeding over the lagoon at the main reserve of Egleton at Rutland Water and several Osprey were seen during the day. Disappointingly there were very few migrants other than a couple Avocet a Wheatear a Lesser Whitethroat, plenty of Chiffchaff and Blackcap and hundreds of Sand Martin. At Eyebrook 2 Common Tern, a Lesser Whitethroat and the usual pair of Little Owl on view. There was still a good selection of wildfowl on both reservoirs with Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Pochard and Shoveler all in small numbers. Some good numbers of Snake’s Head Fritillary were in bloom and a small colony of Large Bee-fly (Bombylius major) were seen from one of the trails. Several Orange Tip and Brimstone butterflies were also on the wing. The Year List moves on to 165
Eyebrook Reservoir – Early morning Coot – Tony Davison©
Snake’s-head Fritillary – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
Large Bee-fly – (Bombylius major) – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
Mallard – Drake – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
Coot – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
Mute Swan – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
Teal – Drake – Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
