Rutland Water never fails to provide a wide variety of winter Wildfowl. Only just over an hours drive from home, so a great place to pick-up a few “Year Ticks”. Today, Sunday 18th January, was no exception, with plenty of ducks and grebes and other waterfowl on offer. Smew can be difficult to year tick, so 9 (6 “Redheads” & 3 “White Nuns”) was a good start. Also around the Reservoir we picked up Great Northern Diver, Red-necked Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebe, Goldeneye, Goosander, Pintail and a variety of the common ducks. A Great White Egret was a bonus from the main visitor centre at the Egleton Reserve, as was a Green Sandpiper from Lagoon 3. A Willow Tit at the feeder by the visitor centre. Little Egret, Red Kite, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Redshank, Golden Plover, Siskin and Great Spotted Woodpecker were also seen at various locations. Year list now on 106
Goldeneye – drake – Above three images – Rutland Water – This obliging drake came quiet close to the hide – Tony Davison©
Great White Egret – Distant record shots from Egleton Visitor Centre, Rutland Water – note large size, yellow bill and dark long legs – Tony Davison©
Smew – Distant record shot of 5 (3 drakes & 2 “Redheads”) of the 9 birds on view here – (heavily cropped) – Lagoon 3 Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
Mute Swan – above three images – Lagoon 3, Rutland Water – Tony Davison©
Tufted Duck – female or first winter drake? – Rutland Water – Above two images – Tony Davison©
