Rutland Water (Day Trip)

Late Summer and Early Autumn

Anything could turn up during our day at Rutland, and this time of year is good for scarcities such as Black Tern, an early Great Northern Diver, Black Necked Grebe or maybe a Garganey in amongst the thousands of duck. The autumn return passage of waders will be picking up pace and could include Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint or a smart Wood Sandpiper. This is the time of year for scarce herons, and Great White Egret is now regular and may be joined by something rarer like a Glossy Ibis. Of course, we will also hope to enjoy the local Ospreys during our visit.

Winter

Winter is a fantastic time of year to visit, when wildfowl numbers hit their peak. Monthly counts have logged nearly 50,000 waterbirds and, in amongst the common species, we will search for scarcities such as Smew, Red-necked, Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes, Scaup and maybe even a diver, with Great Northern being an annual occurrence at this time of year. Small birds include Marsh Tit and we may encounter roving flocks of Siskin or Redpoll. And as the light fades, we could be treated to a Barn or Short Eared Owl, quartering the grasslands of the reserve.

Spring

Spring sees the return of the Ospreys along with other summer and passage migrants. Early in the season it might be a Wheatear at the dam or Little Ringed Plover on one of the lagoons. Terns and other wetland birds can turn up with some regularity and the sound of the Black-headed Gull colony will form an audible backdrop to any trip. Warblers such as Reed and Sedge will start to fill the reedbeds and the woodland and hedgerows will be alive with the sounds Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Garden Warblers. Wader passage is maybe not as prominent as in the autumn but will still include a good range of species and there is often a lingering scarcity like a diver or rare duck that hangs on from the winter months.

Late Summer and Early Autumn

Anything could turn up during our day at Rutland, and this time of year is good for scarcities such as Black Tern, an early Great Northern Diver, Black Necked Grebe or maybe a Garganey in amongst the thousands of duck. The Autumn return passage of waders will be picking up pace and could include Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint or a smart Wood Sandpiper. This is the time of year for scarce herons, and Great White Egret is now regular and may be joined by something rarer like a Glossy Ibis. Of course, we will also hope to enjoy the local Ospreys during our visit.

Winter

Winter is a fantastic time of year to visit when wildfowl numbers hit their peak. Monthly counts have logged nearly 50,000 waterbirds and, in amongst the common species, we will search for scarcities such as Smew, Red-necked, Black-necked and Slavonian Grebes, Scaup and maybe even a diver, with Great Northern being an annual occurrence at this time of year. Small birds include Marsh Tit and we may encounter roving flocks of Siskin or Redpoll. And as the light fades, we could be treated to a Barn or Short Eared Owl, quartering the grasslands of the reserve.