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Rutland Water is a large man made lake in the County of Rutland. The area was flooded in 1976 and part of the lake is used for water sports (sailing, fishing, etc.), and part has been developed as a wild fowl reserve, with other areas set aside for other bird species. I visited it while I was at the British Bird Fair, held in the nearby village of Egleton.

Rutland Water

ABOVE Map of Rutland Water  BELOW Stand at British Bird Fair

There were stands from many countries – this one is from Santa Lucia, in the West Indies

From the birding point of view, the area is divided into three parts, two on the same side of the lake, either side of the main reception building and a third across the water. From this third area it is possible to see ospreys fairly close up; I stayed on the nearside as neither time nor transportation was on my side, but with approximately twenty hides to visit there was plenty to see.

Ospreys on the nest (from http://www.ospreys.org.uk/category/osprey-team-blog)

ABOVE Ospreys at Rutland water BELOW Little ringed plover

Little ringed plover at waterside

The ‘new’ for me included a little ringed plover, pretty but hard to spot, and a little egret (first time for me in the UK, although common enough in Argentina). Lots of Egyptian Geese (I counted 21 in simultaneous sight at one hide), and an unusual close up shot of a couple of little grebes building a nest in open water close to the 360 Hide. At one distant hide I opened a hatch and found four swans, two adult and two of this year’s cygnets, about two metres from me; they were quite unmoved by my presence.

One of several little egrets I saw on Rutland water

ABOVE Little egret  BELOW view from one of the hides

View of wetland — from Grebe Hide

I managed to visit all the hides bar one (I took the wrong turn and missed it) and my legs tell me I did a fair bit of walking but it was worth it. This is one of Britain’s premier birding sites and if the pickings were a little lean in mid summer that is hardly to be unexpected. I have made a note to come back in the winter, when migrants are likely to be passing through, and in April, reputed to be the best time of the year for the reserve.