The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Very enjoyable day with good weather at Rutland Water. There were a number of good birds (all reported recently) that Richard Gunn and I saw :

Smew - 10 (5 drakes) - from Redshank Hide
Black-necked Grebe - 3 - 1 from Redshank Hide
- 2 off Barnsdale
Slavonian Grebe - 1 - off Barnsdale
Red- crested Pochard - 1 (female) - off Barnsdale
Scaup - 4 (2 drakes) - off the Dam
Goldeneye - c25
plus incl :
Great- crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Wigeon
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
( A Great-northern Diver - reported early afternoon - had flown off from the Dam area by the time we arrived there.

Regards,

Freddy

I took a trip to Rutland Water after reading Freddy's posting

First thing I noted was three buzzards just off the A1 on the road down into Empingham village

At the dam there were 5 Scaup

3 Black Necked Grebe at Barnsdale. Park at the bottom of the hill (car park closed) turn right just past the gate. No sign of the Slavonian Grebe but it was reported on the reserve notice board

9 Smew (4 males) from Redshank and the next hide. Path very wet here. Another 3 Smews reported from Manton Bay earlier but not there when I looked

A huge new lake has been created just past Osprey hide. It has only recently opened. Lots of Golden Plover on there today. It looks as though it will be promising once it has matured

Chris,
It sounds like a great day out with a good list of birds. The new lake area certainly seems promising.

Regards,

Freddy