On 21st May, 8 members, led by Peter Ward, visited Rutland Water Nature Reserve and managed to visit nearly all of the 20 plus hides. There was a strong breeze and the morning was quite cold especially sitting in hides open to the large expanse of Rutland Water, a man-made reservoir in Leicestershire. We settled in Dunlin Hide for a time and, although we didn't see its namesake, we did get distant views of a Ruff, Lapwings, and numerous Gulls plus closer views of a nesting Great Crested grebe and its mate fishing nearby (Images Ann Miles, Andre Neves).
The Canada and Greylag Geese (Ann Miles, Bruce Kendrick) were definitely the noisiest residents while our most exciting views were of soaring and hovering Osprey (image Bruce Kendrick) together with Kestrels and a Marsh Harrier
In the afternoon, the sun came out so we also took in some insect photography - several pairs of Orange-Tip Butterflies (Andre Neves) plus various flies and beetles including this very attractive Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle (Andre Neves) - a name to match its very long antenna. Plenty of Little Egrets to photograph both on the water's edge and in flight and also a single Great White Egret.
For more events to attend go to Nature (rps.org)
Below: Egret in Flight by Ann Miles
