PICTURE GALLERY
Ducks
Shelduck are resident breeders at Rutland Water, occurring in small numbers during the winter months. From early March, pairs arrive and set up territories. Each July, most of the British (and NW European) population of Shelduck undertake a "moult migration" to the Heligoland Bight off NW Germany. There, they shed and replace all their flight feathers at once (as do all geese and ducks) and are unable to fly for about four weeks.
Wigeon are common winter visitors at Rutland water, with a few birds remaining throughout the summer. Wigeon graze on the grassland adjacent to the reservoir. Regular cutting of the shore line vegetation, gives Wigeon easy access to the grassland directly from the water.
These were pictured by Tim Caldicott from Wigeon Hide (of course!) on 16/11/01.
The American Wigeon is a rare straggler to this country. The first record at Rutland Water , the male shown below, was in 2003. Picture: Matthew Berriman
Mandarin duck are still quite a rare sight on the reservoir, though they have been seen regularly along the river Welland for some years and breed in the large nestboxes in nearby Fineshade woods. This one, a drake in eclipse plumage, was seen by Matthew Berriman on Lagoon I on 1 August 2002
Picture: Philip Tew
Rutland Water is an internationally important site for Gadwall. Small numbers breed, and growing numbers gather here later in the summer each year to moult . In winter numbers continue to increase.
This pair were pictured by Tim Caldicott on 5 September from Lapwing Hide.
Photos: Tim Caldicott Teal are very common winter visitors. A small population remains throughout the year and breeding has recently been proven (as you can see below!). Teal are the smallest of the wintering ducks and in flight they can easily be mistaken for waders. The maximum number recorded at Rutland Water was nearly 2500 in March 1996. However, most years the numbers reach a peak in autumn.
Pictures: Andy Mackay and Matthew Berriman
Picture: Matthew Berriman
This Blue-winged Teal, a drake in eclipse plumage, was outside Lapwing Hide on 22 September 2003.
Mallard numbers regularly reach a peak in the autumn
when birds roost by day at the resrvoir and feed at night on local fields. This male and female were pictured at Lapwing hide on 22 November 2001.
Pictures: Tim Caldicott.
Pintail are autumn and early winter visitors. The numbers of this species fluctuate annually as a result of varying water levels. Mats of floating aquatic plants and gradual flooding of the drawdown zones provide perfect feeding conditions. Most years one or two birds stay into the spring like this elegant drake which was pictured at Harrier Hide on 26 March 2002.
Picture: Tim Caldicott.
Pictures: Matthew Berriman
A real goodie among our summer visitors - these are Garganey. There has been no proof of breeding although pairs are present in some springs. Eclipse birds congregate from mid-August onwards with up to13 having been recorded. They spend the winter in Africa and our latest recorded sighting is mid October.
Shoveler are common autumn migrants and also present in small numbers throughout the year.
Above is a male in breeding plumage. Below on the left is a first winter male and on the right a female.
All three pictures: Tim Caldicott.
