PICTURE GALLERY

  Ducks2

Red-crested Pochard are uncommon but regular visitors in small numbers. These diving ducks breed mainly in central and eastern Europe and often arrive in eclipse plumage at Rutland Water in July or August.

Picture: Matthew Berriman

 

   A male Tufted Duck and some wonderful water! An amazing total of 5748 were counted on the reservoir in Setember 2002.
Picture: Chas Maxwell


Scaup are uncommon winter visitors, though there are also occasional records in mid summer. They prefer the main water of the reservoir and are most often seen near the dam. This one was seen on 3 November 2002 in the north arm of the reservoir.

Picture: Matthew Berriman


Although common on the coast, Eider are extemely rare inland.

This pair were pictured by Matthew Berriman on 19 April 2003 in "rather challenging conditions"!

 

 

Common Scoter are uncommon passage visitors to Rutland Water, though there are also occasional mid-winter records too. Even with this distant picture it is possible to make out the paler flight feathers on this bulky, dark duck, flying low over the water.

All pictures: Matthew Berriman

You are much less likely to see Common Scoter as well as this:
a male on the left and a female in front on the right.
They were at Normanton of 12 October 2003.

 


 

 

This is a rare visitor to Rutland, a female Velvet Scoter seen in November 2002.
Many birdwatchers will have had only long-distance views of this sea duck,
though the white secondaries make it distinctive in flight even at long range.

Picture: Matthew Berriman

 

 

 

Goldeneye are fairly common winter visitors, though a few birds occasionally spend the summer here too. The reservoir is of national importance for this diving duck. This picture by Tim Caldicott shows the male in breeding plumage.

These juveniles were also seen by Tim Caldicott from Lapwing Hide on 22nd November 2001. The water was very clear and Tim could see them diving below the surface. The picture on the right shows how they use their tail to press down on the water, thus giving themselves a little height before diving.

Pictures: Tim Caldicott.