PICTURE GALLERY
Raptors
With the outstanding success of the reintroduction programme in Northamptonshire, Red Kites have become very much more common at Rutland Water, to the point where they are seen almost every day. The forked tail is probably their most distinctive feature when flying overhead. This one was pictured by Tim Caldicott over the Lyndon Reserve in March 2004.
The number of records of this passage migrant, the Marsh Harrier, have increased rapidly, as has the UK population. With the expansion of the reed bed in Lagoon III, it is quite possible that this bird could one day be added to the list of breeders at Rutland Water. It was over Lagoon III that this bird was seen in May 2002 by Matthew Berriman.
Sparrowhawks are resident at Rutland Water and they occasionally breed. Over the years, the number of sightings has increased dramatically so that there are now regular daily records. Most visitors will have seen them as they terrorize the wader flocks along the banks of the lagoons.
Picture: Matthew Berriman
See also a picture of a juvenile being ringed during the Birdfair in 2001.
Thanks to the translocation work carried out through the Anglian Water Osprey Project, these birds are now seen regularly during the summer months at Rutland Water and bred for the first time in 2001. Typically they arrive back from West Africa at the end of March and are present until early or mid-September. There are many more pictures, together with full details of the project on the Osprey website.
Photo: Steve Bainbridge 2007
Kestrels are resident breeders at Rutland Water, but their number is declining. This female was seen from Tern Hide on 29th March 2003.
Picture: Adrian Yeo
Hobbies arrive in April and May and are regularly seen hunting insects in early summer. Later, from July onwards thay catch young swifts, swallows and martins to feed to their own young.
Picture: Matthew Berriman, Lagoon 1 27/04/02