PICTURE GALLERY
Sawbills
Smew have been visiting Rutland Water more frequently in recent years. This picture shows a "Redhead" - a term used for females and juvenile birds. The male is quite different - largely white with black and grey markings.
Picture: Tim Caldicott
Red-breasted Mergansers are rare winter visitors. This splendid male was seen by Matthew Berriman near the dam on 22 March 2003.
Picture: Tim Caldicott
Goosanders are some of the most elegant regular winter visitors to the reservoir but do not often offer such close views as this female(above) and male (below). Numbers reach a peak in January and February each year. The maximum yearly counts for the years 1991 to 2000 were:
The maximum count of 116 occurred in February 1991.
Picture: Chas Maxwell