a partnership between

Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
and Anglian Water

This page was last updated 25th July 2010

Mediterranian Gull observations

Wardens and observers at the Rutland Water nature reserve have observed two colour-ringed, 3rd calendar year Mediterranean Gulls at the Reserve, both in April and recently in July. The birds both had green rings which observers were able to read. Osprey Officers, Tim Mackrill and John Wright subsequently contacted the Med-Gull team in Germany and were pleased to receive information on where these birds were ringed and the route they have taken.

They were both ringed as chicks at a site next to the River Elbe near Hamburg in 2008. It is 430 miles west of Rutland Water .The links below show the Med-gull project images for those interested.

http://www.alice-dsl.net/niksneues/Pionierinsel/index.html

http://www.hajo-naturfoto.de/naturfoto/de/gallery.php?td=30&gid=1001&f_galnr=1246195305

http://www.hajo-naturfoto.de/naturfoto/de/gallery.php?td=30&gid=1001&f_galnr=1148402838

http://medgull.free.fr:80

http://www.crb-photoguide.com

Volunteer's Summer BBQ

Rutland Water Nature Reserve could not operate and exisit in the way it does without the tremendous help of our valued volunteers. To commemorate the Leicester & Rutland Wildlife Trust, a Volunteer's BBQ was held at the Egleton visiort centre recently, with over 200 volunteers and staff in attendance. We had the most amazing weather, melting into a wonderful and balmy, typical English Summer evening with which to enjoy the get together and sit out with our BBQ fare and refreshing drinks!

Below is just a small selection of the evening's enjoyment which was had by all. Why not volunteer and join us and you too could be in on the next event! More details on our "Volunteers" page.

Group gathering

Refreshments - Osprey ale of course!

BBQ fare

Enjoying the company

Little Owl Nest Rescue

A farmer contacted one of our volunteers recently to say that he found a nest of Little Owl chicks as he was dismantling his straw stock on a farm close to the Reserve, whereupon the volunteer contacted our duty warden, Lloyd Park and an operation was launched to save the chicks. Lloyd, along with two of our other wardens, Martin Kerman and Fran Payne tied a spare kestrel box down to the top of the remaining straw bales, and after ringing the chicks, placed them in the box and waited. Before too long the parents dutifully returned to their chicks, now safely ensconced in their new nest.

Below are images of the chicks taken by David Cole, showing the straw stack, newly erected nestbox and chicks.

Bales in yard above.

Nest box tied to bales above

Little Owl chicks above

 

MASSIVE BOOK SALE CONTINUES!!

We have FURTHER titles now in our BIG Book Sale! We are having a clear out of some older and NOT SO OLD titles of BOOKS to make way for new stock. These now include some excellent Field Guides for foreign destinations. Going on a Birding Holiday? - Don't miss out on this one-off opportunity to collect some fantastic titles!

ALL MUST Go - come and see some of these splendid bargains for yourself. There will not be another chance for some of these excellent titles.

All available from the Egleton visitor Centre ! Come and browse today..

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We Want You !

Summer is here, we are very busy and we would like to welcome more VOLUNTEERS to help in our Visitor Centres. We have a very dedicated team of volunteers, some have have been helping us for many years, others have joined us more recently, but trying to cover two centres in busy periods means we sometimes struggle for help. Volunteers are required to " meet and greet" visitors to the reserve, issue permits and help with the shop.

Training is given and above all we like our volunteers to enjoy this delightful surrounding, and the company! Experience is not necessary as training will be given and you do not even have to be a birder to join us, but it helps! If you feel you can give us a minimum of 2 x 4 hour shifts per month (or more!) we would love to hear from you. Apart from volunteering, you will be invited to join us for our Volunteer's Christmas party and other social events that may take place.

For further information, see here, and please contact

Julia Fisher-Robins, Reserve Administrator, Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre, Rutland Water Nature Reserve, Egleton, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8BT

Tel: 01572 770651 or email: awbc@rutlandwater.org.uk

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SANDWICHES

We are once again stocking an excellent range of sandwiches at both Visitor Centres at weekends, so there is no need to go hungry - Please come in and enjoy our refreshment selection.

PATH CLOSURES AT EGLETON

As from 15th September 2009 we have to close certain tracks along the southern routes from the Birdwatching Centre at Egleton. The reason being, that work has now begun on the next stage of the Rutland Habitats Programme. Over the next year new wetlands and lagoons will be created to provide habitat for birds that may be displaced during future periods of draw down in the main body of the reservoir. We are sorry for any inconvenience that this causes but by the end of the project the reserve will have substantial new habitats which will be enjoyed not just by the wildlife but by visitors as well!

The initial programme will result in the closure of TERN HIDE as contractors erect 6 kilometres of newt fencing to catch and remove great crested newts to ponds outside the construction area. Hedgerows and banks leading to tern hide will be removed and in late October work will begin in this area –C5- to create a series of wet ditches and scrapes which should in future years attract species such as Redshank, Lapwing and Snipe to breed. A new access route has been created to allow visitors to access the hides leading to Lax Hill and Goldeneye Hide. Please follow the marked route at all times.

WIGEON and HERON HIDES will also be closed due to new access roads being constructed to allow construction vehicles to access the areas D1 and D2. Work is this section is due to start on 1st November and continue through the winter period into early spring 2010. Visitors may walk to and around Lax Hill, Gorse Close and Goldeneye Hide but will have to return on the same outward route back to the Birdwatching Centre. For further information please ask our staff or Duty volunteer for a leaflet explaining the Rutland Habitats Project.

For more information about this exciting project, click here.