Hi Everyone,

I hope this finds you all well and not too frazzled in the sunny weather!

A few bits to show you from around the reserve…

Tim has been bug hunting again!

At around 7mm this is one of the largest aphids in the world! The Greater Black Spruce Bark Aphid not only has a long name, but long mouthparts too – in the young nymphs, their proboscis is twice as long as their body! These were found in Gibbett’s Gorse last week- one of just a handful of places in the UK where they have been recorded. 

Another awesome find down at Cherry Wood – Rhinoceros Beetle! (our smallest stag beetle).

It’s great to see the reserve in bloom in the warm weather! 

Lyndon meadows are looking splendid for those people walking down to the Ospreys and Hides.

A few highlights from Fran from the sunny bank holiday on the reserve, yellow rattle and red clover in flower in our wildflower hay meadows, along with a lovely patch of adders tongue fern, also in one of our hay meadows- a relatively uncommon plant and some birdsfoot trefoil also in flower.

The wind and rain has taken its toll on a few of the large hole nest boxes around the reserve. We were ready to condemn this one when we realised that against all odds (and without a roof over their heads) a pair of kestrels had taken up residence – and were brooding 6 chicks!

With the box in imminent danger of falling off the tree, a specially made box (expertly crafted by Dave Cole), along with the help of licensed handlers from the Rutland Water Ringing Group. The chicks were successfully translocated to the new and more solid box!

The ringing group have also been busy ringing cormorants. Volunteers, Gary and Candice assisted our contract ringer Luke with the ringing of cormorants in Burley Fish Pond. Colour ringing enables us to better monitor the movements of these birds from this nationally important inland breeding colony.

We also had a visit from The One Show from the BBC a few weeks ago, to visit the Osprey Project on it’s 25th anniversary year  to  make  a short  feature  film!

Abi and Ken were interviewed about the project and it’s incredible history. They also gave the crew a tour of Lyndon VC and took them to see the Manton Bay pair, along with a trip out on the Rutland Belle to see the Ospreys in action. If you missed it, you can view it here. 

That’s all for this week- take care!

Hi Everyone,

I hope this finds you well, although the weather doesn’t seem to reflect the time of year, there’s plenty of signs of spring about…

he first cuckoo flowers started to emerge on Egleton Meadows, the first tiny orange tip butterfly eggs (less than 1mm long) are laid. They are careful to lay only one egg per plant as the caterpillars have a sinister side – they are cannibalistic and would otherwise eat their siblings!

Last week, we also found our first brood of blue tit chicks, found during a nest box check in the birch wood next to cherry wood!

Tim had been out surveying and when he got back to the work van, he found it to be colonised by a swarm of bees!

Our fantastic volunteers Dave and Alan making Tawny owl boxes too. Having had big issues with the Plywood falling apart after just a few years we are trying using timber. They take longer to make but they should last years longer…

This rather colourful beetle turned up in the reedbed in Field 16 today. The aptly named Green-socks Peacock Beetle (Elaphrus riparius) has green elytra (wing cases) with contrasting purple spots – and of course, green ‘socks’!

Our latest Breeding Wader Survey has found 10 avocet nests on Lagoon 4 (the most ever recorded at Rutland Water)! Huge thanks to all the volunteers who have spent countless hours in the hides observing breeding behavior over the last few weeks. I’m sure there will be more good news to come!

We’ve also had the first Oystercatcher chicks of the year on Lagoon 6! How sweet they are!

That’s all for this week- Take Care! 

Tips, Time in Nature and Volunteering

Around one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem in a year. Mental Health Awareness Week aims to help people feel more confident to talk about their mental health and reduce the stigma that prevents people from asking for help.

You can find out more about the campaign here: www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

For 2021, Nature has been chosen as the theme to support the campaign and here’s why:

“Nature is so central to our psychological and emotional health, that it’s almost impossible to realise good mental health for all without a greater connection to the natural world. For most of human history, we lived as part of nature. It is only in the last five generations that so many of us have lived and worked in a context that is largely separated from nature. It is only since a 1960s study in the US found that patients who were treated in hospitals with a view of nature recovered faster, that science has started to unpack the extraordinary health benefits.

Nature is our great-untapped resource for a mentally healthy future.

Despite this, many of us are not accessing or benefitting from nature. Teenagers in particular appear to be less connected with nature and around 13% of UK households have no access to a garden. We want to challenge the disparities in who is and who isn’t able to experience nature. Nature is not a luxury. It is a resource that must be available for everyone to enjoy – as basic as having access to clean water or a safe roof over our heads. Local and national governments need to consider their role in making this a reality for everyone, and we will be talking about how they can do so during the week.”

Our wellbeing is ever more important after an extremely stressful year. We are all facing many pressures now that society is gradually reopening. It is important to reflect on the time we gained over lockdown and how we readjust to living life a full pace once more. There are so many things we can do to improve our mindset…

Create your new routine:

For most of us, our normal routine has been changed. It’s important to spend some time creating a new routine for yourself, but still keep elements of what you used to do – such as getting up and going to bed at the same time or having your meals at the same time. Maybe there were aspects of your old routine you didn’t like, for instance not having enough time to exercise or cook a meal. If you live with other people, why not create a routine together, it can be a good time to talk about your worries and concerns with them, and ensure your needs are met; for instance if you need some time to yourself in the day, but don’t want to upset the other person by hiding in another room!

Connect with People:

When creating your new routine, be sure to set times to connect with people – this is not only incredibly important for you, but also for the others that will benefit from hearing from you.  If you can, try to video chat or call rather than text, it will feel more personal, and you will be able to create a more natural conversation. Think about the people in your life that may not have many people to connect to, and make time for them. If you worry you’ll run out of things to talk about, why not make a plan to watch the same programme or read the same book as each other. Maybe you could even play a board game together!

Try to keep active:

Keeping active is incredibly beneficial for not just your body, but also your mental health. I know that for many of us, here are some different ideas to try:

• Cleaning your home (it is spring clean time after all!)
• Dancing to music, especially while cleaning your home!
• Online or in person exercise classes, this could be anything from a simple seated stretch to a full workout.
• Reminders to move – try and set yourself little reminders to move each hour, this will help to stretch the body and release any tension.

Feel the sun on your face:

I don’t need to tell you how important nature is to your mental and physical wellbeing. There are things we can do to help bring nature back into our lives:

• If you have a garden, spend as much time as you can there. Think about what you could do at this time of year in the garden. Think about the wildlife that uses it, and what you could do to support it.
• If you don’t have access to a garden, spend time with the windows open, to let in the fresh air. Try and create a beautiful space by a window, where you can feel the breeze on your face and just watch the world. Maybe listen out for bird song, the sound of the breeze through the trees, or simply watch the clouds moving in the sky.
• Go for a walk and immerse yourself with the sights, sounds and scents of nature!

Find new ways to relax and be creative:

I know it can be hard, but try not to feel like you can’t achieve as much in your day as you did before. We are all trying our best, so be kind to yourself. An important area not to forget about is making time to relax. Add a time in your schedule to include something that helps you to unwind. This may have been an activity you already did, or something completely new. Maybe take up an old arts and crafts hobby such as drawing or knitting, or try something new like meditation or yoga – remember you could also take this hobby up with a friend, and check in regularly with the other person to see how they are getting on!

Keep your mind stimulated:

There are so many ways we can keep our mind active, maybe dig out your old Sudoku book, or try the crossword in the paper and maybe read a new book. We have a fantastic list of wildlife and nature themed books for each month of the year- so pop us an email and we can send through some recommendations!

Keep your body healthy:

We have talked about many ways to keep our body healthy and fit at this time, but also think about what you are nourishing it with. You might find your appetite may have changed during this period, but just try to focus on giving your body good nourishment. Eating regularly will keep your bloody sugar stable and keep your energy and mood levels up. Make sure you are getting enough water, and plenty of fresh produce.

Volunteer!

Volunteering – the simple act of giving your time to those in need – is hugely beneficial to your community. Around nine out of ten people benefit from some sort of voluntary activity over the course of a year. It allows people to enjoy new experiences, learn a skill or simply help those most in need.

There are over 162,000 voluntary organisations in the UK and an estimated 14.2 million people volunteer at least once a month. The economic value of volunteering is estimated to be approximately £22.6 billion.

Volunteers play a vital role in the work of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. With hundreds of committed volunteers, we are achieving great things and with your help, we can do so much more. Each volunteer brings with them knowledge and enthusiasm which really makes a difference to the work of the Trust. Protect threatened wildlife, have fun and meet people who share your interests – and benefit from feeling happier, healthier and more connected to nature!

There are also so many benefits for the person giving their time, particularly in terms of mental health and wellbeing!

• Sense of purpose – Helping others or a greater cause can be rewarding and satisfying, and can reaffirm your sense of value and purpose.
• Social opportunities – Volunteering can provide an opportunity to make friends and develop your social life. There is an increasing understanding that social relationships promote mental wellbeing and volunteering is a great way to build these.
• Learning – Volunteering often involves learning new skills, which in itself brings a sense of fulfilment and achievement.
• Chance of employment – Many volunteering schemes can open doors in terms of employment opportunities. Finding a job (or a new job) can carry with it all the benefits outlined above.
• A distraction – If you are experiencing anxiety or depression, and are preoccupied with negative thoughts, you may find that volunteering simply provides a welcome distraction. Having an activity to focus on can take your mind off the negative thoughts and help you to live in the moment.
• Physical activity – Some volunteering activities may involve physical effort, the benefits of exercise for mental health are well established.
• Time in Nature – There are so many benefits to connecting with the natural world and can boost the release of endorphins, the feel good hormone!

Why volunteer for Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust?

Through volunteering for the Trust, you will:

• Contribute to the conservation of threatened wildlife and habitats across Leicestershire and Rutland.
• Feel happier and healthier – research has shown that volunteering in wild spaces has a huge positive impact on mental and physical health.
• Learn how to carry out different tasks involved with the management of nature reserves, use different tools and improve your wildlife identification skills.
• Gain valuable experience – which is crucial if you are interested in a career in nature conservation.
• Meet new people and make friends who share your interests in wildlife.

Whether you feel like your problem is big or small, do try to talk to someone about it. It could be a health professional, family, friends or sometimes a stranger – if you can, try to open up. Discussing our feelings can really help to work through them, and challenge why you think or feel a certain way. I know this can be a huge step, but just send a text, make a call, and talk.

With the season now well underway, and with 24 adult Ospreys back in the area, we are all getting excited for the first chick to hatch from the Manton Bay nest, which will be any day now! Maya and 33(11) have been kept busy incubating three eggs, which were laid three days apart each time, on 30^th March, 2^nd June and 5^th June. Although Maya has done the vast majority of the incubating, 33(11) does like to have a go himself – he is one of the most dedicated breeding males when it comes to incubation duties – and they both will take it in turns during the day. Of course, since the pair returned back in March, 33(11) has been supplying himself and Maya with plenty of fish to see them through and once the chicks hatch, we will start to see a lot more activity from him.

Our new livestreaming camera has really come into its own over the past few weeks. Having sound this year is fantastic and has given us a brand new insight into the lives of Maya and 33(11). One of Maya’s and 33(11)’s current favourite perches is the fallen poplar, just behind the nest, and thanks to its ability to pan around, we have been able to share this with all our viewers. It just shows as well how much potential we have with the new system and we are really looking forward to experimenting some more with it, so thank you again to all of you who very kindly donated towards our Webcam Appeal last year. You can view the live webcam by visiting the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust’s website by clicking here.

Some of you may have heard on the news, or down the grapevine, about an Osprey nest that was vandalised last weekend and cut down using a chainsaw, at Llyn Brenig, North Wales, which is managed by North Wales Wildlife Trust. For up to date news on this particular nest, please do visit the Brenig Osprey Project’ Although this is a horrific act, and we appreciate the concerns some may have, we are confident this is an isolated incident and are happy that the Manton Bay pair are safe and well monitored.

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are well and enjoying all the signs of Spring springing!

This past week has been referred to as “one of the best weeks for birdwatching in the recent history of Rutland Water”!

We’ve got a great ‘Wildlife Round-up’ from Tim for you all:

“The week of rarities started with a white stork over Manton Bay on Monday followed by a Bonaparte’s gull (a North American species of gull) on Lagoons 3 and 4, present from Tuesday – Saturday. A Kentish plover (a scarce visitor to the UK) continued the run of daily rarities on Wednesday when one was discovered on Lagoon 4, followed by 8 bar-tailed godwit on Thursday (which increased to 11 by the next day). On Friday the excitement continued when 2 black tern were joined by around 25 little gull on Lagoon 3. As the day went on more and more little gull appeared totaling 80 at one time (possibly one of the highest inland records for this species???) – in all 107 were recorded during the day. It was back to waders for the weekend when 17 species of wading bird were recorded in the day, the highlights being 12 whimbrel in the field behind Dunlin Hide. A ring ouzel was also briefly seen along from Harrier Hide near Lax Hill on Saturday morning. 2 common sandpiper and a turnstone, which appeared on Sunday, brought the number of wader species recorded during the week to 20!  

The warm days has brought many invertebrates out this week. The most numerous (besides the non-biting midges) seems to be the bee-fly (Bombylius major) which appears to be having one of their best years in a long time. The first speckled wood butterflies have been spotted (no pun intended) this week, joining the orange-tips which emerged last week – the first of the butterflies to appear in the year which have not overwintered as an adult. While conducting a grassland survey we found a number of orange-tip eggs on the cuckooflower along Egleton Meadows.

There has also been a fantastic number of solitary bee species emerging in the Sharple’s Meadow area, including: impunctate mini-miner (Andrena subopaca), hawthorn mining bee (Andrena chrysosceles), orange-tailed mining bee (Andrena haemorrhoa), grey-patched mining bee (Andrena nitida), short-fringed mining bee (Andrena dorsata), chocolate mining bee (Andrena scotica), Fabricius’ mining bee (Nomada fabriciana), Panzer’s mining bee (Nomada panzer), fork-jawed mining bee (Nomada ruficornis). Along with white-tailed bumblebee, buff-tailed bumblebee, tree bumblebee, common carder-bee and hairy-footed flower bee. Two of the most significant finds came from a search of the blackthorn blossom where two uncommon species of hoverfly were recorded – Platycheirus ambigulus and Platycheirus occulatus – both of which have just a handful of records in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Thanks for sending all your records in and let’s hope the easterlies bring in some more fantastic birds in this week!”

Luke has been out and about ringing too and has had some great ringing ticks. It was lovely to hear a Nightingale again!

We’ve also had some lovely photos of a Grasshopper warbler seen between Harrier and Fieldfare hide, sent in from Jeff Davies;

Also, a rare ‘behind the scenes’ look at ‘Hotel St Martine’ where the first residents of the year are settling in nicely! 485 rooms in total with sand martin nests appearing in 72 Chambers already – 11 with eggs!

We’re also very excited to have some new and updated interpretation panels going up at Lyndon!

Finally, if you fancy some education, why not join some of the RNHS meetings, please find their programme below:

Rutland Natural History Society Annual Programme 2021

To book a place, please contact Linda Biddle at abiddle21@talktalk.net

That’s all for this week- so many lovely signs of Spring!

Take care!