11th January

Had a few hours at a very windy Rutland Water where highlights included 2 Black-necked Grebes, a Slavonian Grebe and 2 female Scaup (plus another on one of the lagoons) in the North Arm and a drake Smew on one of the lagoons.   Other birds comprised the usual Egyptian Geese, a Marsh Harrier, several Great White Egrets and Little Egrets, a smart looking, very white leucistic Lapwing, a few Buzzards, Ravens and Red Kites floating around in the breeze, c80 Golden Plover with the big Lapwing flocks and as usual, load of duck with high numbers of Tufted Ducks and Pochards sheltering on the lagoons, away from the very rough main lake.

Smew record shot

These Great-crested Grebes were starting to display a bit