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Rutland Water Nature Reserve

Rutland Water is all about ospreys. The first attempts to attract ospreys to Rutland Water started in 1986, but it wasn't until 1996 that the project really took off with the first translocation of young ospreys from Scotland. From 1996 - 2001 64 ospreys were translocated from Scotland.   There are regular cruises, walks, talks and events at Rutland: Click here for further details and to go to the Rutland Water website.

Wildlife Highlights: Ospreys are by far the major attraction, but there is much more, with over 250 species of birds recorded here. Goosander, Tufted duck, little egret, pintail, little ringed plover and hundreds of wigeon, spoonbill, smew, shoveller, goldeneye, great crested grebe and teal.

Click here to see a full birdlist on the Rutland Water website.

Butterflies (15 species) and dragonflies (12 species) are also prolific at Rutland Water.

Location: Rutland Water it to the south east of Oakham. There are two visitor centres, at Egleton and near Manton, and they can both be accessed from the A6003 from Uppingham or Oakham. From Stamford take the A606/A1.
There is free parking at the site.

2008 osprey breeding season

18 July. The first of the Rutland chicks has fledged, and the rest are due any day.

Despite the very heavy rainfall, all 5 chicks are well. Thankfully, although very wet, the weather stayed reasonably warm. There are two pairs of ospreys breeding at Rutland Water, and several single birds too. The reliable pair who have bred there for the last 6 years have hatched three chicks and they are all growing well. The second (new) pair of ospreys have also taken residence on another nest at Rutland Water and have 2 chicks which are well, though smaller then the three older in the other nest This female was born here in 2004 and thus becomes the first English born osprey to breed here in 150 years!

Grid reference: SK878073

Fees: Full day rate: Adults £4.00; senior citizens £3.00, children under 16/student union card holders £2.00, disabled people and carers £2.00.

Click here for further details and to go to the Rutland Water website.

 

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