Pied Flycatchers, April

Ground Beetle - Carabus nitens

A jewel of the moorland.

Common Buzzard, Rutland

Generally just a Common Buzzard apart from the reddish tail. A large aggressive bird and always in the thick of the action when boundaries are crossed.

Pale Common Buzzard, Rutland

A gorgeous pale Common Buzzard. It looked remarkably like a white Gyr sitting on a fence post from a distance.

3 Mediterranean and a Ring-billed Gull, RW, 7th April

Three 2nd summer Med Gulls and an adult Ring-billed joined the small gulls this evening.

Euro Fighter v 5R

This ridiculously low Euro fighter wasn't far away from taking out a fishing Osprey, male 5R - or maybe the Osprey would have taken it out.

Fallow Deer

Wheatear, RW

Barn Owl, RW

Osprey and Raven, RW, 19th March

03(97) back for his 12th season. Just a few hours after arriving back from his winter quarters a Raven decided to try its luck. You never appreciate a Ravens size and bulk until you see one next to an equally large bird.

Bittern, RW

The 2 Bitterns were hanging on but the last time i saw one was at 06.15 on the 18th March.

Bittern and Otter, RW, 3rd March

Having not seen either of the 2 regular Bitterns the previous 2 nights i was beginning to wonder whether they had migrated even though the weather had not been ideal. However just before dark a Bittern walked out into an area of cut reeds and displayed like mad. No other Bittern was visible although an Otter did pass by shortly after wards. It settled down on the waters edge and was still visible at 7.30pm silhouetted against the water. Was it one of the 2 regulars (they always roosted in the reed-heads) or was it a passing migrant?

Otter, RW, 2nd March

It did exactly the same as last night - scent marked on a runaway tern raft. A large individual (pres' male) with a very strong tail.

Woodlouse Spider, RW, 27th Feb

A slow moving but imposing beast. The huge fangs are used to great effect on Woodlouse which are mostly hunted at night. This one was on the front doorstep at midday so it was a good opportunity for a closer look.