Saturday 21st February 1998

This was our second monthly Field Trip of the year. An "own car" visit to Rutland Water, (the only own car trip we do). Everyone met up in the reserve car park at 10am and we were surprised to see just how many members turned out. Since the recent mail shot the club has mushroomed, and around 40 people waited in the car park that morning. Quite a few of them were new members and we had to split into two groups to tour the reserve.

The waters of the reservoir were high, but not as many Duck as usual were seen. But some good birds found their way onto year, and life lists. One new member Elizabeth Lloyd from Australia had clocked up nine 'lifers' by lunch time.

Waders seen included seven or eight Ruff, a single Dunlin, several Snipe, a fly past of Golden Plover and hundreds of Lapwings. Egyptian Geese were seen at several locations, and a single Whooper Swan was in front of one of the hides. Of the Ducks, there were good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye and Shelduck. While we also saw Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, Pintail, Goosander and Smew, the latter were the star birds for many on the trip. There were three birds, two males (real stunners!) and a female. Some members of the group saw a Short-eared Owl, but this was missed by the organisers (drat!).