Welcome to LROS
The Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society is a Registered Charity (No. 254645), which aims to:
Promote birdwatching and the study, conservation and enjoyment of birds in the two counties.
Record and publish Members’ sightings in the form of an Annual Report book and newsletters, which each member receives.
Present a series of Indoor/Zoom Meetings throughout the year and a programme of Monthly Outings for members to participate in.
Organise survey work to further our knowledge of wild birds both locally and on a national basis.
Welcome to LROS
The Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society is a Registered Charity (No. 254645), which aims to:
Promote birdwatching and the study, conservation and enjoyment of birds in the two counties.
Record and publish Members’ sightings in the form of an Annual Report book and monthly newsletter, which every member receives.
Present a series of Indoor/Zoom Meetings throughout the year and a programme of Monthly Outings for members to participate in.
Organise survey work to further our knowledge of wild birds both locally and on a national basis.
Established in 1941
Join LROS for just £18 per year
Just £1.50 a month
Record your bird sightings with LROS
Members Area
Share Knowledge
Engage with over 500 birdwatchers from Leicestershire and Rutland
Make a Difference
Help preserve the birds of Leicestershire and Rutland
Learn from Peers
New and experienced birdwatchers welcome
Record Your Observations
Keep track of your records and those of other members
Surveys and Census
Help with bird surveys
Goshawks Breeding in Leicestershire
This magnificent raptor species has bred at two undisclosed locations in Leicestershire this year! This is the first documented instance of breeding in the county. Harley, writing in 1841, stated that ‘Goshawks used to occur not infrequently in our woodlands and forest wilds, but had become exceedingly rare.’ However, no proof was given that they bred in the county during that century.
To view a video of two of the fledged juveniles and a second-calendar male, click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhI39qG4pQo
Carl Baggott, County Bird Recorder.
Goshawks Breeding in Leicestershire
This magnificent raptor species has bred at two undisclosed locations in Leicestershire this year! This is the first documented instance of breeding in the county. Harley, writing in 1841, stated that ‘Goshawks used to occur not infrequently in our woodlands and forest wilds, but had become exceedingly rare.’ However, no proof was given that they bred in the county during that century.
To view a video of two of the fledged juveniles and a second-calendar male, click on this link: Goshawks in Leicestershire
Carl Baggott, County Bird Recorder.
Goshawks Breeding in Leicestershire
This magnificent raptor species has bred at two undisclosed locations in Leicestershire this year! This is the first documented instance of breeding in the county. Harley, writing in 1841, stated that ‘Goshawks used to occur not infrequently in our woodlands and forest wilds, but had become exceedingly rare.’ However, no proof was given that they bred in the county during that century.
To view a video of two of the fledged juveniles and a second-calendar male, click on this link: Goshawks in Leicestershire
Carl Baggott, County Bird Recorder.
Reasons to Join
✓ Share Knowledge. Engage with over 500 birdwatchers from Leicestershire and Rutland
✓ Make a Difference and Help preserve the birds of Leicestershire and Rutland
✓ Learn from Peers. New and experienced birdwatchers welcome
✓ Record Your Observations. Keep track of your records and those of other members
✓ Surveys and Census. Help with bird surveys
Your Financial Contributions Go Towards Projects Like the Below
Relaunch of Tern Rafts at Hicks lodge
With the help of Forestry England we were able to repair both rafts and relaunch them into the lake at Hicks lodge. We also cleared some of the organic matter on the gravel island and positioned three more tern shelters. Reed was also cleared from Infront of the Sand Martin wall.
Many thanks to LROS members Carole, Chris, and Iain, for their magnificent support.
Other Projects Completed
✓ Clearing Wistow Pond
✓ Thornton Res Tern Raft Re-anchored
✓ Owl Boxes Erected at Church Farm
✓ Hicks Lodge Island Clearance
and more…
Featured Books and Annual Reports
All publications in this library were produced by members of LROS.
The Birds of Southwest Leicestershire
By Carl Baggott and Adrian Baker
Published by Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society, 2024
439 pages
Illustrated
ISBN: 978-1-3999-9012-7
Available to Buy at NHBS
The Birds of Lecestershire and Rutland
By Rob Fray, Roger Davis, Dave Gamble, Andrew Harrop, Steve Lister
Published by Helm, 2009
784 Pages
Illustrated
ISBN: 9780713672336
Free Members Downloads
Selected annual reports can be downloaded by members for free.
Written, edited and approved by the Annual Bird Report Sub-Committee
Please contact us if you are interested in reading annual reports that are not yet available to download.
Latest Bird Sightings
April 2026
Sunday 26th April
Rutland Water: Bar-tailed Godwit & 2 Grey Plovers, Lagoon 4; Black Tern, Lagoon 1.
Eyebrook Res: Whimbrel at the Island.
Saturday 25th April
Eyebrook Res: 2 Wood Sandpipers at the island early morning, also 2 Black Terns.
Rutland Water: Knot, North Arm; Bar-tailed Godwit, Lagoon 4.
Friday 24th April
Eyebrook Res: Little Tern, 11 Black Terns, 23+ Little Gulls, Grey Plover, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, 2 Scaup, 3 Pink-footed Geese, juv Whooper Swan & c20 Swifts.
Rutland Water: 3 Bar-tailed Godwits & 1 Little Gull, Lagoon 3.
Shepshed: Wood Warbler singing in Whitehorse Wood.
Thursday 23rd April
Eyebrook Res: Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel & Grey Plover all on the south shore, also 5 Black Terns.
Rutland Water: Grey Plover & Little Gull, Lagoon 4; 3 Bar-tailed Godwits & 3 Black Terns, Lagoon 3.
Wednesday 22nd April
Rutland Water: 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, Lagoon 4; Red-necked Grebe still, south end of the dam.
Eyebrook Res: 2 Arctic Terns at the north end early afternoon.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): 3 Bar-tailed Godwits on the dam briefly early morning.
Bar-tailed Godwits, Stanford Res © Chris Hubbard
Tuesday 21st April
Rutland Water: Crane flew west over North Arm at 10:00, also Bar-tailed Godwit & 4 Arctic Terns, Lagoon 4.
Saturday 18th April
Cossington Meadows: female Redstart, north end of Swan Meadow this morning.
Eyebrook Res: 5 Scaup, 3 Pink-footed Geese & juv Whooper Swan still, also 2 Common Sandpipers.
Rutland Water: 2 Red-necked Grebes still, North Arm & dam.
Friday 17th April
Eyebrook Res: 1 Black Tern early morning only.
Stanford Res: 1 Arctic Tern this afternoon.
Cossington Meadows: 1 Cuckoo.
Watermead CP North: 3 Common Terns, King Lear’s Lake + Hobby; nearby Green Sandpiper still, Wanlip Scrape.
Rutland Water: Red-necked Grebe still, North Arm.
Wednesday 15th April
Eyebrook Res: 4 Scaup, 3 Pink-footed Geese & juv Whooper Swan (different bird to the one that’s been there all winter and presumably the ‘new’ one of the two that were here on Sunday).
Groby Pool: Hobby this morning.
Monday 13th April
Swithland Res: male Whinchat on the quarry side of the ‘crossover’ on Kinchley Lane, also Common Sandpiper on the overflow channel.
Rutland Water: Channel Wagtail (not Blue-headed) at the dam, also Red-necked Grebe still.
Eyebrook Res: 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Scaup, 1 Whooper Swan & 3 Pink-footed Geese still.
Sunday 12th April
Bradgate Park: male Whinchat still west of the ruins.
Warren Hills: 2 Ring Ouzels still.
Aylestone Meadows: male Redstart, King’s Lock paddocks on east side of the canal this morning.
Eyebrook Res: 4 Scaup still, 2 juv Whooper Swans, 3 Pink-footed Geese still + 2 Common Sandpipers.
Saturday 11th April
Bradgate Park: male Whinchat & 3 Wheatears west of the ruins.
Rutland Water: 5 Arctic Terns, North Arm/Burley Fishponds late morning.
Warren Hills: 1 Ring Ouzel still.
Friday 10th April
Warren Hills: 1+ Ring Ouzel still in the usual field (bird present this morning at least was a well-marked female, not a male as reported on national news services), also male & female Wheatears. Nearby, another female Ring Ouzel at Charnwood Lodge NR, near Flat Hill, just off Abbey Road.
Rutland Water: both Red-necked Grebes still ( North Arm and south end of the dam).
Thursday 9th April
Warren Hills: 4 Ring Ouzels this afternoon.
Misterton: male Pied Flycatcher briefly by the lake mid afternoon then flew into private land.
Rutland Water: Red-necked Grebe, North Arm still.
Eyebrook Res: 5 Scaup, Whooper Swan & 3 Pink-footed Geese still.
Wednesday 8th April
Warren Hills: 1 Ring Ouzel still; nearby, Cuckoo at Charnwood Lodge.
Eyebrook Res: adult Little Gull early morning but no sign later; Whitethroat, 5+ Scaup, Whooper Swan & 3 Pink-footed Geese still.
Rutland Water: Red-necked Grebe still, North Arm.
Cossington Meadows: Reed Warbler, Whitethroat & Green Sandpiper.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): 1 Reed Warbler.
Tuesday 7th April
Eyebrook Res: Crane flew over the inflow late morning and circled around over Stoke Dry before eventually flying off south-west (first site record), also Spoonbill at the inflow briefly this afternoon before flying off north, Wheatear on the bank between Sam’s Dyke and the dam, Green Sandpiper, 9 Scaup, 3 Pink-footed Geese & Whooper Swan still.
Warren Hills: male Ring Ouzel still.
Rutland Water: 3 Little Gulls, Lagoon 3; 2 Greenshanks, Lagoon 1.
Monday 6th April
Croft: Stone-Curlew sound-recorded over at 04:36.
Wanlip Meadows: 1st-summer Spoonbill on Wanlip Scrape this morning.
Warren Hills: 2 Ring Ouzels.
Rutland Water: Red-necked Grebes still, North Arm & dam.
Eyebrook Res: 11 Scaup, Whooper Swan & 3 Pink-footed Geese still + Yellow Wagtail.
Sunday 5th April
Warren Hills: male Ring Ouzel in the usual field with the metal gate.
Eyebrook Res: 12 Scaup, 3 Pink-footed Geese & Whooper Swan still.
Saturday 4th April
Rutland Water: adult Little Gull & Sedge Warbler, Lagoon 3; Red-necked Grebe still, North Arm.
Eyebrook Res: 8+ Scaup, 3 Pink-footed Geese & Whooper Swan still.
Friday 3rd April
Rutland Water: male & Female Red-breasted Mergansers at the dam then later in South Arm 1, also Red-necked Grebe still & Common Scoter at the dam; 2nd Red-necked Grebe still, North Arm.
Eyebrook Res: 9 Scaup still, 3 Pink-footed Geese & Whooper Swan.
Wednesday 1st April
Rutland Water: Kittiwake at the dam this evening, also Red-necked Grebe still, male & female Common Scoters, Main Water & the second Red-necked Grebe still in the North Arm.
Eyebrook Res: Yellow Wagtail at the island, also 3 Pink-footed Geese still; 12 Scaup off the Plantation & Whooper Swan at the inflow still.