Sunday 30th November
Eyebrook Res: juv Brent Goose at the island this afternoon and then flew to a field NW of Alec Lane gate, also 11 Red-crested Pochards, but no sign of the American Wigeon today.
Aylestone Meadows: Firecrest again, along the track between St Andrews FC and the smallholding.
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still from the causeway.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): Glossy Ibis again at the settling pond.
Thursday 27th November
Eyebrook Res: drake American Wigeon still, generally north of the island today but mobile.
Rutland Water: Slav Grebe still off Sykes Lane car park.
Tuesday 25th November
Eyebrook Res: drake American Wigeon still, today in the south-west corner west of the island bunker.
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still from the causeway.
Cossington Meadows: Glossy Ibis on Upper Marsh late morning, but flew off towards Sileby and no further sign.
Rutland Water: Slav Grebe still off Sykes Lane car park.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): Glossy Ibis again at the settling pond.
Monday 24th November
Eyebrook Res: drake American Wigeon still, but now at the inflow. Also 2 female Scaup.
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still from the causeway.
Sunday 23rd November
Eyebrook Res: drake American Wigeon in the bay just north of the island, also female Scaup still south of the island, 8+ Red-crested Pochards, and a Short-eared Owl flushed by cows at the inflow this afternoon but not seen again by dusk.
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still from the causeway.
Rutland Water: Great Northern Diver flew over Lagoon 3 towards South Arm 3, also Slav Grebe still at the dam off Sykes Lane car park.
Drake American Wigeon, Eyebrook Res © Andy Mackay
Saturday 22nd November
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still from the causeway.
Friday 21st November
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still from the causeway.
Rutland Water: Slav Grebe still off Sykes Lane car park.
Watermead CP South: no sign of Red-breasted Merganser today.
Thursday 20th November
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still from the causeway.
Rutland Water: Slav Grebe off Sykes Lane car park.
Wednesday 19th November
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still from the causeway.
Rutland Water: Slav Grebe, North Arm.
Cropston Res: Snow Bunting flew east over the dam this morning.
Tuesday 18th November
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup again on the south side from the causeway. There has been some confusion between the genuine bird (which doesn’t always seem to be present) and at least one female Tufted Duck with a similar white face patch. John Hague’s excellent comparison shot below, taken last Wednesday, shows the differences: 1) head shape – the Lesser Scaup has the crown rising to the classic smooth ‘bump’ on the rear crown. Tufted Ducks’ heads are always flatter on top, either with a short spiky tuft or sometimes nothing at all, but never a ‘bump’ like this. 2) the Lesser Scaup has bands and patches of pale grey along both mantle and flanks, but they aren’t plain grey – through a scope (and on all three photos on this page) you can clearly see distinct darker vermiculations in these patches, which are never shown by Tufted Ducks. 3) the bill, as well as being a bit bigger, is grey with black restricted to the nail. In dull light it can sometimes look a little darker around the sides of the nail, but it doesn’t have the broad dark tip that Tufted Ducks have. 4) the head is darker than most female Tufted Ducks, and in good light looks patchy, with some darker, almost purplish-brown feathers coming through. NB in addition to the white-faced female Tufted shown in John’s photo, there is at least one other bird present with even more white than this around the base of the bill. Fortunately the Lesser Scaup, when it’s there, is always quite close to the bridge, so the features should be visible through a scope at least, and often just through binoculars.
Watermead CP South: female/imm Red-breasted Merganser still on Mammoth Lake.
Female Lesser Scaup (behind) and Tufted Duck, Swithland Res, 12th November © John Hague
Sunday 16th November
Rutland Water: 1st-winter male Common Scoter off Whitwell then flew into North Arm.
Cropston Res: female Common Scoter off the dam.
Watermead CP South: female/imm Red-breasted Merganser still on Mammoth Lake.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Glossy Ibis still.
Aylestone Meadows: Siberian Chiffchaff still, but no sign of Dusky Warbler today (water level has risen on the River Biam).
Swithland Res: no sign of Lesser Scaup since Thursday.
Thursday 13th November
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still on the south side, showing very well from the causeway. 2 Spoonbills still early morning, but then flew off and seen flying west over Thornton Res at c08:30.
Aylestone Meadows: Dusky Warbler still in sallows by the boardwalk, also 2 Yellow-browed Warblers: one around St Andrews FC ground/Canal Street car park area, and a second bird heard around the same time in the north-west corner of the nature reserve.
Watermead CP South: female/imm Red-breasted Merganser still on Mammoth Lake.
Female Lesser Scaup, Swithland Res © Andy Mackay
Wednesday 12th November
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup still on south side this morning, but no sign this afternoon. 2 Spoonbills still on north side.
Aylestone Meadows: Dusky Warbler still.
Watermead CP South: female/imm Red-breasted Merganser on Mammoth Lake.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Glossy Ibis still.
Tuesday 11th November
Swithland Res: female Lesser Scaup, south side from the causeway; 2 Spoonbills north side.
Aylestone Meadows: Dusky Warbler still, also Siberian Chiffchaff and Firecrest.
Eyebrook Res: juv American Golden Plover still, redhead Smew & 12 Red-crested Pochards.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Glossy Ibis still.
Monday 10th November
Aylestone Meadows: Dusky Warbler still, also Siberian Chiffchaff still.
Eyebrook Res: juv American Golden Plover still at the inflow, redhead Smew & female Scaup.
Swithland Res: 2 Spoonbills this morning, then flew off south.
Rutland Water: Jack Snipe, Lagoon 3.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Glossy Ibis still.
Sunday 9th November
Aylestone Meadows: Dusky Warbler still, also Yellow-browed Warbler again at the south end of the boardwalk.
Eyebrook Res: juv American Golden Plover still at the inflow.
Thornton Res: Jack Snipe still opposite the fishing lodge.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Glossy Ibis again, over the dam at 16:10.
Saturday 8th November
Aylestone Meadows: Dusky Warbler still in same area, also Siberian Chiffchaff there, and Yellow-browed Warbler heard with tit flock near St Andrews sports ground late afternoon.
Rutland Water: Purple Sandpiper, North Arm; 6 Whooper Swans South Arm 3.
Eyebrook Res: juv American Golden Plover still at the inflow, also female Scaup still.
Cossington Meadows: Jack Snipe, Upper Marsh this morning, also 2 Glossy Ibis reported there briefly late morning but no sign later.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Glossy Ibis again briefly late afternoon.
Friday 7th November
Aylestone Meadows: Dusky Warbler feeding around willow along the River Biam. Park in Mill Lane car park, take the path to the Pebble Beach, cross the river and turn left on the boardwalk into the paddocks.
Eyebrook Res: juv American Golden Plover still, also redhead Smew north of the island, male Common Scoter & female Scaup.
Monday 3rd November
Aylestone Meadows: Yellow-browed Warbler heard again in same area this morning, also Firecrest still present.
Eyebrook Res: juv American Golden Plover still at the inflow.
Cropston Res: Bittern flew south along the dam again at dusk.
Sunday 2nd November
Aylestone Meadows: Firecrest in same area where the Yellow-browed Warbler was.
Eyebrook Res: juv American Golden Plover still at the inflow, also 2 Dunlin.
Saturday 1st November
Eyebrook Res: juv American Golden Plover still at the inflow.
Hathern: Black Redstart still on the church.
Croft Quarry: Hawfinch flew east.
Thornton Res: Jack Snipe still opposite the fishing lodge.
Rutland Water: 2 Jack Snipe still, Lagoon 3 from Shoveler hide.