Rocking At Rutland

 A rather grey and frequently drizzly day that saw Alan Shorrock and I heading over to Rutland Water. We restricted our efforts to the bit between the dam and Normanton church and enjoyed an interesting session. First bird to pique our interest was an adult Mediterrannean Gull which I picked out among the many Black-headeds just to the west of the dam. Good if distant views were obtained and a few ropey record shots were obtained. From here we began walking towards the church contending with persistent drizzle as we did so.

Mediterrannean Gull

On the way to the church a female Goosander provided some interest as she fed just off the shore. Initial efforts to locate the reported Great Northern Diver from the church came to nothing but the building did at least provide some shelter from the worsening conditions. While scanning the water Alan heard a Rock Pipit which flew from the church on to the shore before being lost to view. Our attempts to relocate it did eventually bear fruit and we watched the bird for some time as it fed with two Pieds and one Grey Wagtail. Whilst watching it we became aware that the bird was ringed having a standard silver ring on its left leg and a blue ring on its right. Alan was able to read the ring and his suspicion was that it read PAA. Initial research suggests that this was a Finnish ringed bird, I'll keep you posted if this can be confirmed. 

Rock Pipit possibly ringed in Finland.

While walking back to the car I picked out the Great Northern Diver which though initially rather distant did swim closer. Both Shozzer and I were surprised when the bird began to call, I've never heard Great Northerns calling in the UK before. We were treated to sustained views as the bird swam towards the dam paralleling our course as we headed back to the car. With the weather showing no signs of improvement and with some good birds already in the bag we opted to call it quits and abandon our plan to visit Eyebrook on the way home.