First visit to Eyebrook Res for nearly a month, and almost the first bird I saw was this juvenile American Golden Plover. Initially found amongst c600 Golden Plovers, it eventually gave great views from the Rutland side. A long-held ambition realised to pick one of these out! #vc55birds #ukbirding

American Golden Plover - Eyebrook Reservoir - 18/10/25 On my way to Willow Tree Fen when the message came through of an American Golden Plover at Eyebrook Res, so a quick detour was in order. A terrific find by @leicesterllama.bsky.social @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Snow Bunting - Beacon Hill Country Park - 17/10/25 As is often the case, a very obliging bird. Showing down to just a couple of feet. Actually, I almost stood on it when I first arrived. Also, 4 Crossbills over A great find by Barry Ingram. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

The very "showy" Snow Bunting at Beacon Hill CP, Leicestershire this week @lrosbirds.bsky.social @greeny55.bsky.social @shrikebirding.bsky.social #ukbirding #vc55birds #snowbunting #leicestershire

Had a super afternoon watching this late juvenile Osprey at Belvoir, Leics., perched and fishing. Blue ringed 8M7, anglers say it's been plundering fish for 3 weeks. #UKbirding

BOC shots of the very showy Snow Bunting at Beacon Hill CP, Leicestershire this afternoon #ukbirding #vc55birds @lrosbirds.bsky.social #snowbunting #Leicestershire

Beacon Hill CP, L&R - Snow Bunting showed well this AM (thanks to B Ingram for finding). My first since 2018 but there was one at the same site in Dec 2023 which I didn’t see. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - gull roost last night produced an adult Caspian & tonite a smart adult Mediterranean Gull. Also, 2 Glossy Ibis this AM, 5 Red-crested Pochard & Brambling. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Bairds Sandpiper at Rutland today #ukbirding

Couldn’t really ask for better views, the juvenile Baird's Sandpiper showed very well yesterday in the afternoon light. Laying in goose droppings was worth it. More photos to come, who needs a Needletail anyway...

Rutland Water - the very confiding juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper at Whitwell Peninsula late PM today. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - having given me the run around for a min of 3 weeks, ring details finally obtained on this Great Egret on Sunday as AJU. Ringed Shapwick Heath on April 18th - also seen Warwicks, Lancs & Telford. Our second colour ringed Great Egret. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - incredible week on the patch. 3 self found patch ticks (2 of which were new for the site) - Glossy Ibis, Lesser Scaup & Slavonian Grebe this AM, the 1st since 2003. Garganey, BN Grebe & Bittern the supporting cast. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - having checked numerous Teal & Shoveler flocks this autumn I thought time had run out to dig out a Garganey but great to add to the 2025 patch list this AM. Also, 2 Glossy Ibis, 2 Great Egret, Dunlin. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Just about ready for this talk to members of the Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society on the 3rd October. A bit about the site and its history, some highlights of 2024 along with some insights into patch watching this land locked reservoir. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - more #patchgold when I found this moulting eclipse drake Lesser Scaup, first for the site & for Northants. Also, 3 Glossy Ibis, Bittern, 2 Pintail, Common Tern, Common Sand & Great Egret. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - the 3 Glossy Ibis arrived from their roost at 06.30 and fed for 30 mins before flying off as they did yesterday. Such a great bird to have on the patch. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - another quality couple of hours on the patch. 3 Glossy Ibis briefly, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, 8 Little Egret & Black-necked Grebe. Poor record images of the Ibis through a hedge and fence! @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - went back to the location where I had all 3 Glossy Ibis earlier and 1 was back. A few record shots here. @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Stanford Reservoir - #patchgold with 3 Glossy Ibis very briefly this morning on a tiny bit of flood (see arrow) behind the settling pond (out now trying to re-find) - first ever record for Stanford. Also, Cattle Egret in same field (new for year). @lrosbirds.bsky.social

Eyebrook Reservoir good run of birds continues with this Pectoral Sandpiper this afternoon. @lrosbirds.bsky.social #vc55birds #ukbirding #pectoralsandpiper

Some birding highlights in Leicestershire/Rutland over the last week include the Baird’s Sandpiper at Eyebrook Reservoir and the Grey Phalarope at Rutland Water @lrosbirds.bsky.social #vc55birds #ukbirding #rarebirdsuk

Monday 29th September Stanford Res: 2 Glossy Ibis again at the settling pond. Rutland Water: 20 Pink-footed Geese flew east over the south arm this evening. Swithland Res: Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank & 4 Ruff on the north side.

Sunday 28th September Undisclosed site in Rutland with no public access: Yellow-browed Warbler trapped and colour-ringed this morning. Rutland Water: Grey Plover, Lapwing hide, also Whinchat North Arm and an unconfirmed report of a Glossy Ibis on Lagoon 2.

Saturday 27th September Eyebrook Res: juv Little Stint on Rutland side of the inflow. Rutland Water: 2 Rock Pipits at Fishponds end of the North Arm. Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Glossy Ibis again early morning. Wymeswold: Wheatear in field south of the village.

Friday 26th September Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Glossy Ibis again early morning only before flying off, also Slav Grebe at the Narrows and a Bittern in the reedbed.

Thursday 25th September Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Glossy Ibis still at the settling pond, also Garganey at the Narrows, but no reports of the Lesser Scaup today. Swithland Res: 1st-winter Little Gull flew north this morning, also Greenshank, 2 Ruff & Common Sandpiper on the north side.

Wednesday 24th September Stanford Res (permit holders only): drake Lesser Scaup still, and the 3 Glossy Ibis again early morning only. Cossington Meadows: juv Little Stint, Tern Pool.

Tuesday 23rd September Stanford Res (permit holders only): eclipse drake Lesser Scaup this afternoon. Has been on both Leics and Northants sides of the reservoir. Also the 3 Glossy Ibis again early morning before flying off.

Monday 22nd September Rutland Water: juv Gannet, South Arm 3 this afternoon, also Whooper Swan earlier but flew off SW, and 1 Curlew Sandpiper still. Groby: juv Gannet flew north towards Bradgate Park at c14:10. Thornton Res: 2 Glossy Ibis flew east early evening.