Over the past few days, we have been getting ready to welcome our first Ospreys back to Rutland, the webcam has gone live and the Visitor Centre has now been open for a week! And what a great week it has been.

Throughout the week we have had excellent sightings of a Red-Necked Grebe, as well as a Bufflehead, which is a small, compact duck that is native to North America. On the bird feeders in front of the visitor centre we have had flocks of Goldfinches, Greenfinches and of course Chaffinches, but we have also had regular visits to the feeders by Tree Sparrows, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Marsh Tit.

Early on during the week, data from one of our satellite tagged birds S1(15) showed us that he has left his wintering grounds in Guinea Bissau and has started his migration! This is really exciting and we are looking forward to tracking his progress, and of course welcoming him back to Rutland in a couple of weeks.

On Friday we had confirmation that we have had our first Osprey return! She is a Rutland bird who has been returning to the area for many years. Here at the centre, we are unable to take our eyes of the webcam just in case Maya or 33(11) make their return!

Although we haven’t seen Maya or 33 return, yet, we have still had a few visitors to the nest, which includes, Cormorants, a Great Black-Backed Gull who looked to be a little too comfortable, and even a female Mallard! Keep your eyes peeled for news on the Manton Bay pair!