United Kingdom Ramsar wetland
Rutland Water
269 bird species recorded; the most in April and from August to October.
Airwolfhound from Hertfordshire, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0
This month here
170 species in January.168 species in February.177 species in March.208 species in April.197 species in May.178 species in June.181 species in July.198 species in August.205 species in September.200 species in October.178 species in November.165 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
NT
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- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
269 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 269Speciesrecorded more than once
- 133Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 13ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 590,619Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 82 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 13Raptors
- 4Owls
- 43Waders
- 35Gulls & seabirds
- 52Ducks & geese
- 17Herons, ibises & grebes
- 2Storks & cranes
- 81Songbirds
- 22Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 269 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Red KiteMilvus milvus
- Common BuzzardButeo buteo
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Common KestrelFalco tinnunculus
- Eurasian SparrowhawkAccipiter nisus
- Western Marsh HarrierCircus aeruginosus
- European HobbyFalco subbuteo
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- White-tailed EagleHaliaeetus albicilla
- European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorus
- Red-footed FalconFalco vespertinusVU
Owls4 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Western Barn OwlTyto alba
- Tawny OwlStrix aluco
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Little OwlAthene noctua
Waders43 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusNT
- RedshankTringa totanus
- Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusNT
- Eurasian CurlewNumenius arquataNT
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Green SandpiperTringa ochropus
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
- Common Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticula
- RuffCalidris pugnax
- Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
- Common GreenshankTringa nebularia
- Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaNT
- European Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Pied AvocetRecurvirostra avosetta
- Eurasian WhimbrelNumenius phaeopus
- Spotted RedshankTringa erythropus
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Little StintCalidris minuta
- Wood SandpiperTringa glareola
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- Bar-tailed godwitLimosa lapponicaNT
- Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaVU
- Red KnotCalidris canutusNT
- Jack SnipeLymnocryptes minimus
- Little ringed ploverCharadrius dubius
- Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
- Eurasian WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Temminck's StintCalidris temminckii
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
- White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisVU
- Grey (Red) PhalaropePhalaropus fulicarius
- Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulva
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- American golden ploverPluvialis dominica
- Kentish PloverCharadrius alexandrinus
- Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilis
- Purple SandpiperCalidris maritima
- Buff-breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisVU
- Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusNT
- Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii
Gulls & seabirds35 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Common GullLarus canus
- European Herring GullLarus argentatus
- Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellis
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Little GullHydrocoloeus minutus
- Arctic TernSterna paradisaea
- Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalus
- Pontic gullLarus cachinnans
- Little TernSternula albifrons
- Black-throated DiverGavia arctica
- Black-legged kittiwakeRissa tridactylaVU
- White-winged TernChlidonias leucopterus
- Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensis
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellata
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
- Great skuaStercorarius skua
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinus
- Whiskered TernChlidonias hybrida
- Iceland GullLarus glaucoides
- Scopoli's ShearwaterCalonectris diomedea
- Leach's Storm PetrelOceanodroma leucorhoaVU
- Sabine's GullXema sabini
- Roseate TernSterna dougallii
- FulmarFulmarus glacialis
- Northern gannetMorus bassanus
- Bridled TernOnychoprion anaethetus
- Little AukAlle alle
- Arctic SkuaStercorarius parasiticus
Ducks & geese52 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Mute SwanCygnus olor
- Tufted DuckAythya fuligula
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Greylag GooseAnser anser
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiaca
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Common PochardAythya ferinaVU
- Common ShelduckTadorna tadorna
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- SmewMergellus albellus
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Red-crested pochardNetta rufina
- Barnacle GooseBranta leucopsis
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- GarganeySpatula querquedula
- Mandarin DuckAix galericulata
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- Common ScoterMelanitta nigra
- Long-tailed duckClangula hyemalisVU
- Whooper SwanCygnus cygnus
- Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- American WigeonMareca americana
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
- Brent GooseBranta bernicla
- Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Velvet scoterMelanitta fuscaVU
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Black swanCygnus atratus
- RedheadAythya americana
- Cape ShelduckTadorna cana
- BuffleheadBucephala albeola
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Common EiderSomateria mollissimaNT
- Bar-headed GooseAnser indicus
- Ferruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNT
- Green-winged tealAnas carolinensis
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- Marbled TealMarmaronetta angustirostrisNT
- Tundra Bean GooseAnser serrirostris
- Australian ShelduckTadorna tadornoides
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- Chiloe WigeonMareca sibilatrix
Herons, ibises & grebes17 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
- Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
- Grey HeronArdea cinerea
- Little EgretEgretta garzetta
- Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollis
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
- Eurasian BitternBotaurus stellaris
- Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodia
- ShagPhalacrocorax aristotelis
- Western Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis
- Glossy IbisPlegadis falcinellus
- Purple heronArdea purpurea
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
Storks & cranes2 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- White StorkCiconia ciconia
- Black storkCiconia nigra
Songbirds81 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Carrion CrowCorvus corone
- Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
- European RobinErithacus rubecula
- Eurasian Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- Western JackdawColoeus monedula
- Great titParus major
- Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- Eurasian MagpiePica pica
- Eurasian ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- White WagtailMotacilla alba
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Common ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- RookCorvus frugilegus
- Common Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- European GreenfinchChloris chloris
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Common House MartinDelichon urbicum
- Common LinnetLinaria cannabina
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- Eurasian JayGarrulus glandarius
- Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
- Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenus
- Eurasian TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Cetti's WarblerCettia cetti
- Eurasian Reed WarblerAcrocephalus scirpaceus
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaea
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- Eurasian Tree SparrowPasser montanus
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Garden WarblerSylvia borin
- WhitethroatSylvia communis
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinus
- European StonechatSaxicola rubicola
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- Western Yellow WagtailMotacilla flava
- Lesser whitethroatSylvia curruca
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- BramblingFringilla montifringilla
- Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
- Common NightingaleLuscinia megarhynchos
- Willow TitPoecile montanus
- Northern WheatearOenanthe oenanthe
- Common Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naevia
- WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
- European Rock PipitAnthus petrosus
- Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurus
- Black RedstartPhoenicurus ochruros
- HawfinchCoccothraustes coccothraustes
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- Water PipitAnthus spinoletta
- Tree PipitAnthus trivialis
- Corn BuntingEmberiza calandra
- Red-backed ShrikeLanius collurio
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- Bearded ReedlingPanurus biarmicus
- Common FirecrestRegulus ignicapilla
- Ring OuzelTurdus torquatus
- Lanius excubitorLanius excubitor
- Yellow-browed WarblerPhylloscopus inornatus
- European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleuca
- WoodlarkLullula arborea
- Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibillatrix
- Icterine warblerHippolais icterina
- African StonechatSaxicola torquatus
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- TwiteLinaria flavirostris
Other birds22 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Common Wood PigeonColumba palumbus
- CootFulica atra
- Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos major
- Green WoodpeckerPicus viridis
- European SwiftApus apus
- European Water RailRallus aquaticus
- Common KingfisherAlcedo atthis
- Common CuckooCuculus canorus
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaNT
- European Turtle DoveStreptopelia turturVU
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- Lesser Spotted WoodpeckerDryobates minor
- Spotted CrakePorzana porzana
- Common QuailCoturnix coturnix
- Rose-ringed ParakeetPsittacula krameri
- WryneckJynx torquilla
- Alpine SwiftTachymarptis melba
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in April and from August to October.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan6°/1°58 mm
- Feb7°/1°50 mm
- Mar10°/2°49 mm
- Apr13°/4°44 mm
- May17°/7°59 mm
- Jun20°/10°66 mm
- Jul22°/12°69 mm
- Aug21°/12°72 mm
- Sep19°/9°49 mm
- Oct14°/7°72 mm
- Nov10°/4°66 mm
- Dec7°/2°64 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Rutland Water.
Reservoir in Rutland, England
Rutland Water is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in United Kingdom.
269 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 590,619 open records.
The most recorded are the Mallard, the Mute Swan and the Black-headed Gull.
65 species come for the summer, 64 for the winter and 4 only pass through.
13 are threatened worldwide, including Common Pochard, Horned Grebe and Grey Plover.
The most species are recorded in April and from August to October.
Get there and watch
- Lyndon Topcampsite · 3.2 km · 10 within 10 km
- Lakesideplace to stay · 0.3 km · 13 within 10 km
- Extonnearest town · 3.5 km in a straight line
- East Midlands Airport (EMA)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 48 km in a straight lineCar hire at EMA airport (Nottingham, Leicestershire)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 35bird hides within 6 kmLapwing Hide, Crake Hide, Smew Hide and 32 more
- 5marked trails within 4 kmViking Way (Barnetby to Whitwell), Macmillan Way, Rutland Round and 2 more
- 3visitor centres within 6 kmAnglian Water Birdwatching Centre, Lyndon Visitor Centre, Rutland Water Tourist Information Office
- 2viewpoints within 5 km
- 30car parks within 3 km
- 4restaurants and cafés within 3 km
- 10campsites within 10 kmLyndon Top, The Paddock, Rutland Water Campsite and 7 more
- 13places to stay within 10 kmLakeside, Barnsdale Hall Hotel, Hambleton Hall and 10 more
- observation towers within 6 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Rutland Water.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas3 mountains within 25 kmCold Overton Park197 m · 7.4 kmKing's Hill · 11 kmAnkle Hill · 18 km
Lakeyas2 lakes within 15 kmRutland Water11 km² · 3.1 km↗Eyebrook Reservoir1.4 km² · 14 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Photographs
The place, as people saw it.
Other places nearby.
Rutland Water
United Kingdom
- 88Birdyas Score
- 269Species
- 133Migrants
- 13Threatened
Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits
United Kingdom · 39 km
- 79Birdyas Score
- 209Species
- 94Migrants
- 7Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q822190) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 590,619 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Islandyas, Lakeyas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
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Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
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Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit 
dark skies
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viewpoints
Every viewpoint with its real 360° panorama: the peaks you can name, how far you see and where the sun sets.Coming soonVisit 
birdwatching
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