The last Osprey left Rutland Water on 11th September. We expect the first birds to return in late March 2010. We'll be reporting on the website as soon as the first bird is back!

Fishing Ospreys can be seen all around Rutland Water and the surrounding area, however for the best chance of seeing an Osprey visit us at the Lyndon Reserve to see one of our young male Ospreys on his territory; his nest is within 200 metres of the hide. The Lyndon Centre also has live pictures from Manton Bay and regularly updated video footage from the Site B nest.

In addition a young male is holding territory on the Egleton reserve. He was joined by a female in early June and the pair can often be seen from Dunlin hide at Egleton.

For more details of the Lyndon Reserve see below.

RUTLAND WATER NATURE RESERVE

Rutland Water is situated between Oakham and Stamford, easily accessible from the A1. For the best views of the Ospreys and to view pictures from the live Osprey camera and video footage of our other nest sites, visit the Lyndon Nature Reserve on the South Shore between Edith Weston and Manton.

For an interactive map of Rutland Water, showing visitor centres and the best osprey viewing sites please click here. The map opens in a new window.

THE LYNDON RESERVE

The Lyndon Visitor Centre is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In summer the Nature Reserve remains open until 8pm. You need a permit to go out onto the reserve. These cost £4.00 for adults, £3.00 for senior citizens, £2.00 for children under 16/student union card holders/disabled people and carers. Dogs on leads are welcome.

The Lyndon Visitor Centre

The centre lies down a narrow track leading from the minor road between Manton and Edith Weston on the south shore of the reservoir - look for the large Osprey sign. The view from the Visitor Centre is spectacular. Orchids bloom right outside and Tree Sparrows frequent the feeder in front of the windows.

The centre features our live Osprey camera as well as fantastic new displays looking at the relationship between weather and wildlife, with specific sections on weather, climate change and phenology. There is also lots of information on the Osprey project and the reserve in general and Osprey staff will be on hand to give you information about the Ospreys and to direct you down to Shallow Water hide.

Shallow Water and Waderscrape Hides

Shallow Water hide looks out across the shallowest part of Manton Bay to the Osprey nest, currently occupied by a single male osprey. In spring, Great Crested Grebes can be seen doing their elegant synchronised mating dance while Buzzard and Red Kite fly over the woods beyond the nest. Wildfowl swim in the bay in spring, and when the water levels fall in late summer, the area is taken over by wading birds feeding on the exposed mud.

From March to September Shallow Water hide is manned by our team of Osprey volunteers. They will make sure you get the best possible views of the Ospreys through our project telescopes, and will answer any questions you may have. Shallow Water hide is a twenty minute walk from the centre along the Nature Trail. It has full disabled access and a motorised buggy is available for hire.

Waderscrape hide, a little to the east, also has good views of the osprey nest. It looks out over the reedbed where a pair of breeding Water Rail will bring their chicks almost within touching distance of the hide. It also has superb views of smaller reedbed birds such as Reed Buntings and Reed and Sedge Warblers.

The Nature Trail runs between the shore of the reservoir and the reserve's traditionally managed hay meadows. There are three other hides accessible from the nature trail giving views of the reservoir and the chance to see a range of other birds such as kingfisher, water rail and a wide variety of wildfowl and waders. The hay meadows are full of wild flowers and in the summer they are teeming with butterflies, damselflies and day-flying moths.