Your guide - Martyn Aspinall
I am the Senior Warden of Rutland Water Nature Reserve. My
interest
in birds began in the late 1950s, as a schoolboy, (I always blame the
Skylark for the gaps in my formal education – I will explain
on
the day). This interest in birdwatching has continued until the present
day, apart from a short
break around the age of 15 when
“…….. I
don’t know what it’s called, Dad, but
it’s more
interesting than birdwatching……..!”
I witnessed the disappearance of Sparrowhawks throughout Rutland in the 1960s and their subsequent return in the 1980s. During the late 1970s I became a wildfowl counter at the newly flooded Rutland Water. Later, I worked as the Assistant Warden and went on to become the Senior Warden at the Nature Reserve.
In 1986, the Rutland Dippers were formed. I joined this team of four people who race around England’s smallest county during mid-May each year to see how many species of birds we can see in a 24 hour period. In the 20 years of doing this I have noticed quite a change in the numbers of each species. Small farmland species have declined in Rutland in common with the rest of the country. But, with the re-introduction of Ospreys in Rutland and the reduction of the persecution of Buzzards is now possible to see as many as seven species of raptors in one day.
My time at Rutland Water has been such a rich and varied experience, enabling me to develop a good understanding of bird habitats and bird behaviours. So for all the above reasons I feel well qualified to show you and discuss with you a large variety of birds in Rutland.
The vehicle we will use will be a a 4 - wheel drive
2006
Suzuki Jimny JLX 16v which provides comfortable accommodation for three
passengers. Alternatively for a larger group there is a Vauxhall Zafira
7 seater.