March Wildlife Update 2025
Spring is well on the way now, and the April showers seem to have made an early appearance. Here’s some wildlife news for you, thanks to our conservation ranger Sophie:
Avian highlights:
- Osprey – flew over and hung around over Heron Meadow for a while before being mobbed by some crows. The live camera is back online on the nest at Rutland Water, and the pair that bred last year are back on the nest, if anyone wants to spy on some Ospreys, you can head to their website: https://www.lrwt.org.uk/rutlandospreys.
- Sand martins – returned from their mammoth migration! They were around six days later arriving this year than last year! They can be spotted around the nesting banks on Lynch Lake, over the lake and surrounding meadows.
- Garganey – a pair made a brief stop on Heron Meadow. Quite a pretty duck, similar face markings to a Teal, except the eye stripe is white instead of Teal green.
- Tawny Owl is still around in Ferry Meadows.
- Bullfinch – seen around quite frequently.
- Redpoll
- Egyptian Goose
- Yellow-Legged Gull – drops by every so often at Thorpe Meadows.
Other wildlife:
- The first bluebell was spotted by volunteer Trevor trying to flower in Bluebell Wood on 10th March – the full show is yet to come! Well worth a visit to Bluebell Wood or Thorpe Wood (or both!) when they are in full flower, it is a stunning sight and the smell is amazing too.
- Bats made a good appearance over Overton Lake for our first activity survey of the season – four species recorded on a very busy night for how early is in the season.
- First cowslips are flowering – the southern edges of Oak Meadow are a good place for seeing them.
- Lots of White-Tailed and Buff-Tailed queen bumblebees around.
- Butterflies on brighter, warmer days – Brimstone, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell have been spotted so far this month, hopefully the Orange Tips should start emerging soon.
It’s so lovely watching the Park transforming into the warmer seasons. Let us know what you see and happy wildlife spotting!
