The Beauty of Winter Walks and Wildlife

The air during a winter walk is wonderfully peaceful and cool. It’s great for finding calm and connection with The soft light enhances the tranquility. There’s a quiet energy in the natural world as though it’s preparing for rest. Spending time outdoors, even for a short while, helps steady the breath, clear the mind, and lift the spirits.

I’m not much of a twitcher (bird spotter) myself. But, Rutland is a prime location for wintering wildfowl. It hosts large numbers of ducks, geese, and swans. If you’re out walking around Rutland Water or your local lanes, take a moment to look. Listen carefully. November is full of feathered visitors and familiar faces. Keep your eyes peeled – see if you can spot:

Red-crested Pochard

The red-crested pochard is a real winter highlight at Rutland Water. This striking diving duck is hard to miss. The male has a vivid orange-red head. It has a bright red bill and a smart black chest with pale flanks. It’s as if dressed for a gala on the water. The female is more subtly coloured, with warm brown tones and a pale face, but just as elegant.

These ducks often gather in small flocks, gently bobbing on open water or diving for aquatic plants. Their quiet, calm presence and rich colouring bring a welcome splash of warmth to grey November days.

Wigeon

The wigeon is one of the most charming ducks you’ll see on Rutland’s waters in winter. The male is beautifully marked. He has a soft pinkish breast and a grey body. His head is distinctive, with a chestnut coloring topped with a creamy-yellow forehead patch that catches the light. The female is more modest in her mottled brown plumage but every bit as graceful.

Wigeon are known for their gentle, whistling calls, which you’ll often hear before you spot them. Look for flocks grazing on grassy shores or dabbling on quiet lagoons. Their calm and sociable nature adds to the peaceful rhythm. Their subtle colouring enhances the serenity of a winter’s day by the water.

Common Scoter

A rarer winter visitor to inland waters like Rutland, the Common Scoter is a sleek sea duck. It is usually found along the coast. Occasionally, small flocks appear on large reservoirs during migration or in colder months. The male is almost entirely velvety black. He has a distinctive yellow-orange patch on the bill. This gives him a striking yet understated elegance. The female is a soft, chocolate-brown, blending beautifully with the winter water.

Scoters often sit low in the water and may dive frequently for shellfish and aquatic invertebrates. Spotting one at Rutland is a real treat. It serves as a quiet reminder of the wild, windswept coasts from which these hardy ducks travel.

Exciting! See if you can borrow some binoculars and really look the part! If you want more information about ducks you can check out the World Wildlife Trusts site –

https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetland-wildlife/meet-the-family/ducks-found-in-uk-wetlands