March 2025 Highlights

April 12, 2025

Rutland

Black Swan. Black swans, native to Australia, are rare but present in the UK due to escapes from private collections. Small, scattered populations exist, especially in southern England, but they are not officially classed as wild or native birds.

Osprey: Maya, not long after her arrival. Ospreys are fish-eating birds of prey that breed in the UK, mainly in Scotland, with growing numbers in England and Wales. After going extinct in the 1800s, they naturally returned in the 1950s and are now a conservation success story.

Mandarin duck at the Lyndon feeders. Mandarin ducks are a non-native species in the UK, originally from East Asia. Around 4,400 breeding pairs live here, with up to 14,000 birds present in winter. They thrive in wooded wetlands and park lakes, mainly in southern and central England, and are not considered invasive.

Red Kite at Eyebrook. Red kites are large birds of prey once nearly extinct in the UK. Thanks to reintroduction efforts, they’ve made a strong comeback and are now commonly seen soaring over the countryside, especially in England and Wales.

Ely

Muscovey Duck and a White faced Whistling Duck by the river. Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata), native to Central and South America, have established small, scattered populations in the UK, primarily through escapes or releases from captivity. Their numbers remain low and are likely under-reported. White-faced Whistling Ducks (Dendrocygna viduata), native to sub-Saharan Africa and South America, are occasionally seen in the UK. These sightings are typically attributed to escapes from captivity, as the species is commonly kept in collections.

Ruddy Shelduck at Roswell pits. Ruddy Shelducks are native to Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. In the UK, they are generally considered a non-native species, with their presence often attributed to escapes from captivity.