Twitch to Rutland Water

After a lovely evening and welcome home dinner by my birders wife on Saturday evening, I woke up yesterday to breaking news of a Leach's Storm Petrel that had been seen at Rutland Water, along with a Grey Phalarope.

A Leach's Storm Petrel was at Draycote Water a few years back and I always regretted not going to see that bird and therefore we decided to take the opportunity to have day out and finish off my holiday in style.

The bird was fairly difficult to spot on the water but eventually we both obtained good views of it flying (being mobbed by Black-headed Gulls).

The Phalarope was no where to be found but we decided to stick around the area for the rest of the day and just as we were leaving, news came out that it had been relocated. So, we turned the car around, headed back and after a brief walk soon had good views of the bird feeding about 20 feet away.  The below photograph gives a good indication of how small Phalaropes are compared to Black-headed Gulls.

Grey Phalarope and Black-headed Gull