Welcome to LROS
The Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society is a Registered Charity (No. 254645), which aims to:
Promote birdwatching and the study, conservation and enjoyment of birds in the two counties.
Record and publish Members’ sightings in the form of an Annual Report book and newsletters, which each member receives.
Present a series of Indoor/Zoom Meetings throughout the year and a programme of Monthly Outings for members to participate in.
Organise survey work to further our knowledge of wild birds both locally and on a national basis.
Welcome to LROS
The Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society is a Registered Charity (No. 254645), which aims to:
Promote birdwatching and the study, conservation and enjoyment of birds in the two counties.
Record and publish Members’ sightings in the form of an Annual Report book and monthly newsletter, which every member receives.
Present a series of Indoor/Zoom Meetings throughout the year and a programme of Monthly Outings for members to participate in.
Organise survey work to further our knowledge of wild birds both locally and on a national basis.
Established in 1941
Join LROS for just £18 per year
Just £1.50 a month
Record your bird sightings with LROS
Members Area
Share Knowledge
Engage with over 500 birdwatchers from Leicestershire and Rutland
Make a Difference
Help preserve the birds of Leicestershire and Rutland
Learn from Peers
New and experienced birdwatchers welcome
Record Your Observations
Keep track of your records and those of other members
Surveys and Census
Help with bird surveys
Marsh Harrier Breeds for the First Time in Leicestershire
A pair of Marsh Harriers have raised a brood of three chicks at an undisclosed site in Leicestershire. This is the first successful breeding attempt in Leicestershire & Rutland. All three young have fledged and are airborne. This is fantastic news and something that should be celebrated.
House Martin Nest Survey in Leicestershire and Rutland
Following on from the successful House Sparrow Survey, this year we want you to record active House Martin nests. A special form has been created to do this and we welcome nest records from members and non-members alike.
Click on the button to access the recording form.
Thank-you, Carl Baggott, County Bird Recorder.
House Martin Nest Survey in Leicestershire and Rutland
Following on from the successful House Sparrow Survey, this year we want you to record active House Martin nests. A special form has been created to do this and we welcome nest records from members and non-members alike.
Click on the button to access the recording form.
Thank-you, Carl Baggott, County Bird Recorder.
House Martin Nest Survey in Leicestershire and Rutland
Following on from the successful House Sparrow Survey, this year we want you to record active House Martin nests. A special form has been created to do this and we welcome nest records from members and non-members alike.
Click on the button to access the recording form.
Thank-you, Carl Baggott, County Bird Recorder.
Reasons to Join
✓ Share Knowledge. Engage with over 500 birdwatchers from Leicestershire and Rutland
✓ Make a Difference and Help preserve the birds of Leicestershire and Rutland
✓ Learn from Peers. New and experienced birdwatchers welcome
✓ Record Your Observations. Keep track of your records and those of other members
✓ Surveys and Census. Help with bird surveys
Your Financial Contributions Go Towards Projects Like the Below
Relaunch of Tern Rafts at Hicks lodge
With the help of Forestry England we were able to repair both rafts and relaunch them into the lake at Hicks lodge. We also cleared some of the organic matter on the gravel island and positioned three more tern shelters. Reed was also cleared from Infront of the Sand Martin wall.
Many thanks to LROS members Carole, Chris, and Iain, for their magnificent support.
Other Projects Completed
✓ Clearing Wistow Pond
✓ Thornton Res Tern Raft Re-anchored
✓ Owl Boxes Erected at Church Farm
✓ Hicks Lodge Island Clearance
and more…
Featured Books and Annual Reports
All publications in this library were produced by members of LROS.
The Birds of Southwest Leicestershire
By Carl Baggott and Adrian Baker
Published by Leicestershire & Rutland Ornithological Society, 2024
439 pages
Illustrated
ISBN: 978-1-3999-9012-7
Available to Buy at NHBS
The Birds of Lecestershire and Rutland
By Rob Fray, Roger Davis, Dave Gamble, Andrew Harrop, Steve Lister
Published by Helm, 2009
784 Pages
Illustrated
ISBN: 9780713672336
Free Members Downloads
Selected annual reports can be downloaded by members for free.
Written, edited and approved by the Annual Bird Report Sub-Committee
Please contact us if you are interested in reading annual reports that are not yet available to download.
Latest Bird Sightings
August 2026
Saturday 29th August
Rutland Water: Little Stint, North Arm; 3 Wood Sandpipers, Lapwing hide.
Swithland Res: Black Tern, 2 Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Greenshanks, Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers & 1 Snipe.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): Bittern in the reedbed.
Friday 28th August
Rutland Water: 2 Curlew Sandpipers & 2 Wood Sandpipers, South Arm 3; Curlew Sandpiper, North Arm; 4 Spotted Redshanks & 1 Wood Sandpiper, Lagoon 1.
Warren Lane GP: Glossy Ibis still this morning then flew off.
Eyebrook Res: 1 Garganey still.
Swithland Res: Ruff, Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshanks, Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers, Ringed Plover, 2 Redshanks, 2 Snipe & 5 Dunlin briefly on the north side.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): female Ferruginous Duck still.
Thursday 27th August
Rutland Water: 4 Curlew Sandpipers, North Arm; 4 Spotted Redshanks, Lagoon 2.
Eyebrook Res: 12+ Black Terns south of the island.
Warren Lane GP: Glossy Ibis.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): Cattle Egret flew west at 08:15 but no further sign.
Wednesday 26th August
Swithland Res: Turnstone on the north side, also 6 Greenshanks, Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpipers, Ringed Plover, Redshank & Snipe.
Rutland Water: Curlew Sandpiper, Lagoon 2; Wood Sandpiper still, Lapwing hide.
Bradgate Park: ringtail Harrier sp flew south at 10:40.
Eyebrook Res: no sign of Red-necked Phalarope today, but 1 Wood Sandpiper still.
Stanford Res (permit holders only): female Ferruginous Duck still.
Tuesday 25th August
Eyebrook Res: juv Red-necked Phalarope still at the inflow, also Knot, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Greenshanks, 5 Ruff, 11 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 6 Ringed Plovers & the Whooper Swan still.
Monday 24th August
Eyebrook Res: juv Red-necked Phalarope still at the inflow, also Knot, Wood Sandpiper, 2 juv Arctic Terns, Garganey and Whooper Swan still.
Rutland Water: 2 Wood Sandpipers, Lapwing hide.
Also a Nightjar seen briefly in flight between Kilby and Wistow at 16:40.
Sunday 23rd August
Eyebrook Res: juv Red-necked Phalarope still at the inflow, also report of Spotted Redshank, Wood Sandpiper, Garganey, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Greenshanks, 7 Ruff, 7 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Redshank & 8 Ringed Plovers.
Rutland Water: Black-necked Grebe, Lagoon 3; Wood Sandpiper, Lapwing hide.
Bradgate Park: Redstart at the Anstey gate.
Saturday 22nd August
Eyebrook Res: Red-necked Phalarope at the inflow, also Garganey, Turnstone & 3 Wood Sandpipers.
Swithland Res: 6 Greenshanks, 4 Common Sandpipers & 3 Curlews (not Whimbrels as reported earlier) on the north side.
Rutland Water: 2 Garganey still from Lapwing hide; 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 13 Ruff & 2 Greenshanks, South Arm 3 from Green Bank.
Wednesday 19th August
Eyebrook Res: Wood Sandpiper still, also Cattle Egret, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Ruff, 5 Greenshanks, 6 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpipers, 5 Common Sandpipers, 2 LRPs, 22 Ringed Plovers and Whooper Swan still.
Rutland Water: 2 Garganey, South Arm 3 from Lapwing hide.
Sunday 16th August
Hicks Lodge: Wood Sandpiper in front of the hide this afternoon.
Rutland Water: Sandwich Tern in the North Arm.
Eyebrook Res: Wood Sandpiper still at the inflow, and similar wader numbers to recent days.
Stanford Res: female Ferruginous Duck still.
Saturday 15th August
Eyebrook Res: Wood Sandpiper still, also Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshanks, 3 Dunlin etc.
Friday 14th August
Swithland Res: juv Spotted Redshank on the north side.
Eyebrook Res: Wood Sandpiper still, 9 Greenshanks, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Dunlin etc.
Thursday 13th August
Eyebrook Res: Knot & Wood Sandpiper still, also 1 Ruff, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Dunlin, 6 Greenshanks, 1 Redshank, 4 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Ringed Plover & 2 LRPs.
Wednesday 12th August
Eyebrook Res: Wood Sandpiper still, also 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Greenshanks, 2 Ruff, 6 Green Sandpipers, 4 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 4 Ringed Plovers & 2 LRPs, plus Whooper Swan still.
Monday 10th August
Eyebrook Res: Wood Sandpiper at the inflow, also 1 Ruff, 8 Dunlin, 5 Greenshanks, 10 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Green Sandpipers, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Redshank, 3 Ringed Plovers, 4 LRPs, 2 Marsh Harriers and the Whooper Swan still.
Friday 7th August
Eyebrook Res: Little Stint reported still at the inflow this afternoon, also 2 Cattle Egrets in the south-west corner, Marsh Harrier, 1 Ruff, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Dunlin, 5 Greenshanks, Common Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpipers, 2 Ringed Plovers & 6 LRPs.
Also a request for LROS Annual Reports for 1946, 1967 & 1968 has been added to the For Sale page.
Thursday 6th August
Eyebrook Res: Little Stint at the inflow, also 2 Greenshanks, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin, 5 Green Sandpipers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 LRPs & 1 Redshank. Report of a Curlew Sandpiper this evening on national news services referred to a long-billed Dunlin.
Rutland Water: 3 Cattle Egrets, Fishponds; male Redstart near Kingfisher hide this evening.
Saturday 1st August
Stanford Res (permit holders only): 2 Black-necked Grebes still, also Osprey & female Ferruginous Duck of likely feral origin.
Rutland Water: Garganey, Lagoon 3.
Swithland Res: Greenshank on north side.