THE HIDE – JULY

The Hide , Monday 14th JULY 2025

It’s a welcome return to the hide after a few days off visiting Rutland , the smallest county in England. We travelled up to visit Birdfair for the second year and if I’m totally honest i was a little disappointed with the show. It seemed over focused on expensive foreign holidays with every corner of the globe represented. I would hazard a guess that at least fifty percent of the exhibitors were from travel companies promising wildlife experiences with one trip advertised at over sixteen thousand pounds per person. Anyway show done , a couple of lovely meals out and a little sightseeing in some of the small market towns that surround Rutland Water.

If you are in the uk , then you will have been experiencing the current heatwave sweeping the nation. Thankfully it seems as i write this blog relief is on the horizon. We have had to carry water into the hide most days , no small feat when you consider we carry fifty litres at a time over half a mile , really its hard work in this heat but water is vital for wildlife so it has to be done !

Speaking of the wildlife it has been another bumper day for sightings with the mammals represented but a pair of Reeves Muntjac deer , the Rat pack , a couple of very hot and bothered Grey Squirrels and a single Rabbit. Birds , well as expected the ponds have seen most of the action with at times more than thirty birds competing for space to drink and bathe. All the usual suspects here today in good numbers plus a couple of visits from a rather hot Sparrow Hawk.