Wings for the Future

For the past 30 years, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust has worked with Anglian Water, and many other partners, to reintroduce Osprey to Rutland Water and beyond. Reaching a well-established breeding population as well as being an integral part of the species’ distribution across both the UK and Europe, the Rutland Ospreys continue to soar and inspire.

Last year, we celebrated the 300th successfully fledged Osprey chick from Rutland Water. This year we celebrate 30 years of the Rutland Ospreys. As we plan for the next 30 years, your donations and support can ensure that the Rutland Ospreys continue to be protected. 

Help us raise £30,000 for our 30 years; to keep the amazing work going, to bring the wonder of the Ospreys to even more people, to ensure that the Ospreys have a home in Leicestershire and Rutland for generations to come.

Just publised on  YouTube

Click on image to access video.

     RAKphotographic is now avaiable on Instagram

                             Please like and follow

Dancing in the sky!!

(click on image to play video)

A starling murmuration is one of nature’s most mesmerizing phenomena—when thousands (sometimes hundreds

of thousands) of starlings fly together in shifting, synchronized patterns across the sky.

The species most often associated with this spectacle is the European starling, common across Europe, 

North America, and parts of Asia and Australia.

What Is a Murmuration?

A murmuration happens at dusk, typically in autumn and winter, just before the birds settle into their roosts. The flock forms fluid, wave-like#

shapes that twist and pulse as if they are a single living organism.

The word murmuration comes from the soft “murmuring” sound made by thousands of beating wings.

How Do They Coordinate So Precisely?

Starlings follow a few simple rules:

Each bird adjusts its movement based on its 7 closest neighbors

They maintain a consistent distance to avoid collisions

Rapid information transfer (like avoiding a predator) spreads almost instantly through the flock

This decentralized coordination is studied in physics and computer science to model swarm intelligence.

Why Do They Do It?

Main reasons include:

Protection from predators

Predators like the Peregrine falcon find it harder to target a single bird in a constantly shifting mass.

Warmth & Communication

Gathering before roosting helps them share information about food sources and stay warm in colder months.

Coming soon!

Golden Eagles of Sweden

What they are

The golden eagle is a large raptor with a wingspan often over 2 m and a weight of 3–7 kg. It’s one of the biggest birds of prey in Sweden, second only to the white-tailed eagle in size.

Where they live in Sweden

Northern Sweden: Most golden eagles are found in the northern counties — especially Norrbotten, Västerbotten, Jämtland, Västernorrland, Gävleborg and Dalarna — in forested mountain and boreal habitats.

Gotland: The island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea has one of the highest densities of golden eagles in the world, with many established territories.

Other areas: Smaller numbers occur in central and southern Sweden, though sightings there are rarer and often involve juveniles dispersing from northern regions.

Population and status

Sweden’s population is estimated at around 1,200–1,500 individual eagles (roughly 400–500 breeding pairs), though numbers can vary by survey and year.

The species is protected under Swedish law and the EU Birds Directive, and it’s considered Near Threatened on Sweden’s red list due to threats like habitat loss, collisions, and disturbance.

Diet and behaviour

Golden eagles mainly hunt hares, small mammals, birds and sometimes carrion.

They prefer remote, open areas and avoid dense human settlement, nesting on tall trees or cliffs.