Rutland Water

Normanton Church is the most well known landmark in Rutland, UK. When the reservoir was being constructed, the valley had to be cleared and it was planned that the church be demolished.

However, after substantial protest from the local population, who wanted to preserve the beautiful structure, plans were made to save Normanton Church. The lowermost section of the church was filled with rubble and a new floor was built on top of it so that it would sit 60cm above the water level. The church now sits on its own little island with a causeway constructed in order to access it.

Normanton Church is the most well known landmark in Rutland, UK. When the reservoir was being constructed, the valley had to be cleared and it was planned that the church be demolished.

However, after substantial protest from the local population, who wanted to preserve the beautiful structure, plans were made to save Normanton Church. The lowermost section of the church was filled with rubble and a new floor was built on top of it so that it would sit 60cm above the water level. The church now sits on its own little island with a causeway constructed in order to access it.

Elegant., long legged and colourful., what more could you ask for?

Well one thing.. they are 'red-listed' in the UK conservation status list., it would be a real shame if these wonderful waders disappeared completely

Let's hope not!

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Water is great subject matter when taking photographs., it can take the 'ordinary' and make it into something (hopefully) interesting

The Cormorants were catching a lot of fish and we'd already got a lot of shots so I slowed the shutter speed to try and get some 'splash and spray' effects

As it turned out because of the fast and endless movement of the bird 800 S/S was as slow as I could manage before motion blur became a problem

But I sort of liked the effect anyway!

A couple of uploads back we posted the Grebe with his 'big fish' catch of a lifetime

Well this was the moment of attempted consumption!

Of course there was no way that was going down the 'hatch'., the Pike was bigger than the bird!

If it puts a smile on your face., it did for us too!

Not a pretty shot!

But then again you wouldn't stare at your nearest and dearest from 2 metres away with a fish in her mouth!

Would you?

But as this Egret caught and disposed of the fish virtually right next to me., I took the shot anyway

Al least it made for something a bit different!

One of the fun pastimes when photographing next to a lake or river is watching Cormorants going about their fishing

Diving into the water you never can be quite sure where they will re-emerge., and if they will have their next snack (or even the big lunch) in their beaks

Which makes it from our point of view a bit of a game... can you focus and click before the said snack or lunch disappears?!

Sometimes its not about angles., light and composition., its simply a matter of ''how quick can you click''!

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You wouldn't associate Coots with Ice dancing., but this one may have different ideas

With perfect balance and precision., wings raised., definitely worth a perfect '10' and a gold medal!

Sadly for our Coot there is no 'bird' team entered for the upcoming winter Olympics

But don't feel too sorry for him., because he can do something no Olympian will ever be able to do..... walk on water!!

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* Its a pity some of the undergrowth got in the way of this shot of a Grebe on its nest taken at Rutland water . It could have been a really good shot.

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A wedding at Rutland Water on a rainy weekend. Timeless scene apart from the Covid-masks. I was unsure about whether to risk getting the bellows on my camera wet, glad I got this shot as I quite like it.

Voigtlander Bessa 1937 with Skopar lens

Kodak TMax 400 film

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Angelic feathers., elegant pose., and a tasty à la carte fish for lunch., what more could a bird ask for? This Egret strutted back to the lake edge almost determined to show off it's catch., and why not? human fishermen very much do the same!

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Was watching this Wagtail catching Damselflies in Rutland water.

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** I photographed this Sedge Warbler in full voice in a reserve on Rutland water in 2021

The Sedge Warbler ( Acrocephalus schoenobaenus): is a small, quite plump, warbler with a striking broad creamy stripe above its eye and greyish-brown legs. It is brown above with blackish streaks and creamy white underneath.

It is a summer visitor to the UK and winters in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert. Its song is a noisy, rambling warble compared to the more rhythmic song of the Reed Warbler.

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With a few hours to fill one afternoon while away on holiday we took 'H' around the local Nature Reserve.......he quite enjoyed being in the huts spying quietly at the goings on of the Cormorants!

There has to be a limit., but thinking about it I cannot remember seening a Cormorant discard its 'lunch' because it was too big!

Some nicknames don't make much sense., but (our's) … 'Mr Rubberneck, seems completely appropiate!

This was the first (UK) flycatcher I've ver seen. Within a couple of weeks I saw another (but didn't identify it until later).

Thank you to everyone views, faves or comments on my pictures.

Windy afternoon

Not so long ago a real rarity., but not so rare now

Climate change etc. no doubt has a part to play but in our local reserve at Rutland Water they've become the 'not-so-rare' Great White Egret and if things continue this way they'll be as many of them as Heron's

A large elegant bird., it's wonderful to see them thriving here

The gorgeous Smew with the Punk haircut! Soon to return to Scandinavia and will be missed

Row of boats at Rutland Water on a grey day.

Voigtlander Bessa from 1937. Skopar lens.

Kodak TMax 400 film

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Normanton Church at Rutland Water

You know the old saying., you wait forever for a bus. and then two come along at the same time!

This was a classic example., the elusive Water rail., highly secretive., very hard to see never mind photograph., suddenly there are two of them out in the open

Photographers Christmas comes early!

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Shooting into the light at Rutland Water. Camera has some serious problems with halation - I can only think that the exposed metal from the film pressure plate (where the black paint has worn off) is causing this, although it seems unlikely given that many early cameras had unpainted metallic pressure plates. Still a really nice dream-like feel to this though to my eyes, not a modern look though.

Kodak Retina type 126 (from 1936)

Ilford FP4+ film

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Normanton Church

The medieval St Matthews Church was built for the Earl of Ancaster on the foundations of a building dating back to the 14th century. It was later rebuilt in a classical style in the 18th century when the Heathcote Baronets created their estate in Rutland and used the parish church as their private chapel. In 1920 the aristocrat family relocated and the church was abandoned until Rutland Water was created in the 1970s.

Due to the growing population in the area, the need for a water reservoir became obvious. The Gwash Valley in Rutland was chosen as the most suitable location for a new reservoir in the Midlands. The locals protested against the church being demolished and it was decided that it would only be partially submerged underwater.

The lower level of the deconsecrated church was filled with rubble and concrete and a new floor was created. A causeway and an embankment were created to make the building accessible from the shore of Rutland Water. The outcome was one of the most iconic churches in the UK, seemingly floating above the waterline.

anglianwaterparks.co.uk/rutland-water-park/normanton-church

Fly Fishing at Rutland Water.

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Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

Thank you to all that take the time to look at my photographs and comment or like them. It really is appreciated. To see more, follow my blog or get post-processing tips please visit www.kevinagar.uk

Detail of Normanton church at Rutland Water.

Kodak Retina type 126 (from 1936)

Ektar lens

Ilford FP4+ film

Some real issues with the lens (severe halation in all shots), I can't work out what the matter is though. Frustrating.

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Utterly beautiful and impressively large the Great White Egret epitomizes why we stand out in the cold for hours with a camera in our hands

Strange now to think that only 2-3 years ago I wouldn't have had a clue what a GWE was!

It started with clicking a few shots with an old second hand Nikon D90., that lead to going to nature reserves to find something to photograph., and that has now lead to spending far too much time and money on a hobby I have learned to love!

But had I not taken that path. I would never have discovered the sheer beauty of a bird like this! and that makes you think

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Thanks for taking time to view, faves and comments. Much appreciated

Normanton church on a grey day, this was flooded when the reservoir was filled and is a short drive from my house. Very popular place for a photo.

Voigtlander Bessa camera from 1937, Skopar lens

Kodak TMax 400 film

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Thanks to everyone who takes time to view, fave or comment on my pictures.

The light was (putting it politely) poor

So to achieve any quality at all the shutter speed had to come down and I ended up attempting shots well below what I normally would

But here's the thing...

You also end up with shots 'different' to what you normally would

i.e. different effects

As much as I curse adverse conditions (as much as you do I suspect) photographically it forces you to learn and 'play' with your camera...

Which actually isn't a bad thing

Thanks to everyone who takes time to view, fave or comment on my pictures.

shot by KHWD - lovely rutland water

Thanks to everyone who takes time to view, fave or comment on my pictures.

Thanks to everyone who takes time to view, fave or comment on my pictures.

Thanks to everyone who takes time to view, fave or comment on my pictures.

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