Rutland Water is one of the key locations for the re-introduction of Osprey to England. It has been such a success that there are now over 30 breeding pair in Rutland.
They migrate to Western Africa and then re-unite over here in March with their partner - often within a day of each other!
The owners of Horn Mill Trout Farm purposely keep one of their ponds open and have built a hide for 8 people at water level. This allows paying customers to get some fantastic images of the Opreys fishing together with, as you will see from these pictures, ambitious Egrets and Herons who will try to eat anything dropped by the Ospreys. Red Kites also frequent the pond and they have learnt from watching the Ospreys and they will sometime catch fish - normally they feed on carrion.
A 4 hour session in the hide is not cheap and you need to be patient. A spotter on top of the hill alerts the occupants of the hide by radio to any incoming Ospreys.
