A few weeks ago, I said to Lindsay that I'd not had a proper sighting of a Kingfisher yet this year, and it was about time I did something about it. Two days later, on 18th September, my Blogger friend Pete Woodruff published a blog post which featured an inspiring video clip of a Kingfisher. I responded by saying that it was about time I went to try and get some time with this wonderful species. Two days after that, I set off to a place where there was, maybe, an even chance that I'd find one.
Whilst many local birders will know exactly where this location is, it is an unwritten rule for this site that its location is not widely published as it has, at times, become uncomfortably overcrowded. I am happy to abide by this rule.
I arrived at the site to find rather more cars present than I'd hoped for. Nevertheless, I continued with my mission. Calling in at the first location, I found one other person already present. Nothing more exciting than a distant Green Sandpiper was seen and, after a while spent chatting with this person, I took my leave and set off down the trail to the second location.
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| Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) |
I arrived at the second location to find five people already there and as I approached I caught a glimpse of a Kingfisher flashing past!
The five people there were a very pleasant bunch and I was soon settled in a place where I could get a reasonable view of the water. At first, I contented myself with photographing the Little Grebes that were there, and a bit closer than is usual for them at this location. It was good to see both adult and well-developed juvenile present.
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| Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) |
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Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) (juvenile)
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After about forty minutes, Paul (an old aquaintance) brought our attention to a Snipe that had just emerged from the reeds below his position. I managed to get some shots over the shoulders of the two other people in front. I couldn't resist the second image below , which shows the bird looking somewhat dishevelled while having a good scratch.
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| Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) |
Four of the five people, all of whom had been there for several hours, departed about an hour after I arrived, having had nothing but fleeting glimpses of a Kingfisher as it flashed through before my arrival. This left me with one other person. We were busy chatting about twenty minutes later when a Kingfisher arrived and landed on a stick near us.
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Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male)
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It then did us the favour of moving to a different position.
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| Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) |
From here it did a quick plunge, returning to the same stick with something that I cannot identify.
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| Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) |
It then descended onto a rock in the water.
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| Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) |
It finally graced us with a visit to the photographic prop that had been placed out in the middle of the water.
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| Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) |
The session then came to an end as it departed to the far end of the lake before heading out of sight. It had been with us for three minutes, and it did reappear a couple of times but only zooming through without stopping.
I stayed for another half hour, during which the Snipe reappeared and I took some shots of other birds at a greater distance.
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| Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) |
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| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) (male) |
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| Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) |
I called back at the first location on my way back to the car, to find that the Kingfisher had also been visiting that location and it arrived almost immediately as I arrived.
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| Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) |
The mission had been accomplished, although I could have wished for better light, so I headed home in an exceedingly happy mood.
I hope you will forgive the plethora of Kingfisher images. I have no idea when, or if, I might get such an opportunity again!
I suspect that my next blog post will be in about a week's time and cover my home-based part of the second half of September. However, I have a week's worth of photos from a visit to the Isles of Scilly to process, so I might get a bit caught up with those!
In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature. Thank you for your visit - - - Richard
Another interesting account - I read every word of it - and illustrations of your appropriately titled 'A Meeting with the King'. I also appreciated the link to B2B, thanks Richard.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards to yourself and Lindsey....Pete.
Thank you, Pete. Sometimes things work out a little better than expected. But then again - - - - - - !
DeleteBest wishes to you and KT - - - Richard
Hi Richard! Great findings! Terrible, we are the whole family in corona! For two years we managed to avoid it, but now our young man got it, and brought it home;-(
ReplyDeleteHello, Anne. I'm so sorry to hear that you all have the Corona virus. I hope that none of you have it seriously and that you are all soon recovered. My wife and I had it in June and, thankfully, we only had it quite mildly.
DeleteTake good care - - - - - Richard
Beautiful photos. It's long ago I saw a kingfisher.
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline - usually, if I see a Kingfisher, it is just a flash of blue for a second or two! Thsnk you for visiting - - - Richard
DeleteHello Richard :=)
ReplyDeleteSetting out to find a Kingfisher, or any bird of choice and then finding it, is really thrilling. I appreciated all your Kingfisher images, no apologies necessary, you could have made a post of them, or shown more on this post as far as I'm concerned because they are all so beautiful. The one of the Kingfisher perched on the No Fishing Sign made me smile. I'm so pleased for you that you got lucky and saw the king. The immature Little Grebe images are delightful, and the Snipe captures are great, but I also enjoyed seeing all the other birds.
My best wishes, and thank you for your comment.
My best wishes.
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, Sonjia. I can't help but think that, if every time one set out to try and find a specific species of bird and succeded in finding that bird, the excitement of the find would be lost. I'm happy to take my chances!
DeleteBest wishes - stay safe - - - Richard
I guess this all proves, Richard, that you don't have to venture far afield to have a satisfying experience. A superb series of photographs of which the kingfisher takes first prize. What a stunning bird! And in this instance a cooperative one too. If ever there was a case for renaming a species this is it. This Common Kingfisher is anything but common! Look forward to seeing your Scilly posts. Best wishes to you and Lindsay - David
ReplyDeleteWhen things come together, as with that Kingfisher session, David, it really raises the spirits. It might not be a rare bird, but that session will remain a major highlight in my year.
DeleteSadly, wildlife-wise, Scilly fell a bit flat this year. It seems that we left a week too early!
Best wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard
Lovely set of Kingfisher shots, beautiful. Still can't sign in to any of my blogs now. Somehow can't even get a sign in screen to look at. Take care.
ReplyDeleteMarc
Thank you, Marc. Blogger does seem to have had major problems recently, but you seem to be suffering worse than most. I hope you can get it sorted soon - I will send you an email with a suggestion.
DeleteBest wishes - - - Richard.
Fantastic birding images Richard, and the best was Kingfisher, absolutely stunning. I love also Snipe, and all that
ReplyDeleteFor me, Bob, the Kingfisher is a very special bird, but Snipe is also a bird that I get excited about every time I see one. My very best wishes - - - Richard
DeleteHeading out with a specific goal and achieving that goal is exhilarating!
ReplyDeleteThe supporting cast of this royal performance is fascinating, and the Snipe is a personal favorite. Of course, His Royal Highness provided quite a display for you! You took good advantage, and we relish in reviewing such a great set of outstanding photographs. Thank you!
Common Kingfisher - Uncommonly Handsome.
But seriously, a Kingfisher perched on a "No Fishing" sign?? Some may say "photoshop", I say "serendipity", Pegler-style!
It wouldn't do to have every mission for a specific species being successful, Wally. The excitement would soon diminish.
ReplyDeleteThe 'No Fishing' sign is a relatively recent addition to this location, and it was rewarding to see it being used. However, it's a humerous touch that I have noticed, on the internet, has been set up at other Kingfisher locations, so not very original !
My recent visit to the Isles of Scilly produced encounters with both Snipe and Jack Snipe, and these were highlights of the visit for me - so expect more snipe in forthcoming blog posts.
My very best wishes to you and Gini - - - Richard
Hello Richard
ReplyDeletethe kingfisher always has something magical, beautiful to look at, sometimes just too fast, with these pictures I would go home with a smile, super nice
Greetings Frank
Greetings, Frank. Yes, the Kingfisher is usually just seen as a passing flash of bright blue! It is good to get lucky sometimes. Best wishes - - - Richard
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