Yes Peter,
that was the program and I did not see the original program that this highlight was from. I have also failed to find any kind of webcast link to either show and sadly I didn't record it as all videos are packed for the move. So the best I can do is try to describe the clip in a few for Gaye's benefit.
Firstly, although I was aware that KFishers are territorial, I didn't realise they were lethally so!
The scene opens on a bright summers day with a pair of kingfishers sitting on a branch above a fast flowing stream. A third kingfisher, a female desparate for a mate and territory tries to muscle in and the resident female does what Kingfishers apparently do to defend her territory.
In less than a second, these two beautifuly coloured birds are spinning, wings outstretched on the surface of the water, each attempting to drown the other!
I was finding this quite distressing but at the same time felt myself rooting for the resident female.
I briefly entertained the thought that she might not have bothered had she realised that her partner did not appear to stir from his branch in her defence!
And just as the viewer was expecting the predictable loss by drowning of one of thes beautiful specimens........
....... absolutely out of nowhere, and as fast as I have ever seen such predatory action, a mink siezes and makes off with one of the two birds.
I have to say here that this was not some blurry long distance action either, it was so clear and sharp you felt that you were standing within a few feet of the action. Stunning photography!
And the follow-up, (I would have said dennoumont but I havent't learned to spell it yet and the dictionary is, yes you've guessed.... packed) the surviving femal flies to the branch to join the male.
Who survived I hear you ask? Well I like to think that the male very briefly congratulated his lady on her success before he did what came naturally but on his performance up to now, who knows, he may have prefered the looks of the newcomer from the start! We will never know.
Mike