Kingfishers (9 Viewers)

[zomerset]

Last Thursday I timed it just right to see 3 fledgling Kingfishers just as it started to rain. Good to have a 2nd successful nesting pair of River Rea Kingfishers.
I've known them nest along this stretch before. The last time I knew was 2016. Fledglings were seen a few years back. This could mean 4 nest sites possible along the River Rea.
Elsewhere there was real drama.
A nesting pair were moved out by a new nesting pair.
Never seen this before.
It looks like the new pair took over a nest with chicks in it.
It looks like the new pair raided another nest, possibly destroying eggs that were being sat on by the previous nesting female. Not seen the old female since.
Saw the previous nesting male then flying closely past the new female bird a few times. But she didn't move much. Just raised her wings. The new male then turned up & passed her a fish. He then chased off the old male.

 

[zomerset]

Early Sunday, River Rea Kingfisher on patrol & waiting.
On my Sunday run, I again stood in the right spot & the Kingfisher flew over my head. 2nd location. (Saturday I could hearing it calling, flying towards me & I waited until it flew over. I must have picked up it's call quite some distance away).
I then ran to Wychall res & was pleased to hear the call & then see a Kingfisher high flying over.

 

[zomerset]

River Rea Kingfishers at 3 locations.

 

[zomerset]

River Rea Kingfishers now at 2 locations, noticeably less vocal. (3rd pair were disturbed)

 

[zomerset]

River Rea Kingfisher quieter now, Wychall & moved nest site (KN).
Last weekend I checked the River Cole; good to find 2 territories; SB & beforecScribers.
Good to check the River Tame & find a Kingfisher where the River Rea meets it.
Then good to find a nesting pair & time it right this week to find a tutting fledgling Kingfisher. Parents bringing in fish.
Back on the River Rea I found where the KN pair moved to. Not sure if there were fledglings. 3 minimum seen but might be adults & a previous juvenile.
Further along the Rea this week I timed it right for a vocal Kingfisher checking out CH. I think it was only checking though.
This morning Kingfisher at 2 Rea locations; Wychall vocal & KN, quiet fly through.

 

[zomerset]

Bourn Brook bike ride. I'd heard tutting.
A Kingfisher back after an absence of 3 months. A juvenile hence the tutting & a juvenile call. Thought I'd heard one on the Rea a few weeks back. Good to see one back on the Bourn Brook.

 

[zomerset]

Monday morning what looked like an adult Kingfisher along the Bourn Brook (HP fence and then trees). Then a tutting Kingfisher along the River Rea (PMF to HW). It was there again late afternoon. On my way back the Bourn Brook Kingfisher was still there.
Good timing and luck yesterday to see what looked like 2 River Rea fledgling Kingfishers (LV). I returned this morning and in the overgrown hidden valley 2 fledglings were sat under tree cover. They washed in the Rea, parents bought in fish and then they flew off in the parents direction. Great to see!

 

[zomerset]

This week the Bourn Brook juvenile Kingfisher has made it's way up to the blue & grey bridges from the uni. I heard it call as it flew past the allotments & saw it there.
On the River Rea KN I saw last weeks 2 fledglings being chased by the parents up stream. The next day they made their way back downstream, I saw them both stop by. Good to hear at one week old they have a quiet 2 tone call.
At Wychall a parent was chasing a juvenile. Then saw a juvenile at KN park.

 

[zomerset]

Yesterday the Bourn Brook blue bridge juv Kingfisher went under the bridge.
Stirchley Kingfisher 3rd time same stretch.
KN juv Kingfisher usual spot.
Wychall adult male & juvenile. Good to see them high fly over the bridge & around the trees.

 

[pianoman]

Seems this thread took on a long life of its own and the original poster was never seen again

 

[zomerset]

August update for Bourn Brook & River Rea Kingfishers.
Yesterday 2 diving juvenile Kingfishers next to each other along the Bourn Brook (DH). I got photos of both. Good to see nesting Sticklebacks, hence the Kingfishers.
Then River Rea Kingfishers (TA) at the aborted nest, Stirchley, KN adult & the juv & male at Wychall.
I think that's 9 Kingfishers I know of.
Hopefully still a pair at KN.
Not sure if it's an adult or juv at Stirchley. It has a strong call like an adult.

 

[zomerset]

Kingfishers this week;
Got film of the Bourn Brook blue bridge juvenile Kingfisher. Saw it fly upstream, 2 evenings the same time.
River Rea Wychall Kingfisher every morning. 2 one morning.
The PM/CH juvenile 2 times the same stretch. This morning I checked & first light at CH.
Stirchley adult Kingfisher.
KN adult Kingfisher but not seen the pr.

 

[zomerset]

A surprise last Friday with an Otter at the River Rea.
Kingfishers Wychall, KN, Lifford, TA, Pebble mill playing fields, CH.
Then Bourn Brook blue bridge & Dental hospital. It was good to see one high flying over the old res.

 

[zomerset]

2 River Rea Kingfishers this morning (PM). They've lost their juvenile call.
It looks like a good year for G.Wagtails, several along the stretch.
Yesterday on my run probably one of the same Kingfisher by the NR. Then one at Stirchley. Friday KN & Wychall. In the week 2 juveniles having a territorial dispute along the Bourn Brook at the Uni.
Then another at the blue bridge.

 

[cowcornerman]

On Friday I saw a Kingfisher at Babb Mill Nature Reserve. It flew across the north east side of Babbs Mill Lake from the trees on the eastern edge of the lake next to the outlet pipe into the River Cole and disappeared into trees on the northern shore of the lake just west of the car park.

 

[zomerset]

On Friday I saw a Kingfisher at Babb Mill Nature Reserve. It flew across the north east side of Babbs Mill Lake from the trees on the eastern edge of the lake next to the outlet pipe into the River Cole and disappeared into trees on the northern shore of the lake just west of the car park.

Nice one! Good to hear. Not visited for sometime.

 

[zomerset]

River Rea last weekend (PM) an adult & juv Kingfisher territorial dispute. They sat next to each other shrill calls, bowing to each other then pecking & flying at each other.
Bourn Brook 2 juv Kingfisher a male & female.

 

[zomerset]

This week along the Bourn Brook, I saw one Kingfisher dive and catch a fish (uni) then cycled back and saw another catch a fish (BB). Within 15 minutes. I saw a Kingfisher fly past at the lower Bourn Brook (DH), high pitched, squeaky juv call, it stopped, dived, caught a fish and then flew back hidden up the Bourn Brook. All within 10 mins. I saw it again today, Sunday, and it flew back up the Bourn Brook. The other Bourn Brook Kingfisher (BB) today caught a fish and then I could hear it stunning it on a nearby branch. Don't remember hearing that before.
Yesterday Kingfisher on the River Rea, Ten Acres, a fallen tree in the river and the loud calling Kingfisher flew out, sounded like an adult.
Still a Kingfisher at sunrise (CH) it then went up the Bourn Brook as above and at DH. Then a KN Kingfisher.

 

[zomerset]

This week the River Rea (CH) Kingfisher & then up the Bourn Brook.
Then 2 Kingfisher further along at the roundabout & then the blue bridge.
Last weekend Kingfishers on the Rea at Ten acres & KN.
Rob saw a Kingfisher at Lifford.

 

[zomerset]

This weeks River Rea Kingfishers; early CH & along TA. The TA Kingfisher is loud & likes to call, got my first photo of it along the valley.
Then Bourn Brook Kingfishers at BB & Uni halls. Also a Redpoll. The Rea Kingfisher did head up the Bourn Brook by the DH.
But not so regular now.
Good to see Bob got a photo of a juvenile Peregrine.