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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Kingfishers (2 Viewers)

I saw another Kingfisher in Birmingham today, in a new location for me. The River Cole behind Trittiford Pool in Yardley Wood part of the Shire Country park. It flew along the river and I saw it from the path around the pool. It stopped at some trees, I grabbed my camera to get a photo but there was dogs on the river bank that frightened it off.
 
I keep finding Kingfishers - I must have too much time on my hands. I never thought much of DIY. So we went to the Severn Valley Country park - I had seem someone post a kingfisher siting on birdtrack (got the app now). I could see on the map there are a cuple ponds but wanted to check out the River and was well impressed, with a nice path to follow along the banks. I was ready with the camera just in case but didn't see anything. On our way back to the car park, the misses asked a couple if they knew where the kingfisher was sighted and they said, try the second pond. I was on my way there anyway but good to get advice and help. I was surprised to find the pond had a hide. Even more surprised how small the pond was!! Then when a heron came into view, it really felt like we were prying too much. Even more shock when we heard a whistle and a kingfisher landed http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/9174963653/in/photostream/
It was hungry and on a mission and soon caught a fish
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/9174973873/in/photostream/
And it impressed us even more, catching another couple fish in minutes. I wonder what the record is. I once saw a kingfisher land, dive and catch a fish in a minute, this one seemed pretty similar.
But it felt like we were really prying and really close. I was glad after 15 minutes in the hide to come out.
Not before some more photo's.
Great bird and great fishing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/9174956937/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/9174946771/in/photostream/
 
This is not quite Brum but Coventry - I rushed to this site Friday as I read somone had seen 5 kingfishers. I had seen 3 once so thought it possible. My mate of course said were they in formation. So I go to the hide and start talking to the guy already there. It was he, who posted the 5 sighting and they were in a line formation. A whole family on a first outing. After an hour, one of the young came along but was spooked by the shadow of a tern, then another came along and was frightened by a coot busy building a next. Then one came back long enough for;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/9162167658/in/photostream/
They did some cracking flying. No fishing.
On my way back to the car I saw a kingfisher on another pool.
Not sure if that made it 2 or 3.
Pity it was not the five.
(thanks also to Paul for the camera setting)
 
I've found the most reliable places in the area for Kingfishers to be Upton Warren and along Dowles brook in the Wyre forest, just outside Bewdley, both in Worcestershire.

They do occur along the local canals in the West Midlands but it seems to be very hit and miss.
 
WYRE...From reading all the posts on the forums and a couple of visits myself I thought the Kings in the Wyre were proving to be a bit elusive...of course being in the right place at the right time is a help....lol

UPTON....they can be like clockwork at Upton ( 2 days running one showed at exactly the same time) but don't mention this to all the people who waited ALL day Saturday and Sunday for nowt only for one to come very late both evenings....so on Monday they waited for this magic time and alas it did not prove 3rd time lucky.....

Sorry zomerset I saw your P.M. and then completely forgot to reply (old age -honest)...the King shots were on the little stream I have visited for 3 years but Kings have been very infrequent visitors of late so I have been giving them some space Over the years I have just sat at side of stream in camo but the ones that have showed up this year are SO nervous I hid under some camo netting as well.The female showed up for just a few seconds and I got the shots...since then I have built a little hide from canvas and branches for them to get used to (if any are using the stream).Not been for a bit though as the weather has been rubbish...in full sun it's a difficult place for pics so in the wet/dark it's really no good at all.
Keith

Some pics of one at UPTON......I was there at that magic time in the evening...well someone has to spot them...lol
 

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Great pictures - Keithr - cracking. Yes I know how elusive they are. Lost the Woodgate Valley kingfisher for a couple months now.
 
Saw a kingfisher on the River Rea today by the Wychall Reservoir. It was fishing from a stone block in the middle of the River, trying to catch the fish that go up the slower adjoining overflow stream. I think it was the same one I'd seen earlier in the year as I've seen it in the same spot a few times now and it flew in this direction again http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/8542680377/
I then tried to follow it and spotted it here where this guy got a photo before it flew off http://www.flickr.com/photos/61292899@N02/8036033832/in/photolist-df7LTs-dRZhYs-e1TtfH-9aXwF4
 
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Saw a kingfisher on the Bourne (brook) at Selly Oak / Bourneville mid day today. (Saw a heron and grey wagtail nearby the other week) I wonder if it's the same one that visits Woodgate Valley or the one from the Rea. It was loud and fast and disappeared pretty quick, no doubt looking for somewhere quiet to fish.
 
Wood Brook Kingfisher

I'd heard reports there are a couple kingfisher on the Wood brook, Bourne (brook) Selly Oak / Bourneville. Luckily got a photo of one today! It took a bit of patience to get the shot. Friday I saw 2 in Basildon, Essex http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=256344&page=3
Here's to more over the holidays!! B :)
 

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Your a right expert at seeing these and doubly so at getting a shot off...you must have about 100 different sightings....brill aint they.

keith :t:
 
Your a right expert at seeing these and doubly so at getting a shot off...you must have about 100 different sightings....brill aint they.

keith :t:

Hi Keith - not an expert just time and luck as you know. I've not got lucky at Bittell, but only made a couple quick visits. Yes they are brill! Half of the challenge is to see one and then next to get a shot!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/11503057614/
 
I was back on the kingfisher trail today and thought I'd check out Earlswood Lakes. I know this thread is WM but it's close enough. The weather was pretty shocking and I thought I wouldn't see one. Plenty of GCG on the water. I came round the corner of the Engine Pool and there in the hedge at my height, over the brook/gully at the side of the lake was a kingfisher. It had to fly up and over the hedge to miss me. It was so close I could clearly see all it's colours. That certainly made up for the weather!!
 
Its brill when that happens......My 1st ever King pic was on that little stream that runs around the edge...it was on the Terrys Pool part...just by the walkway bridge where Terrys and the Engine pool meet.
Also had them all around Terrys Pool.

Keith :t:
 
Its brill when that happens......My 1st ever King pic was on that little stream that runs around the edge...it was on the Terrys Pool part...just by the walkway bridge where Terrys and the Engine pool meet.
Also had them all around Terrys Pool.

Keith :t:

Great to hear that Keith, I was glad to see one!! Today's kingfisher sighting was on Kingshurst Brook, which joins the River Cole. I had to laugh that 10 months after I took the following photo, this kingfisher was fishing in exactly the same spot. The light was not that great and I could only just make out it was a kingfisher. http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/8504452820/
 
Kingsbury Water Park

25/01/14 - My first visit to Kingsbury Water Park and the lakes cover a large area. Birds of note for me were a little egret, a few heron by the river, great crested grebe were feeding on every lake and tufted ducks everywhere. As I walked around looking at the size of the lakes and seeing the wind wip up the water, I felt I wouldn't find a kingfisher on such stormy water. Then finally I found a small hidden pond and joked to myself 'now this is where I'll find a kingfisher' and as I approached it, bingo a kingfisher!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/12137717674/
 
Just the place to find one on such a bad day.....they have to hunt and the best chance they have is on the calmest clearest water they can find.
All the streams they use in summer are like torrents...and thats before this last lot we have had.
Well hunted out and spotted .

Keith :t:
 
Seeing double...

9/2/2014 - I saw 2 kingfisher on the Bourn today in Bournville. Nice to know 2 are local. I have seen 2 before in Brum at the Kingfisher Country park, they flew under the footbridge I was standing on which was quite impressive. I'm on a bit of a role with my sightings as last weekend I saw 2 maybe 3 in a gravel pit lake at Frimley, Sussex. I ventured out for a quick look whilst in the area, staying with some friends. Then Thursday I saw my local Essex one and Friday on my way home, I stopped off at Banbury and saw one within minutes of parking on the River Chelmore.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/12369752163/
This one was in fishing mode, I saw it dive a few times in very muddy coloured water.
All these lucky sightings I blame on BTO!! ;)
 
Its great when one turns up unexpectedly...but 3 thats being selfish....lol

Lets hope they get through all these floods.

Keith :t:
 

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