Back With The Kingfishers - Autumn, 2017

I really did think, when I published a Kingfisher post three weeks ago and said that I thought it would be "my last Kingfisher post, for this year at least", that that would be the case.

On 30th October, I visited the same Kingfisher location because it can be good for other interesting birds and unexpectedly found a Kingfisher in attendance. I couldn't resist a few more photos of Kingfisher as it was a reasonably bright day. Here are a few from that session.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Leicestershire

The main interest here during that session was, however, the Water Rail. Unfortunately, although this showed for a while, it remained well-tucked into the phragmites and I only managed a record shot which confirmed the bird by its bill and a small section of its back.

On 2nd November I returned in the hope of seeing the Water Rail, but it didn't show. It was a dull day and the Kingfisher showed again, so I took some more photos although the lack of light made photography difficult for most of the time.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Leicestershire

On 6th November, it was a relatively bright day, and in considering where I should go I settled for a place near home, but in Derbyshire rather than my own county of Leicestershire. The reason for choosing this place was that it can be good for 'water birds', but also good for passerines. I'd ruled out the Kingfisher location on the basis that I'd like to see something different.

Having parked my car and set off on foot, I found the sight of a Magpie perched on top of the head of a particularly hairy beast to be an amusing sight.

Magpie (Pica pica) - Derbyshire

Arriving at the first viewing platform, I found some distant ducks, geese, and grebes, but nothing to get me excited, until towards me flew - a Kingfisher!! It briefly alighted on a phragmites stem which didn't bear its weight, and instantly flew back up the channel and out of sight.

The next two platforms didn't reveal any more than the first, and I then ended up at the hide, which was still under construction when I last visited. I was greeted with the information that Kingfisher had been showing well and frequently!

The window seats were relatively full, so I sat at the back. When Kingfisher was first spotted in the far distance, I was kindly given access to a window and pointed at the bird. It was too far away and somewhat obscured for a worthwhile photo.

Later it came a little closer and I managed a shot that was still somewhat obscured.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Derbyshire

After a while, the lady who occupied the prime seat departed, and I moved into that position. I did not have to wait long before the Kingfisher came quite close, but it was behind vegetation. With patience it was possible to get a slightly clearer shot when the breeze moved the vegetation aside. It was a pity that a totally clear shot wasn't possible as the light by then was gorgeous!

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Derbyshire

It soon departed, but came back again a short while later to a place that was a little further away, but relatively unobstructed. Sadly this place was in shade.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Derbyshire

From this end of the hide I also had three very brief (about one second) views of a Water Rail as it flew across a 2 metre wide patch of water from one set of phragmites to another. I missed getting a shot each time.

The only other photos I took were of a very distant Common Snipe - not worth including here.

I gladly gave up my seat to newcomers to the hide, and set off back to see if I could find an owl - I did, but didn't get any photos as it was too dark and my car, in which I was sitting, was facing in the wrong direction anyway.

At this point in time I have absolutely no idea what my next blog post will feature.

Thank you for dropping by

Seeing Kingfisher in a Different Light - on 19th September, 2017

On this day I decided on another visit to the Kingfisher location that has featured on three of my previous posts. It was a sunny afternoon, but I'd had other things to do so it was mid-afternoon when I arrived. Nothing of interest was visible from the first hide so I carried on to the second hide and sat there for a while, chatting to gentleman who had been there for quite a while and seen nothing.

After probably about an hour my companion declared that he would set off homeward, but call into the first hide on his way back. I stuck it out for perhaps another quarter of an hour before setting off myself as the sun was starting to go down and light conditions were getting a bit difficult. As I approached the first hide my earlier companion beckoned to me - he'd got a Kingfisher sitting on a post.

There are three posts in front of the hide and they are all just under 20 metres from the hide. The left-hand post is of medium height, the middle post is very short and is only just visible above the grass bank in front of the hide, and the right-hand post is tall. When I arrived, the Kingfisher (a female) was on top of the tall right-hand post. Sadly, with the sun now low and golden, this post was totally shaded by the nearby trees whilst the background was still in full golden sun. This presented an interesting photographic challenge which I partially manage to rise to.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (female) - Leicestershire

She fished from this post for a while before heading down to the far end of the pond and disappearing from sight. For the next quarter of an hour we had fleeting glimpses before she returned in front of the hide, landing on the middle post, which was in sun. I eventually managed to find a spot in the hide from which, if I stood on tip-toe, I could get a shot without the bird being obscured by the intervening grass. With the golden light on her, the blue plumage took on a somewhat greener hue than I usually see.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (female) - Leicestershire

Fortunately she only fished from this middle post for a short while, before moving to the left-hand post, which was also in sun, giving the greenish hue to her plumage.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (female) - Leicestershire

After this she returned to the right-hand post before disappearing to the nearby brook.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (female) - Leicestershire

It had been another spellbinding session in the presence of this wonderful bird. I think that this will be my last Kingfisher post - for this year at least!

Thank you for dropping by. I suspect that my next post might feature an alien!!

His Royal Highness, and supporting cast - on 17th September, 2017

It had been ten days since I'd last visited the Kingfishers, so I decided to return. This time, unlike on my previous two visits which were in 'cloudy-bright' weather conditions, the weather was 'sunny spells'.

I stopped at the first location just as a female Kingfisher was leaving a relatively near post. I sat and watched for a while but she stayed at the far end of the pond, only landing when out of sight. She soon flew off to the nearby brook.

As I made my way to the second location there were a few Common Darter dragonflies around. 

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (female) - Leicestershire

I arrived at the hide to find two people who had spent all morning there and only got a fleeting glimpse of a Kingfisher - it was looking as if I might not be lucky.

Because of the relatively warm sunny weather there were a few dragonflies visible from the hide. This one perched conveniently close.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male) - Leicestershire

In the event, I only had to wait just over half an hour before a male Kingfisher arrived and obliged by landing quite close to the hide - although the sun had gone behind a cloud.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Leicestershire

On my first visit, a gentleman who voluntarily looks after the site had commented that he'd like to find an alternative stick to one of the ones that were in place for the Kingfishers to perch on as it was a bit smooth and shiny. On my subsequent visit, I'd taken with me what I hoped would be a suitable stick, and left it for him to do with as he wished. I was, therefore, delighted to see that 'my stick' was now in place and being used to advantage. Here's one of the Kingfisher on 'my stick'.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Leicestershire

 From its texture, you might recognise 'my stick' in some of the subsequent images.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Leicestershire

The bird spent a full 15 minutes here before departing to the brook. I waited for another hour, but it didn't return in that time. However, I did take a few other shots. Here's one of a Migrant Hawker dragonfly which landed on 'my stick'.

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) (male) - Leicestershire

 A Wren briefly landed on one of the other 'kingfisher sticks'.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - Leicestershire

Mute Swans might be everywhere, but there's no denying that they are among the most graceful of birds. I couldn't resist the photographic conditions at one point.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) - Leicestershire

The weather started to change dramatically and so I set off towards my car. I had to take refuge for half an hour in another hide when there was a sudden torrential rain shower. I then made my way home.

It had been another enchanting interlude with the Kingfisher. I have another post up my sleeve  on the subject of Kingfisher and that one will be a little different.

Thank you for dropping by. My next post will probably feature dragonflies, and maybe another bird. 

Back With Royalty - on 7th September, 2017

Although it was a relatively dull day weather-wise, on Thursday 7th September I decided on a return visit to see if I could find the Kingfishers. If you missed it, you can find my post on my first encounter with the Kingfishers here. En route to the main location I called in at another spot on the off-chance. This paid off as there was a female Kingfisher in attendance.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (female) - Leicestershire

After a while, with the bird still there, I headed off to the main location. No Kingfishers were seen for a while, so I kept my shutter finger exercised with the young Heron that is often here.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) (juvenile) - Leicestershire

I only had to wait three quarters of an hour before the male Kingfisher appeared. At first it kept to the other side of the water.

I'd been hoping for some flight shots and so had set up my camera with this objective. However, there were few opportunities. This sequence is the nearest that I got to success.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Leicestershire

Eventually the bird came nearer, but stayed only briefly.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (male) - Leicestershire

It was less than a 20 minute wait before the female Kingfisher arrived. She stayed relatively close to the hide, but went again after 4 minutes.

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) (female) - Leicestershire

I hung on for another hour, but the Kingfishers didn't return in that time. It had been a most enjoyable return visit to the Kingfishers.

Thank you for dropping by. My next post will possibly feature a couple of garden visitors.