June Kingfishers 2013

Well, it's been quiet on my local Midlands patches for Kingfishers. I think because they had to go and find mates. With that in mind, I have been searching for some nests, but this has been like finding a needle in a hay stack. However in the process I have found new kingfishers. The first was in Chipping Ongar in Essex, on the River Roding. I read about this area online and it mentioned kingfishers so off I went. A beautiful area and town, with a nature trail through lovely meadows with a good river flowing at the bottom. When I saw the river and trees and vegetation, I knew it was perfect for kingfisher. It had plenty of cover and slow bends where I knew they could fish. So I'm on a bend just down from a footbridge - when yes!! A kingfisher!! It flew down the river and I found it again before it flew off - good result and good guide by the local council.

Of all the things............

OK a dead funny and silly tale; about my work pond!! It's a private work site with a pond on a green behind work. A colleague told me he had seen a heron near this pond and I have seen them flying over work so thought I best give the pond an early evening check. The pond is used at lunch time by workers, sitting on the benches and getting some fresh air or sun when it shines. So I had a look about 7.00 in the evening when it was dead quiet. It's a stone throw from the car park and trees shield it from work. Well imagine my surprise when I spotted, not a heron but a kingfisher, which took flight and flew around the pond. It looked unsure of where to land but decided on a tree, over on the far side to me. I went to grab my camera but was then unsure about the no camera's, site policy. Anyway what with my indecision, I then took another look but could not find it - I think with the lack of cover it flew off. Mega result and not what I expected at work! What's even more hilarious is colleagues said do you think a kingfisher uses the pond and me thinking I'm the expert said - no, too small, muddy or no stream/brook/river near by. Just goes to show what do I know!! Ho hum!!

More Kingfishers

Well - I think the Woodgate Valley Kingfisher has gone in search of a mate!! I am no expert and neither might be the person on a forum, who said around this time of year, Kingfishers return or find a suitable breeding ground area. I think this might be where the Woodgate Kingfisher has gone. Not only that one but it looks like the Langdon Meadows lake one and the Leasowes one. The good news is though I found some new ones. I've seen one in Wickford, on the River Crouch. Seen it once, on my first visit. Did not see it on a couple return visits. It was quite a distance when it flew off so could not get a photo. Then I saw another new one at Trittiford lake, Yardley Wood, Birmingham. It was on the River Cole next to the lake. It was a really quick sighting as there were people walking. As I saw it land on a tree over the river, I went to grab the camera but it had flown off. My most successful sighting has been on the River Mardyke, down from North Stifford, where I have seen a kingfisher on three visits. The first two visits I got very bad photo's as this bird flies off well before I get near. On my second visit it was landing about a hundred metres ahead of me and then flying off until it finally flew quite a distance up river. It was then as I walked back it flew past me. Probably back to where I first found it, as it seems to be in relatively the same place each time. It was there last week when it was very windy but I only saw it once as there were a couple runners out who might have made it fly, so I did not see where it went. On that visit I also saw a heron which really struggled to fly with the strong wind and another favourite of mine, the little egret. I can tell this is a good fishing area as the fish jump out and they surface for some time, poking their heads out. As it is the mating season, I'm expecting to find a couple but not seen that. Makes me wonder why some fly off to find a mate and some possibly remain on their own. It could be age I guess but it's all down to nature.

Female Kingfisher - Leasowes

I went to see if I could find the Leasowes Park, kingfisher. I had now seen it a few times at early evening around the bottom pool, so was expecting to see it sat on a perch there. Wrong! So I followed the path up to the other pools. I went up and down a couple times. Not sure how far it is, but it's quite a climb. Then coming down I spotted the kingfisher sat on the wall by a pool, at a place I had never seen it before. I grabbed my camera to get a shot but I was too close and it flew off, swooping up and then down over the wall, stunning flight! So I thought it was off to the bottom pool, so I went down there, but as I got there, it went back past me, up to the higher pools. So I walked up the path to the higher pools. I got up to the very top pool and thought in the very distance where the water fall joins the pool, I could see the kingfisher. It was fishing in the pool, right by the water fall splashing. I took a few photo's from a distance but then it must have seen me so it flew to another tree, swooping around in a big arc. I followed it and it flew to another pool. Now on some of the pools there is a fence, across the pool. The kingfisher has to fly up and over these fences to get to the next pool. By each fence is a foot path and then the fence has a gate or opening so you can follow the footpath down. Well I was so close following this kingfisher it did not go up and over the fence, it went along the footpath and turned left at the gate/opening and then down the path. I was amazed by this, the fact it followed the path, guess it's the same as following a stream but also it turned at a right angle to turn left through the gate/opening and follow the path down. It was again some stunning flying. There was something different about this kingfisher. The fact it was not on the bottom pool and the way it was flying over and fishing the top pools. I found it again by another pool, this time it was sat on the metal guard for the drain. It could only have been there for a minute or so before it dived in and caught a fish. It was only a tiny fish as it did not have to stun it much before it swallowed it. Having remained at a distance, I got a photo of it with this fish. I then decided it was time to go home as it was getting late. When I got home I looked at the photo's. It was a female kingfisher. I had heard there was a pair on this patch and now I had seen both. Though not together. I must amit I had become blaise about the Leasowes kingfisher as it had a good patch and plenty of food, but this sighting with the stunning flying and quick fishing, made me realise again what a fascinating creature this is.

More Kingfishers - Meriden Park, Birmingham

This is a post about my cycle ride on Sunday 24th February. I decided to follow the River Cole through  the Birmingham Kingfisher Country Park. It starts at Coventry Road in Birmingham which is where I joined it. It's not really a pretty sight as it's full of the rubbish left on the banks from the flood waters. Also the path is not finished in a couple places so it was quite a challenge to cycle. I didn't really expect to see any Kingfishers early on but as I got further it was dawning on me I might not see any!! My regular spot to see them is from the Lea Ford playing fields to Babbs Mill Lake. The photo's on my flickr site are taken on this stretch. http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/8343428808/in/photostream
In fact I kept on seeing one on this stretch and it would chase others away, both up and down the river. I think it was chasing them away or maybe it was a mate? Perhaps the one from the Summer was a mate, the winter one, a competitor infringing on it's patch as it had a pretty good feeding place, which was a man made tunnel where the slower water would run up as well as fish. It would sit on the convenient guard for this tunnel and catch the fish (see my flickr photo).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/8343486436/in/photostream
So once I got to Babbs Mill Lake which was a new spot for me - I really thought I was not going to see any kingfisher. So I did the best thing - I asked the locals. A couple of people passed me walking their dogs so I asked one guy and he told me to check out Meriden Park, Birmingham. I didn't really know where it was, so asked him for some directions and he told me which roads to cross. So off I went but went so far and didn't see anything. I then realised Meriden Park was on a tributary to the River Cole and had a pool with an island. This is where I expected to see the Kingfisher so I scanned the overhanging trees and reeds that surrounded it. No luck. So I continued on my way along Kinghurst Brook and it goes behind a shopping centre with an Asda, a library and a bar and I could smell the smokers out the back of the bar. At this part the path can only be a few metres from the brook and I was probably looking more closely a the bar, the bridges and the Asda!! It was only when I turned around, thinking I had gone far enough I spotted a kingfisher in a overhanging willow tree, sitting motionless watching a spot on the Brook.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/8503332257/in/photostream
I was gob smacked of all the places, right behind the bar, with the smell of the smoke, the traffic passing on a nearby bridge, people walking across a foot bridge coming back from Asda and here was the kingfisher. Almost like I could reach out and touch it. And it did not move or fly away, not only from me stopping but from other lads walking past or stopping by the bridge. So in an instant I got off my bike, got my camera out and was snapping away. Thankfully now I have learnt a few tricks - like what best setting to use on my camera - dummy!! Read the manual!! And the best one - to use any trees or uprights as a support/tripod!! Here's the picture;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/8503332257/in/photostream
Then what happened next - even better - it dived into the Brook and caught a fish;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/8504452820/in/photostream
and when I knew I had a photo, I got some film;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/8504485108/in/photostream/
Now I realise it was zoned in on a shallow/blue part of the Brook and waiting for the moment. I've seen them like this before, when they are zoned in and humans taking photo's (yes me) do not bother them. They are after that fish.
So I took a few more photo's and it flew off, but not that far away and it was still fishing, but I think after a while it did notice me and after it caught one more fish it decided it had to shake me off. So it flew further away. I spotted it a couple more times before it finally disappeared for good. Which gave me time for a breather and time to calm down. It's funny when you've seen one in a spot, you think it will return or then can't believe it was there. A real weird trick. Of course sometimes they are there again as it's they're favourite fishing spot (Woodgate Valley and Leasowes kingfisher) but nine times out of ten that's it - they are gone and gone it was but for some pretty nice photo's and a great bit of film, swallowing that fish!!

Woodgate Valley Country Park Kingfisher

I find it most rewarding being able to spot the Woodgate Valley Country Park Kingfisher. The reason is because, not every visit do I get to spot it. Another reason is it's my local brook. Another reason is I'm amazed there is enough fish. (I've now found another local Kingfisher at Leasowes but that one has a huge lake and springs to fish, so it's quite well off) My Woodgate Kingfisher must find it hard at times to fish but what do I know. It seems alright. Also many people view them from hides, which I have also done, nothing against that but for me you can't beat viewing one, just walking along a path by a brook or lake. The success rate of seeing one at Woodgate Valley is probably once a month and I visit most weekends. Sometimes I only see it fly off and that's it. Another reason I don't get to see it is I'm sure it goes elsewhere when the water is brown from a lot of rain. Well today, Saturday 16th February, I had the luck to see it numerous times as it fished and flew up and down. The water was clear so I thought I might be in luck. The main reason for it flying off was me stalking it which I do feel rather guilty about! It had a favorite perch to fish from and kept on returning only for me to return and spot it and them it fly off. My first viewing was about 4.00. I was actually on the phone and not sure I saw it. I thought I saw it out of the corner of my eye and was not sure and was even more unsure when I spotted a pigeon instead, where I thought it had flown too. What was funnier was I walked past the area where I normally see it and went back there a couple times but it was not there. So I walked further up the brook to a place I had never seen it before. As I got there, I could see a bird sat on the edge and I joked to myself 'it's a kingfisher' only to realise as I got closer and it flew off it was a kingfisher. I then walked a bit further and saw it flying up the brook, a familiar flight as it followed the bends. I quickly took chase and thought I had lost it. Then just a few metres away, there it was sat calmly on a branch. I tried not to let it see me and got my camera ready. Too late it flew off again. It flew back past me to a tree which had fallen down over the brook which had a lot of cover. And now I realise with a tree like that and the cover it provides, no wonder I can't always find it. Anyway it flew into the tree and I heard the splash of water - it had caught a fish - right by me - then I heard it knocking the fish against the tree. Then some other people approached on the other side of the brook and I saw it fly off with the fish. I lost it for a few minutes but it returned to this area a few times. Only for me to disturb it and for it to fly off. One time I'm sure it was trying to hide from me by contorting it's head upwards to look like a branch. A very strange look. But it flew up and down only for me to lose it and then to find it again. This went on for an hour. I even said to myself, I must leave it now and as I walked along to exit the brook, there it was! A reason I got to see it so many times is because it's winter and there is so little vegetation/cover. It may have moved to this part of the brook as it's got the most cover and this section had the right flow and perches. But it was a new area for me to see it at. Although I think a few years back this might have been a place I got a fleeting glimpse when I was on my run and it flew by. This is what started my fascination - that magnificent flight and colour. Today the colour was not so great as I guess it's got winter plumage (again what do I know!!) and also it was getting dark but then when it flew a couple times I got to see the vivid blue of it's back. Other times it was the distinctive flight as it follows the brook bends and swoops along. Finally once more I thought I must leave it and give it some peace only to walk further to the brook exit, in the spot where I had taken some previous photo's and seen it fishing and knock me down again - there it was. What a day - I could not stop finding it. I followed it once more and it stopped a couple more times before finally I lost it again and with the darkening light - it was gone 5.00, I went home.

More Kingfishers

Today I got a picture of the Kingfisher on Wychall Reservoir Nature Reserve, Kings Norton, Birmingham - I had seen this Kingfisher a month a go after seeing a photo of it posted on Flickr. I looked on the River Rea nearby where I had seen it fly down before. I then looked on the small brook that joins the Wychall and the Rea, again I had seen it here before, very briefly flying along. I looked along the Wychall nature reserve as there are a couple pools I thought it might fish on. I'd looked at this metal guard before as it's near the path and stands out. It stops people from entering the tunnels which can move water from the Reservoir to the  river. It also has got a lot of debris built up behind it. The guard stops this debris like a dam or a filter. I had given up on finding the kingfisher and was thinking of cycling home. But as I went past the guard I saw something out of the corner of my eye on the back drop of the metal. Bingo! It was the kingfisher. I couldn't believe it. Of all the places. Very clever I guess as fish must swim under the debris. and the kingfisher sat on the guard fishing below, the fish that make it through the debris. I now understand Kingfishers fish in very slow water. I'd seen this kingfisher, fishing on the slower brook that joined the River Rea. Fish from the fast River Rea would swim up the slower brook and the kingfisher was placed ideally to catch them. Same as another recent kingfisher find on a very open fishing lake in Langdon Hill nature reserve in Essex. The wind would blow the open water across the lake. The kingfisher fished where the trees on the island and in the corner of the lake, shielded the lake from the wind so the water was calm and could be fished.

More Kingfishers

The picture on my blog is the kingfisher from Breaches Pool, Halesowen. This is a recent, new sighting for me. I had visited a couple times but not believed there was a kingfisher (the site info claims kingfishers visit). But I didn't spend enough time looking or listening for the tell, tell signs i.e the call. I have now visited a few times and every time have found it, even if it's been the call, a sighting and then it flies off. Been lucky enough to see it fishing in a pool only a few metres from the path and with a dog who joined it in the pool. I usually expect the kingfisher to fly off but on Sunday the 13th January it spent some time just sitting in the tree. I think it used this time for some digestion. It then flew about looking for a perch to rest again. I wouldn't have seen it on the first perch with the naked eye as it was in some trees on the other side of the pool. But I heard the call and then searched for it in the trees using my zoom camera. It was best when if flew from perch to perch as the blue was stunning.

Where to start.....

This is my blog about kingfisher spotting. It all started the middle of last year. I am a runner, I enjoy my weekly run and sometimes would use the roads, sometimes run round Woodgate Valley, a nice country park near me. Sometimes running round Woodgate Valley which has a brook, I would spot a flash of blue flying along the brook. I don't think I saw this blue flash many times but it was always nice to see it and made the run more enjoyable. I enjoy running as I get pretty high from it and it makes me feel good. Then I started to realise how lucky I was to run in such nice surroundings and got even higher from it. I had the sun shining, a valley of trees and the brook flowing alongside me as I ran. Then as I ran along the brook I would look for the blue flash wondering when it would appear. On the times it did, it would only add to the running sensation. And from then on I wanted to see it all the time. Then I wanted to get a picture (egged on by my friend Gary, who's a keen wildlife photographer). Funny cus when I first tried to get a picture, I was using a compact camera and thought I could snap it as I ran along or have the film running and I would catch it that way, as it flew by me running. Course I never got a photo as I rarely saw it. So then I would stop and wait for it, camera poised but again it never appeared. Or if it did it would fly the wrong way to what I was expecting. So I didn't get the photo of the Woodgate valley for quite some time.......