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!!