River Cole, Birmingham Kingfishers

The River Cole in Birmingham in 2014 has been good for kingfisher. Not the kingfisher country park section, not seen any there in 2014 though there is one at Meriden park. I found a couple together early in the year on the River Cole next to Sarehole Mill https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/14087905403/
and then saw them a month later in exactly the same place. I saw them further along the river where I think they had a nest. Worse though was I saw a mink right next to where I think the nest was. I saw them chase off another kingfisher. Or one adult chasing off two. Then another weekend I saw one kingfisher chasing off another kingfisher. I assume this was juvenile kingfisher being chased away. Since the breeding season I've now seen the lone kingfisher further along the river. I guess it has chosen the stretch which is the best fishing section. The female could be further along the river now.

Belhus CP

There are a pair of kingfisher at Belhus CP. They nest on a bank island in one of the lakes. I saw the parents chasing off 2 young on one visit. On my last visit I made my way to the kingfisher lake along the path next to one of the lakes, when the kingfisher came flying towards me down the path. I definitely saw one go past, I'm pretty sure another went past as well giving chase. They then followed the bend of the path into the distance around a lake. I thought well that's it then but they returned to their lake and where chasing/fighting in a tree. From the distance I got a really bad photo of the two of them in the tree. One with it's wings open. Good to see 2 together again although not being that friendly. I guess it was a territorial dispute but wonder if it was a male and female or two of the same sex. There was a single kingfisher on the lake next to the kingfisher lake on one visit, I wonder if it was too close and being warned away. Good site Belhus CP especially once I found where the kingfisher are located!!

2014 Kingfisher update

2014 has truly been a bumper Kingfisher year.

After I kept seeing reports of 2 kingfisher at Sandwell Valley Forge Mill lake RSPB, I finally saw 2 myself there. It was a very brief sighting as no sooner than I saw them they flew off to be hidden by the reeds. But a great result to finally work out where they hide.

The greatest sighting and sound was the three flying along the River Cole just down from Trittiford Mill pool. It was either a couple chasing one away or it could have been a parent chasing two young away. That would then make it four I saw on that site as I originally saw a couple together. But the best thing anyway was the noise. I could hear them flying towards me like a eery, scary, whooshing three pitched call, as they each quickly called out, in quick succession. It was a stunning sight and great sound!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also I did see the couple sat together a couple times on stones on the River, near where I take the nest to be. Another time I also saw one KF chasing off another KF both above and below the bridge by the round about next to Trittiford pool mill, which was pretty spectacular.

The worst sighting was the mink I saw just a few bends down from the possible KF nest. When I have more time I might do something about this. I spoke to a Ranger about the options. 

2014 Kingfisher madness!!

Ok, I've not kept my blog going but I have been writing my sightings on Birdforum. With all the sightings - it's time for an update to the blog. It's been a bumper year for me 2014 and my kingfisher sightings. I guess this is because I've been visiting reliable sites with kingfisher. I use BTO and last years sites to find good reliable sightings. Possibly also because the winter was mild? My total tally of kingfisher sightings in 2013 was approx. 25 at different sites. (note not repeat sightings at the same site but individual sites with kingfisher) This year in May, 2014, I am already at that same number approx. 25. I've been on a role with a number of kingfisher pair sightings. This has been pretty shocking as once it was just something to see one kingfisher but to see a pair is special. And then to see pair after pair at different sites is a bit lucky and even more of a surprise. What was also good was to see a pair and then see them again. This happened at both the River Cole and Warren Fishery. I shall have to remember then when each trip bought a pair sighting - that was a roll. I think it was the Cole and Mardyke. What was very surprising, a delight to hear and a bit of a din was the noise a pair make. At Warren fishery this was a right racket as it was in a confined space. Then at the Cole and Mardyke it was a delight to hear. At the Mardyke I heard them calling first, then said to myself 'that's a pair' and then hey presto - a pair sat next to each other on a branch. That was the other shocker - four pairs were sat together on a branch (obviously not all together but individual pairs) - until I disturbed them of course!! (and please note, I do try to keep my distance, and once I have seen them or got my photo, I do then leave them in peace)
The pair sightings have been at; 2 at Grimley GP, Surrey 2 on the R. Cole 2 on the Bourn 2 at Warren Fishery 2 on the Mardyke 2 on Sandwell Valley Forge Mill lake 2 at Chafford Gorges
A complete list of 2014 sightings is; Meercroft 2 at Grimley GP, Surrey 2 on the R. Cole 2 on the Bourn 2 at Warren Fishery (actually I think I've heard 3 here) 2 on the Mardyke R. Roding / Wanstead park Belhus Woods - now seen four at this site!! Meriden park, Kingsbury brook, Chelmsley Wood, Solihull 1 or 2 at Langdon Lake Another on the Bourn? A lone KF appeared one evening from no where and fished really fast Banbury Sandwell Valley and then a pair Sheepwash UP Chafford gorges - another pair this time fly past Rye Meads - didn't actually see it but heard it fishing in the reeds. And also note - none of these have been seen from a hide. All were just when I was merrily waking by. OK I admit some are at Nature Reserves or Country parks but some have taken some patience. Belhus Woods for instance, as it is a large site and throughout 2013 a number of visits had drawn a blank. Same for Sandwell Valley and I shall confess Sheepwash UP I only heard it go past. What was even more shocking and an absolute delight was. I was rewarded with a four kingfisher fly pass, sighting in Essex. I might have seen four fledglings as first I saw two kingfisher looking a bit lost flying into a bush. Then there was a lot of kingfisher calls and commotion. I then saw four kingfishers flying across a lake, two went straight across and two around an island. I took this to be the two parents chasing off the young. This was quite stunning.
Complete 2014 list;

1) Meercroft Pool, Birmingham

2) 2 Surrey

3) 2 River Cole - Hall Green, Birmingham

4) 2 Bourn - Bournville, Birmingham

5) 2 Warren Fishery, Essex

6) 2 River Mardyke, Essex

7) 2 River Roding / Wanstead, London

8) Belhus Woods CP, Essex - then 4

9) Chelmsley Wood / Kinghurst Brook / River Cole

10) 1 or 2 Langdon Lake, Dunton, Essex (20)

11) Another on the Bourn, BVT, Birmingham (21)

12) Banbury (22)

13) Sandwell Valley CP - 2 (24)

14) Sheepwash UP (25)

15) Chafford Gorge, Essex (27)

16) Kingsbury Water Park (28)

17) Another on R. Cole, Hall Green (29)

18) R. Cole - KCP, Birmingham (30)

19) River Rea juv, Birmingham (31)

20) Merecroft Pool, Brimingham (32)

21) Rye Meads (33)

22) River Rea - Digbeth, Birmingham (34)

23) Edgbaston Reservoir, Birmingham (35)

24) Ingreborne - Upminster (36)

25) Woking Leisure Centre park (37)

26) Bourn Brook walkway (38)

Phyllis Currie NR Kingfisher

I visited here a number of times and have seen this kingfisher on all visits but not been able to get a photo.

Wanstead Park Kingfisher

I went to Wanstead park this evening and saw the kingfisher at 8.00 with a fish in it's mouth as it flew by.

Ryemeads Kingfisher

I took a visit to Ryemeads RSPB site.
It has a kingfisher bank with nests.
I'll write more but wanted to make a record of it.
I visited Monday 22nd July.