Sunday 21 September 2014

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.