Kingfisher Friday

Friday 2nd Jan 2014 I took a bicycle ride into the City Centre. I took the Bourn Brook Walkway and River Rea Valley route, then the canal to Salford Junction. Three Kingfisher sightings today; No.1 - Bourn Brook, Selly Oak, 11:00 I could only just see this kingfisher as it was on a small channel off the brook and it had it's back to me. From a distance it looked like a piece of plactic bag. A quick photo confirmed it was a kingfisher. it then flew past me and under the bridge. Great to see it flying as I like to see kingfisher flight. No. 2 - River Tame, Spaghetti Junction, 13:00 - I never imagined I would see a kingfisher under Spaghetti Junction. It was funny because only minutes earlier I said to myself 'I'll never see a kingfisher here, the waters too murky'. And next minute a kingfisher flew past. No. 3 - River Rea, Selly Park, 15:00 - I first saw it on a section before Canon Hill park - then it flew under the Dogpool Lane bridge, up the River. I know many people have seen KF along this stretch of the River Rea but it could be 10 years since I last saw one here. Usually see them at Kings Norton / Wychall Reservoir. I thought there would be one along this section, guarding it from the Bourn Brook KF above. It was a great day!

River Cole, Kingfisher Country Park, Small Heath

Thursday 1st January 2015 River Cole, Kingfisher Country Park, Small Heath 12:20 My first KF for 2015!! I watched this fishing on a couple perches. It caught a couple fish!! I had questioned if the Kingfisher Country Park had any Kingfisher. I now remember I had seen a Kingfisher on this stretch a couple years ago. I was told about this kingfisher by a fishermen when I saw the Digbeth Canal / River Rea Kingfisher. I've seen it on most visits. Even when I've visited early morning with very poor light, I have heard it call as it's flown along the river. Also saw a small flock of starlings and a pied wagtail.