Kingfisher update

On the Easter weekend, April 2015 I got way more than I bargained for in my Kingfisher pursuit. The week before I had been to Germany for work which was quite a stressful challenge so it was nice to leave it all behind and forget it. I got home just before midnight but after a good nights sleep I was up early the next day. I headed to the River Rea where I had last seen the kingfisher couple and they were still present, calling to each other. I had to take a look and saw them both and from the cover of trees I took the following photographs.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/16405982014/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/17027545721/in/photostream/

Now what was interesting for me, is that the female appeared to have the same markings as the female I had been watching on the Bourn Brook for 5 months. Good to see that it had gone from a juvenile to an adult and had now found itself a mate. Also good to see it had wintered quietly on the Bourn, before moving up to the Rea for Spring. Especially as I had seen possibly 3 other female kf on the Rea over the winter. There seems to be have been a high number of female kingfisher on the Rea. I wonder where the male kf had come from, the only one I knew of was further along the Rea near Wychall. I thought that one had a partner there. But I guess the Rea has plenty of new kf who discover the territory.

The next day, I thought I best check out the River Cole kingfisher and as before with a bit of patience I found it by Sarehole Mill. I have run the length of the Cole from Trittiford to Sparkhill to try and find where it might be nesting this year. But have not got lucky. I had a good idea in 2014 where they nested but have not seem them there yet in 2015.
I then took another look on the Rea and the kingfisher couple were still present.

The next morning I was up really early with a plan to use the trees as cover to get some photographs. I can honestly say I got far more than I bargained for as I was party to the kingfisher mating ritual. This involved the male catching fish and giving them to the female.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/16418004294/in/photostream/
Then the mating took place and they had a few goes at it. Lucky for me they did as it took me a few times to get some photos.
These photos are sessions 2 and 3;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/17038494232/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/16417196674/in/photostream/

The fourth morning I also took a look but they were back to just calling each other, flying up and down, fishing and stopping by the nest. Funny enough the nest is right next to a wren nest. Only a few feet away. The wren was constantly calling, patrolling it's territory.

All in all. It was a great weekend!!!!

Brandon Marsh Juv KF 2014