I have been really going for it this summer in Birmingham lol!
Checking out all the Kingfisher locations I know and they have not disappointed.
1) The River Rea - Selly Park/Stirchley - I know there is a nesting pair and got lucky one morning and saw them both flying down the river. Also saw the great combination of a Kingfisher, Heron and Little Egret. Then I got photo's of the male Kingfisher at the flood defence work;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/36197477696/
2) The River Rea - Kings Norton Park - There have been no Kingfisher this year at last years nesting location at Wychall. Then finally the penny dropped they might be further along the river (doh! lol!).
I have now seen one a few times at Kings Norton Park. I got rubbish photo's and film on my phone camera.
3) The River Cole, Stetchford. Part of the Kingfisher Country Park, they are nesting in exactly the same place as 2016 and early morning they fish on the fishing lake around the corner.
4) The River Cole, Shard End / Babbs Mill Lake. Again part of the Kingfisher Country Park, early one morning I saw a pair fly past chasing, I've seen one a few times and two perched on the lake. They are in the same location as back in 2012. (I have not ventured up river where I have also seen them)
5) The River Tame, Spaghetti Junction. I know Kingfisher are resident all year round at this location. Got lucky this year and found the nesting bank. It was obvious all along (doh! lol!) Seen the Kingfisher perched by the nest, seen it waiting with a fish and seen a pair flying along the river together.
6) The River Cole, Trittiford. This year the Kingfisher did not nest in the early 2016 location.
In fact I could not find them. Then decided to look up river and found one at Scribbers Lane. Then another weekend I actually saw one fly over Trittiford Mill pond a couple times.
Then July/August I found a pair a couple times by Wonders Walk / Shire Country Park.
(I also found one as far along as Sarehole Mill)
7) After a few Kingfisher resident along the Bourn Brook over winter it was great to find a pair/nest early Spring.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/33875014212/in/photostream/
However I am not sure it was successful or I just missed the fledglings. One Friday evening I got film of them chasing each other repeatedly for over 15 minutes on the lower Bourn Brook. Then they disappeared but I have seen one recently in late July/August.
8) Finally I had to go and check out Keith's patch lol! At Bittell Reservoir and saw one on the canal (or is it a river lol) and reservoir. Though it was topped by a pair of Buzzards that came down low, calling over my head.
All in all, great stuff!
