Birmingham Bourn Brook Kingfisher

Bourn Brook Kingfisher again, I got another photo;

Birmingham River Rea Kingfisher

There is a Kingfisher, fishing back along the River Rea, along the same secton as in late 2014 / early 2015.
Not seen one, fishing along this section since then.
It might have flown through but not stopped.
I guess there are fish along this section.

Birmingham Kingfisher late December 2019

A couple or maybe three(?) Kingfisher along the Bourn Brook at the Eastern Road bridge, along the back of the Uni halls and up by the blue bridge past the reservoir.
The Kingfisher along the River Rea from Canon Hill park to Ten Acres.

Birmingham Kingfisher December 2019

I think all the rain is affecting the Kingfishers.
They are getting difficult to find.
The River Rea Kingfisher at Ten Acres was back on Sunday.
I was there at the right time and it flew in and landed next to me.
It was interesting as it tried three spots for fish. First it checked the side of the Rea, very close to the bank. Then it flew to a branch over the Rea and then it tried another branch. The way it checked very similar spots made me think it was the same Kingfisher as from the Summer.
The Bourn Brook Kingfisher was again back by the roundabout on Sunday.
The tree branch was swaying in the wind but the Kingfisher kept it's eye on the brook and dived for a fish.
I have seen it down the back of the University halls as well.
Also good to get a report from Julie on Birdforum of a Kingfisher along the River Cole and then on the Trittiford Mill pond.

Birmingham Kingfisher November 2019

After my last blog post, I didn't see the Kingfisher along the Bourn Brook valley or opposite the old reservoir. I noticed the heavy flow of brook water from the rain had washed the brook silt away. So maybe the fish numbers follow the silt? Still I found a Kingfisher at the New Fosse Way roundabout. I've seen it there a few times now, one weekend it was there Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Another Kingfisher location is the Dental Hospital/Eastern Road, I've now seen one there a few times. I will admit one Saturday morning on my run, I gave the Kingfisher a call and it flew in below me.
Another location a Kingfisher has returned to is Ten Acres along the River Rea.
One area new to me for a winter Kingfisher but no surprise is the Kings Norton playing fields along the River Rea. A Kingfisher had been seen along the nearby canal so no surprise it was on the Rea.
This Kingfisher is really responsive to my calls. I've seen it fly in from more than 50 metres and then another weekend it heard me from a couple hundred metres away and I heard it calling as it flew along the Rea.
The final area always good to find a Kingfisher is Wychall Reservoir and the River Rea there. Last Monday it was pouring with rain and the Kingfisher was on the inlet steam to KNNR whoch then joins the Rea.

Woodgate Valley Kingfisher November 2019

For the fourth year in a row a Woodgate Valley Kingfisher.
Friday, 8th November.
I followed the muddy track, I looked along most parts of the brook, I looked under and along the brick bridge sections. Then just around the bend after the second brick bridge, there it was. A blue stripe, with it's back to me. Kingfisher!
That was after the Kingfisher along the Bourn Brook walkway. There was a surprise Canadian Goose sat on the bank and the Kingfisher went past giving it a tutting call.
On the Saturday, with a cold frost I completed a ten mile run along the Bourn Brook, River Rea and Bourn. I was giving up on finding a Kingfisher so gave a good call at Kings Norton playing field. Much to my surprise a Kingfisher came round the corner in the distance so I could just see it. So I gave another call and it flew in right next to me.
Then Sunday the Kingfisher along the Bourn Brook walkway again. I've found it a few times opposite the old reservoir now.

Birmingham Kingfisher October 2019

Birmingham October Kingfisher sightings
River Cole, Trittiford
River Rea, Dogpool Lane
Bourne Brook walkway, blue bridge
Bourn Brook, Dental Hospital

There were a pair on the River Rea, I saw them there twice and have seen a pair of Kingfisher in this area a few times over the past few years.

Kingfisher fledglings September 2019

So in Essex I got to see some Kingfisher fledglings. I was not expecting it. One late afternoon there were a couple along the back stretch of the main Stanford Warren fishing lake.
In Birmingham, there were reports of what sounded like 2 fledglings at Wychall Reservoir. These could have been from the Kings Norton pair.

Birmingham Kingfisher September 2019

On the River Cole, Trittiford, I saw three Kingfisher fly past, one was tutting so it looked like a chase.
On the River Rea, Ten Acres I saw two Kingfisher, I think they were in a chase.
On the River Cole, in August I think I missed any fledglings.
One weekend I thought the Kingfisher was still flying in with food, the next week it stopped.
On the River Rea, Ten Acres in July and August I was hopeful that a pair of Kingfisher had a nest but as time went by it seemed only one Kingfisher was present (one weekend in July I think I saw the pair for the last time).
The River Rea, Kings Norton Kingfisher I think attempted two broods but again it was the same thing, one weekend there were two then the next weekend I only saw one and then the sightings go less frequent. I think I missed the fledging.
On the Bourn Brook only the one Kingfisher was regular.
Then it was reported there were two on the lower Bourn Brook, this could have been territorial.

Birmingham Kingfisher July 2019

The good news for June, was there were another pair of Kingfisher along the River Rea.
I had seen a pair earlier in the year. Then a single Kingfisher was hanging around.
Then nothing especially with all the June rain.
Then towards the end of June, I saw a pair again.
They seem to have stayed this time.
Plenty of fish for them.
This weekend I checked out as many locations as possible.
There were Kingfisher at;
1) River Rea, Kings Norton
2) River Cole, Trittiford
3) River Rea, 2nd location
4) A surprise Kingfisher along the Bourn at Valley Parkway. There were plenty of fish and the water was clear. I just saw a Kingfisher along the Brook behind all the green on the banks.
5) I had not see a Kingfisher on the Bourn Brook for a couple months. There were a pair with a nest. I don't know if they fledged. Then they were gone. Well this weekend one was back. It made a faint call and was fishing in the valley.
6) River Tame, Spaghetti Junction
7) River Cole behind Babbs Mill lake.

Birmingham River Rea Kingfisher

Birmingham River Rea Kingfisher

Birmingham River Cole Kingfisher

Birmingham River Cole Kingfisher

Birmingham Kingfisher May 2019

Kingfisher pairs on the;
River Rea
Bourn Brook
River Tame
River Cole

STANFORD WHARF NIGHTINGALES 2019

It was good mid April to hear a Nightingale back by the newt pond at Stanford Wharf.
I then heard one at the Thurrock Thameside entrance by the level crossing.
I then checked out the Wharf Road to the Industrial estate and bingo, another Nightingale next to a Travis Perkins depot.
I think there was another in the private, locked fishery opposite.
Last week they both started singing after 8.00

Birmingham Kingfishers Easter Weekend 2019

Birmingham Kingfishers Easter Weekend at the Bourn Brook, River Rea, River Cole and River Tame.

Croome Park Nightingales

Saturday 20th April, I made a visit to Croome Park to listen to the Nightingales.
There was one right next to the pond at the end of the river before the scrub area path.
It sang a few times.
Then there were two along the scrub path, they both sang for 5 minutes.

Birmingham and West Midlands Kingfisher March 2019

Kingfisher still pairing up, pairs seen on;
Bourn Brook
River Tame
River Cole
River Cole / Kinghurst Brook
There were a pair on the River Rea but they've disappeared.
Reports of a Kingfisher at Merecroft and Wychall Reservoir, they could be the same ones as the River Rea pair.
Also my first Kingfisher at the River Cole, Babbs Mill for sometime, though this could be one of the Kinghurst Brook pair I'd seen earlier in the month.
I got a photo of one of the River Tame Kingfisher.
Not sure how many times I have visited and how many attempts I taken to try and get a photo.
Today I had to hide behind a concrete column to get this photo.

Birmingham River Cole Kingfisher

Sunday 24th February.
It had already been a good weekend for Kingfisher again, with Kingfisher on the Cole, Rea and Bourn Brook but I thought I'd have another look on the River Cole as I was up early.
There was really dense fog. I could only see a few metres in front.
At the River Cole I thought this might work in my favour as the Kingfisher would not be able to see me lol.
I chose my spot well and was dead lucky with my timing as only a few minutes later a Kingfisher flew along the river and stopped right opposite me.
I was not ready with my camera though and didn't think it would work in the fog.
Then to my surprise there was another Kingfisher. They called to each other, they flew along the river together and they sat together.
One of them was also flying up and around and went past my head a couple times.
With that I thought I best try for a photo.
Bingo! One of the Kingfisher flew in again and landed opposite me.
I took a single shot and got a photo.
Great to see a pair of Kingfisher on the River Cole again!

Birmingham Kingfisher February 2019

Friday 15th February, I'd read reports of Kingfisher activity during the week at Ryemeads and Slimbridge so was looking forward to some in Birmingham.
I first checked out the Bourn Brook and there was a surprise Little Egret on the new flood defence plain.
Then I saw a Kingfisher on the Bourn Brook opposite the new flood plain.
Funny I'd always wondered why a Kingfisher had not used this section of the brook more, as there are plenty of trees and branches overhanging the brook.
No sooner than that Kingfisher disappeared another one appeared so I knew there was a pair. And one of them was calling.
I then saw one of them fly under the blue bridge.
I then saw them sat together in a tree over the brook. My first pair of 2019.
They then flew up and down a few times calling. I think though with their calling they attracted a Sparrowhawk who flew under one of the footbridges and along the brook.
A surprise to see a bird that size go under a footbridge and fly along the brook.
I had early February found a Buzzard on the brook and that was too big and calmly flew up and around me to carry on down the brook.
Saturday the 16th of February, I thought I'd best check out the River Rea. I could not have timed it better as straight away a Kingfisher went past calling.
Then music to my ears, I heard the 2 tone call. The Kingfisher was possibly calling it's mate.
I struggled to work out where they were exactly as the call was echoing.
But I made my way to where I thought they were and sure enough I saw a single Kingfisher.
Then I backed off a little so as not to frighten them off and next time I looked I saw one fly across the river. I was ready with my camera and to my delight, the two Kingfisher were sat near each other on a tree stump in the river as on the photo below.
I then made my way to Trittiford Mill pool and again could not believe my luck when straight away I heard a Kingfisher call. It took me a short while to work out where it was and then I saw it fishing and flying along the River Cole.
On the Sunday 17th February, I checked out the River Rea at Wychall, no Kingfisher so I thought I best take a look at Merecroft Pool. First there was a Little Egret, then a pair of Teal, then a single Female Goosander, then on the far side of the pool, I just saw the Kingfisher fly to the reeds.
Then I saw it diving from a tree over the pool on the opposite side of the pool.
Later Sunday I checked out the River Tame at Spaghetti Junction, first I saw a female Goosander, then I though I heard a Kingfisher call but didn't see it. I continued to where the River Rea joins the River Tame. You can't really see much as there's no good view point but there is a slight gap to get a view of the Tame and what flew out, yes a Kingfisher!
Seven Kingfisher for the weekend!

Birmingham Kingfisher January 2019

Birmingham Kingfisher present in January 2019 on the River Rea and Bourn Brook

Birmingham Kingfisher December 2018

Birmingham Kingfisher present in December 2018 on the River Rea and Bourn Brook

Birmingham Kingfisher present in December 2018 on Merecroft Pool