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.