The great Essex Kingfisher news for 2017 was my first Essex Kingfisher nest/nesting location. It was obvious of course. I kind of knew the Stanford Warren fishery lakes had nesting Kingfisher, it was just finding them. In 2016 I kind of knew they were on the Wharf Lake, which I can't get access to. They maybe this year as well. There maybe more than one pair and Kingfisher like to move around. But this year I found all the nesting holes on the main Warren fishery lakes. Then I actually saw the Kingfisher flying in and out of the nest hole from a distance. I have to admit the nest hole was too exposed and near fisherman and may not have been successful. I didn't see any fledgling. But then it might have been earlier than I thought and I might have missed it. (Keith R in Birmingham saw some really early KF fledglings whereas the Dutch webcam KF were really late in June).
Though I've not seen any random fledglings flying about, it's gone quiet in June.
In late Summer 2016, the Stanford creek was really busy with three Kingfisher an evening.
Let's hope for the same in 2017. Great!
Sunday, 25 June 2017
Birmingham Kingfisher updates Summer 2017
Again 2017 has been a great Birmingham Kingfisher year. Every year it get's better and better. This years main news has been the Kingfisher activity on the Bourn Brook. What has come as a surprise and delight is that Birmingham has a fourth busy Kingfisher river/brook, the Bourn Brook.
I knew of the River Cole and River Rea obviously, then the Tame, then I knew of the lower Bourn Brook with wintering Kingfisher but now found a Spring Kingfisher pair on the Bourn Brook.
The next 2017 highlight has been a River Tame Kingfisher nest. I was told of a possible River Tame nesting location and had seen Spring/Summer Kingfisher activity in the last couple years but not the nest. In the end the nest holes were obvious, I just needed the Kingfisher perched near by to show me.
The River Rea has again delivered with nesting activity in the same location as 2015 and 2016. Though I will admit I cannot find the Wychall, River Rea nesting location but it could be near Kings Norton this year.
The same for the River Cole, Trittiford and the Dingles nesting location, this year it could be near Scribbers Lane. There was also some activity near Springfield but only for a couple weeks.
What this has proved is the nest location can move by up to a couple miles.
It was also good to return to a spot on the River Cole at Kingfisher Country Park at Shard End/Babbs Mill and find spring Kingfisher in the same location as 2012/2013. This has to be another nesting location.
Though there did not seem to be any nesting activity at Stetchford as there was in 2016 but I have to admit I only made a few visits.
I'll add some more info soon. Great!
I knew of the River Cole and River Rea obviously, then the Tame, then I knew of the lower Bourn Brook with wintering Kingfisher but now found a Spring Kingfisher pair on the Bourn Brook.
The next 2017 highlight has been a River Tame Kingfisher nest. I was told of a possible River Tame nesting location and had seen Spring/Summer Kingfisher activity in the last couple years but not the nest. In the end the nest holes were obvious, I just needed the Kingfisher perched near by to show me.
The River Rea has again delivered with nesting activity in the same location as 2015 and 2016. Though I will admit I cannot find the Wychall, River Rea nesting location but it could be near Kings Norton this year.
The same for the River Cole, Trittiford and the Dingles nesting location, this year it could be near Scribbers Lane. There was also some activity near Springfield but only for a couple weeks.
What this has proved is the nest location can move by up to a couple miles.
It was also good to return to a spot on the River Cole at Kingfisher Country Park at Shard End/Babbs Mill and find spring Kingfisher in the same location as 2012/2013. This has to be another nesting location.
Though there did not seem to be any nesting activity at Stetchford as there was in 2016 but I have to admit I only made a few visits.
I'll add some more info soon. Great!
Saturday, 7 January 2017
Kingfishers on the Bourn Brook
2016 had been pretty good again for Kingfisher.
I had a good late summer spell on my Essex patch with three Kingfisher regularly passing by or fishing. I think they return in the evening from the Thames nearby. As they do they pass a resident on the brook I walk along and so they have a chase.
It was then good to have the Christmas break in Birmingham and find three or four Kingfisher along the Bourn Brook.
As in winter 2015 I overlooked this patch as I cycled past it to the Kingfisher on the lower Bourn Brook and then the River Rea. I did one early morning see a Kingfisher on the upper Bourn Brook but didn't look for it again.
Well 2016 two Kingfisher have been on the upper Bourn Brook and you can see them easier than the Kingfisher on the lower Bourn Brook.
This meant I got some good photo's
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/31212746464/
On a few days previous to that female there was a male in the same place;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/31846976421/in/photostream/
Then what was really good was a Kingfisher at Woodgate Valley where I started my Kingfisher craze;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/31101848334/in/photostream/
Then I checked out the new hospital pathway by the Bourn Brook and a kingfisher flew past there as well. Great!
I had a good late summer spell on my Essex patch with three Kingfisher regularly passing by or fishing. I think they return in the evening from the Thames nearby. As they do they pass a resident on the brook I walk along and so they have a chase.
It was then good to have the Christmas break in Birmingham and find three or four Kingfisher along the Bourn Brook.
As in winter 2015 I overlooked this patch as I cycled past it to the Kingfisher on the lower Bourn Brook and then the River Rea. I did one early morning see a Kingfisher on the upper Bourn Brook but didn't look for it again.
Well 2016 two Kingfisher have been on the upper Bourn Brook and you can see them easier than the Kingfisher on the lower Bourn Brook.
This meant I got some good photo's
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/31212746464/
On a few days previous to that female there was a male in the same place;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/31846976421/in/photostream/
Then what was really good was a Kingfisher at Woodgate Valley where I started my Kingfisher craze;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88816303@N08/31101848334/in/photostream/
Then I checked out the new hospital pathway by the Bourn Brook and a kingfisher flew past there as well. Great!
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
BIRMINGHAM BOURN BROOK DIPPER
BIRMINGHAM BOURN BROOK DIPPER
It was great to find a Dipper on the Bourn Brook, my second one after an earlier one in January.
It was in the spot normally frequented by a Kingfisher, but none of this years Kingfisher have used this spot much. It was good several others saw it as well and it hung around for a couple months.
Thursday, 8 December 2016
Kingfishers 2016
As it get's to the end of the year it's good to look back on another cracking year for Kingfisher.
I will slowly write up my top ten highlights of Kingfishers 2016;
1) Number one has got to be Kingfisher nesting. In 2016 I saw more Kingfisher nesting than any other year. OK I only saw my first Kingfisher nests in 2015. In 2015, I saw one Kingfisher pair nesting, in 2016, I saw three pairs in three Birmingham locations. The first location was the River Rea, where I was lucky to see them nesting in three locations. Unfortunately one nest was flooded by the high water due to all the rain. The next location was the River Cole at one end of Birmingham and the third location was again the River Cole but at the opposite end of Birmingham. These were actual sightings of Kingfishers going in and out of the next. Other nests locations were another on the River Rea, I couldn't see the next due to the tree hidden valley. The final one had to be a nest on the River Tame. The Kingfisher were busy flying up and down and carrying fish. Great!
1) Number one has got to be Kingfisher nesting. In 2016 I saw more Kingfisher nesting than any other year. OK I only saw my first Kingfisher nests in 2015. In 2015, I saw one Kingfisher pair nesting, in 2016, I saw three pairs in three Birmingham locations. The first location was the River Rea, where I was lucky to see them nesting in three locations. Unfortunately one nest was flooded by the high water due to all the rain. The next location was the River Cole at one end of Birmingham and the third location was again the River Cole but at the opposite end of Birmingham. These were actual sightings of Kingfishers going in and out of the next. Other nests locations were another on the River Rea, I couldn't see the next due to the tree hidden valley. The final one had to be a nest on the River Tame. The Kingfisher were busy flying up and down and carrying fish. Great!
Bourn Brook Kingfishers
For the past few years there have been Kingfishers present over winter on the Bourn Brook in Birmingham. Late 2016, this has been repeated with two Kingfishers very close together on the Bourn Brook Walkway. One appears to cover the distance from the QE up to Reservoir Road. Another is then present where the Stone Brook joins the Bourn Brook. I've seen one here before maybe in 2014 but never checked it our regularly as it's hidden by trees. But in 2016 I've seen it a few times. It will do a u turn just before the bridge and fly back up the brook. I've managed to get photo's of them both. One was a juvenile. In winter 2015 there were a few Kingfisher, maybe four from the River Rea to the Bourn Brook walkway. I used to stop at every bridge and have a look and sometimes, bingo, there was a Kingfisher. In 2016 I've seen five, three close together on the Rea and the two on the Bourn Brook. It's always great to see them!
Tuesday, 18 October 2016
Manor Farm Park Kingfisher
The Freshwater Invertebrate Network (FIN_BBC) had tweeted in early September, there was a Kingfisher on Merritt's Brook at Manor Farm Park. I've checked this brook and park a number of times over the years. A few years back there were a couple Herons present and last year there was a lot of small fish in the brook, more than I'd seen at any other brook or river. I should have spent more time checking it out as I've now seen the Kingfisher a few times myself. It's always been in the same location on a fallen tree behind some trees and bushes. I've then seen it fly along the brook and call a few times. Last weekend it flew out onto the brook at the bottom of the grass slope, just down from the car park. This gave me chance to get a photograph
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