My best evening ever down Thames Thurrock NP;
A Barn Owl sat on the fence just down from the visitor centre. It then dropped down on prey a couple times before flying off. A photographer got some decent shots.
Previously as I ran past it I did not see it as it was hidden from my view by the bushes. I then stopped to talk to the photographer and said 'have you seen the Short-Eared Owl' only for him to say 'No but you just ran past a Barn Owl'.
Thankfully we walked back and it was still there further down.
There was another Owl only 30 or so metres from the Barn Owl in a bush. I thought it was another Barn Owl but another photographer got some photos and it was a light juvenile Short-Eared owl. It flew low over the fields.
Elsewhere there was a Kestrel hovering and a Buzzard flew over.
I'd already seen a Kingfisher on the fishing lakes and then saw another flying up to and sitting on the sluice wall of the creek. A great evening!
Tuesday, 3 October 2017
Thursday, 10 August 2017
Great Birmingham Kingfisher Summer 2017
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!
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!
Sunday, 25 June 2017
Essex Kingfisher news 2017
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!
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!
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!
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