It was constantly being spammed and I just could not keep going back to delete these dreadful entries.
I imagine there must be some auto spamming program.
I'm sorry but I suppose that it's a sign of the times.
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Thing are looking promising .... I'll keep you posted.
]]>Sadly this has no doubt been replicated at dozens of other nest across the south of England underlining the vulnerability of these little birds.
Of course this pair will probably make another nest and hopefully have another clutch of eggs.
So, with fingers crossed, and incubation taking between 19 and 21 days, and a further 23 to 27 days to fledge there could still be the pitter patter of young Kingfishers mid to late August.
But this river also suffers from duck weed towards the end of summer, which forces the birds to fish elsewhere.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope they raise a brood.
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Being around 6 years old, I imaging he didn't make it through the winter.
But let's not forget the numerous youngsters that he's raised.
However, there is a new guy on the river (see photo) and last week he's found a partner.
I saw them mating a couple of times, so with a little luck we may have the pitter patter of little Kingfishers in early July.
]]>Made up of tiny leaves, it has floated down and covered most of the river.
This forced the Kingfishers to temporarily move off down river. It happens every year but during 2015 it was earlier than usual.
]]>Sadly no sign of adults but there were 6 juveniles.
Four I believe were from the first brood and two were somewhat older.
Perhaps these had been driven downriver by their parents.
Still it was a joy to watch them squabble!
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Regardless, Ken and Bob still had a great day's photography.
Ken was brave enough to use the river platform for this outstanding image.
]]>The weather could have been kinder but Carol still took some outstanding images.
When will those chicks fledge!
]]>After replenishing the feeding station with ten normal sized minnows, the male was soon fishing from it.
It was emptied within 30 minutes, taking 9 to the nest and eating the tenth.
I restocked again with normal size minnows, and once more it was emptied in next to no time.
The chicks should be almost fully grown so they will be fledging very soon.
How exciting!
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Graeme R, joined me on the river today and here's one of his images.
]]>The Male and female are still sharing the incubating and still no sign yet that the eggs have hatched.
]]>Both birds taking it in turns to brood, keeping those precious eggs warm.
The photo was taken by Jim Gibbs who joined me today, great shot Jim.
Neither bird are taking small fish to the nest so we still await their hatching.
I'm starting to pace up and down like an expectant father!
]]>I'll post again when they hatch.
In the mean time check out my Facebook page for a couple of short videos.
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Just a quick update.
Both parents appear to be making the finishing touches to their first nest of 2015. The female is spending more and more time in the nest which suggests she is now laying the first clutch.
This could mean an early May fledging.
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I went over to Ham Wall on the Somerset Levels, where the water level was up but at least the hides and platforms were all open. Whilst there a Bittern flew by and we were fortunate to get a head-on shot rather than the other end!
From the new hide, Herons were seen courting and I captured this shot of one landing amongst the reeds. Fingers crossed for better weather.
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I'm just back from a visit to Stow Maries Aerodrome, in Essex. which was home to various aircraft during the First World War.
Five breeds of owl along with hares and many other rare breeds make it their home.
This was one location at which the BBC filmed much of "The Great British Year" wildlife programme.
]]>He has held this territory for at least two and a half years and has fathered many young. Even with the dramas of last years' floods he and his mate still raised their young despite losing two broods. The first was lost when the rising water level engulfed their nest and the second when a bank collapsed, again due to erosion by the floods, sadly taking their nest with it.
Flash is an unmistakable bird as he is missing his inside nail on his left foot. But sadly last Friday he was nowhere to been seen. Instead there is a new bird on the block, a juvenile female by the looks of things and she could well be one of Flash's own off spring.
Around a month ago I may have photographed them together but, being fiercely territorial birds now it appears now that Flash has either moved on or perhaps passed on!
The new KF is somewhat timid and tends to fish from cover; not coming out into the open. She regularly flew by, perhaps patrolling her territory!
Fingers crossed that she does just as well as her Dad!
]]>I believe the female is back on eggs and Flash (well I had to call him something) is keeping her fed.
On the video you can see where his nail is missing from his inside toe on his left leg.
That's how he can be easily recognised.
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Just a quick up-date.
All is quiet down on the river.
The female Kingfisher is on eggs and the male is having a rest.
Fingers crossed that they will soon hatch and it will be "All Hands on deck"!
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Sadly it didn't sing but there's no mate to hear it!
It's down a lane near North Widcome.
This link might help you find this rare little beauty.
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I'm now able to start arranging courses for those who have expressed an interest. It’s a far more comfortable temperature for a day down by the river, photographing our halcyon friends.
Yesterday (15th April) was the first course of the year and we both came away with some great images.
The nest is some considerable distance downstream and, using two dome hides, our presence has no impact on the bird’s behaviour.
The male is busy taking fish to his mate. This was the routine last year when we saw very little of the female until their three chicks fledged.
I’ve noticed that the resident male has a claw missing from his left inside toe. With this gem of information and looking back at last year’s images, I’m now able to confirm that he’s the same little guy as last year.
Let’s hope that he’s around for a few more years yet.
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Finally I've been fortunate enough to spot a Bearded Tit while out on the Somerset Levels.
I had a camera with me and got a few shots off using my 70-200 with a 1.7conv. Nothing dramatic but at long last I’ve seen this beautiful creature which has, for many years, been my bogie bird.
"You should have been here an hour ago, there was a flock of them". So often I’ve been victim of that terrible phrase!
]]>Divided into Mono and Colour, the entries were varied from across the globe and the standard was remarkably high. The winning images were nothing short of outstanding, reminding us that there is a great deal of talent tucked away in clubs around the country.
It was a real privilege to meet up with such enthusiastic photographers, who even after judging, were most welcoming.
Here’s a link to their website where some of the more successful prints can be seen.
]]>Sadly the some of the migrants, such as the large Cuckoo population had already left and all the young raptors were on the wing. Next year I'll go back in May and keep my fingers crossed that the weather, and therefore the light, will be suitable.
I used a guide for the first day to help get my bearings, which was money well spent. Bryan was only too willing to share his knowledge and mark my maps with the wildlife hotspots.
If you get the chance please visit this wonderful place.
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I hadn’t seen the female for several weeks and I thought she may have been lost to the bank collapsing or even lost to a preditor.
But it's not all bad news. Yesterday (5th June 2012) I discovered that they have a new nest site some 150 metres away from the river, in the bank of a dried out pond. This new site cannot flood so fingers crossed that they will successfully raise a brood this time.
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