I spent last Friday (27th Sep) down on the river with Martin.  Once settled in the hides and with the feeding station stocked, we waited for "Flash" the resident male, to make an appearance. 

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!