Today's Kingfisher day  was one of those really special ones!  Because of vehicle problems which are not worth going into, I arrived at the No 2 hide just before 11 o'clock.  It was an unusually sunny day and very bright. As I walked to the area I had a feeling that things were going to be good, the sun added to the excitement because obviously, good light is such a necessary aspect of any photography. I sat and very little had happened by 1120.  I sighed with disappointment fearing  a repeat of yesterday's, almost birdless day. Suddenly,  shooting towards me…….. a Kingfisher, head- on from upstream, and then she was gone as quickly as she had appeared.  My stomach complained with nervous excitement and I noted to myself how strange this felt, it's only a bird after all!!!  The minutes ticked by and still,   there was no sign of her. Then without a fanfare or any pre-sign, she was there, and so close!!!!! I had imagined what a spectacle and sight she would be if she ever landed on this Bullrush stem. The combination of sombre beige and the lovely background  looks like an oil canvas and is such a special backdrop. It was just so, so beautiful. My senses tingled, I really do love birds and wildlife in general. Who could fail to be mesmerised by a Kingfisher. So close now and so intimate was my encounter, it felt wrong, I almost felt like a voyeur. She stayed with me for what seemed seconds, but in fact it was about 2 minutes. I witnessed some interesting behaviour as she regurgitated a pellet which she expelled. Then she flitted to a branch overlooking the water to fish. I heard voices and so did she and then she was gone and I thanked her for sharing 3 minutes of her  life with me!

It was interesting that she was 'spooked" by the voices which she obviously associated with danger without seeing people. So here is a lesson for us all if we are walking……. keep quiet!  I meet people who endlessly tell me of fleeting glimpses they have had of Kingfishers. They describe how all they see are flashes as the bird shoots away. Well, today was real proof to me of just how quiet you need to be if you really want to see Kingfishers, other birds and wildlife in general.

 This is a really good chance for you to note the differences in male and female Kingfishers. I meet people constantly who are very keen to learn these interesting little facts to help them enjoy their wildlife experiences even more. Quite simple, Kingfishers are sexually dimorphic, that is to say, there is a difference between male and female. "Dimorphic" is a good word to learn and impress your friends with!  Anyway, male kingfishers have a solid black beak and the upper and lower mandibles are both black. In the female, as you can see above, the bottom mandible is orange to one degree or another. As the bird comes more and more in to breeding condition, this is is reflected in the extent and brightness of the orange. I would guess that our  'little girl"  is about to become a full adult and the male down stream will probably be her partner! I think he is a lucky boy, because she is stunning to my eyes!

So if the Kingfisher was our main course the next pictures are the dessert. Having sadly seen the Kingfisher disappear to somewhere less noisy, I sat for a while with a contented glow and a feeling of smug satisfaction, (interrupted I might say by the still annoying chatterers). I decided that I needed to rush home to have a look at my pictures on my mac. I stopped in my tracks because walking down the brook towards me was a Little Egret……. back in to the hide before it saw me. I waited for it to get nearer and nearer, and when it was almost upon me I got some crackers of him as well!