A few Kingfishers from today, all male and all from Number 1 hide. After yesterday's great day I returned slightly earlier to make sure that I didn't miss anything so by 0745 I was sat ready. As I arrived I saw him already fishing and without disturbing him I managed to get myself tucked away. There was a very short wait before he was in front of me and then off he went returning a bit later with a fish and it pretty much went on like that. Eventually he had caught and eaten enough and then he had his usual bath. I tried really hard to get him splashing in and out but not really successful, but almost. 

Here's one of him just a split second late.

You can just about see a wing and  the top of his head. The next one is just a fraction early…. it's a tricky business this Kingfisher  photography.

I did get some lovely portraits today though, and some with fish.

 


In this shot he is shaking his wing, hence the slightly fuzzy motion blur.    

Later in the afternoon I walked the Brook. I am the Bio Diversity recorder for this watercourse and I log all the wildlife seen. At the moment this is mainly birds but when we get in to spring obviously there will be much more to record. It is going to be  very interesting to see how the year develops.  This afternoon, Kingfisher wise, I saw the male at his end of the brook and he was fishing yet again. Then  as I walked down the brook about a half a mile I saw him yet again. I watched him fishing from the top of a Bullrush, about 4 foot high. This is pretty much his way of fishing.  He scans the water from quite a height which gives him a better vantage point. He is remarkably successful and according to my observations he catches a fish about every other attempt.  When he had caught this time, he flew back past me and towards the bridge 200 yards away and didn't seem to stop. It seemed to me that he was prepared to fly a considerable distance to somewhere where he could deal with his prey before eating it.

I watched a greater Spotted Woodpecker for a short while and a few days ago I had discovered a very enticing and interesting nest hole. I am pretty certain that in the past this has been a nest hole and if it gets used again this year remains to be seen but I will certainly be keeping "tabs" on it. Will give me great photo opportunities if that turns out to be the case.

 Just before I left the wooded area a Blue Tit was making a real commotion and as I am looking to get as many pictures of the Alphin Brook birds I took his picture.

 

In response to "The Watcher"……… thanks for looking at the Blog and your comments, as always very much appreciated.  Here  is a photo of the first hide which as you can see isn't particularly hidden.

 

 It is just a part of the scene now. It has been there for the best part of four months. The birds are really used to it and so are the local dog walkers who now, shout their dogs back when they can see that I am in. I have no idea why it has never been vandalised, perhap
s it says quite a lot about the people here in Exeter. I am very pleased any way. from the path above you can hardly see it anyway.

 

Goosanders on the River Teign

During the day my wife and I took a trip out with my mother ………… she is staying here with us for 10 days. We walked a few hundred yards up the River Teign at Stepps Bridge. This is on the edge of the Dartmoor National Park, a popular place for the people of Exeter to get out in to  the wilds. It really is a very nice attractive place with lots of wildlife including Dippers, yes I did see one today as well…. Obviously I took my camera and glad I did because I was really pleased to see these Goosanders. They were a little bit skittish but no more so than  the Mallards were.  

 Can you see how hard it is to get good photos of black and white birds? The contrasting plumage is so difficult to deal with. If you are new to Goosanders, the male is the one in front and the "red-heads" are his harem!  Must be hard wok for him, ones enough for me!