The last couple of days have been mixed.  The nesting Kingfishers continue to thrive and my wife and I watched from 75 yards or so, as the male went about the business of bringing a succession of fish to his clucth. I know that there are youngsters in the burrow because I have seen remains of a hatched egg shell, along with numerous fish bone remains, dragged out by the male as he comes and goes, under the burrow. I have been really careful to keep well away and not bring attention to the nest to the dozens of people walking by.  At times I have seen the bird wait in bushes nearby until the coast is clear and walkers,  with their dogs, have moved on to what he thinks is a safe distance. What I have found interesting is the predictability of the males behaviour. For example, once he has delivered his fish, which takes between 10 to 15 seconds, he leaves the nest  very quickly and dives straight in to the water in mid flight to wet his plumage. He then  flies across the river to perch. Here he preens and puts his feathers back in order and after a minute or so flies away up stream to an area where he seems to fish. This is repeated every 15 to 20 minutes, that is around 3 times an hour. If you consider that daylight length is 16 hours at the moment, then that is around 50 fish a day plus the 10 or 12 he needs for himself. That's how good they are at fishing.

I just need to reinforce that I am well away from the nest when checking. I keep well away to observe, at least 75 yards. That is much further than the track that passes within 3 feet of the nest and is constant use. I have not attempted to photograph from closer because I am very, very aware of not only the law in relation to schedule 1 birds but more importantly I am aware of the need for the law. Any disturbance of the routine for this pair of birds could lead to the parents not feeding their young. The youngsters would become too week to beg for food, the parents would assume that they are not hungry and consequently youngsters would quickly die. So…. keep well clear. As long as I see the Kingfisher returning with prey then I know that everything is progressing well. Also I have been leaving the area( even 75 yards) as soon as I know that the male is still feeding, keeping even any potential disturbance down to zero. 

My other Kingfisher close to home on the Alphin Brook has been really frustrating but I am seeing him constantly now, fishing and carrying on just as he did before I left for the US in March. This is with one exception……… he just won't perch on the branches in front of the hide, he perches on the hide instead. So I see him catching a fish, then fly towards me, then past the perch to land inches above my head to deal with his meal! Very frustrating. I am 100% certain this male is not breeding. 

The Grey Wagtail was in front of me last evening and I got a smashing shot of him with a newly emerged dragonfly.

Also visiting for a bath was one of  the resident Carrion Crows who I have seen bathingb but on this occasion just having a good look around and a drink.