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With©a
To see this image without the copyright then look here  Then to get back here use the back button on your PC or Mac. 

The story behind these photos is a great one. I went to the brook at just after 10  (with a promise to my wife on our 39th Wedding Anniversary, that I would be back by 11…..  no chance!)  I was literally in the hide for 30 seconds when I saw a flash of blue in front of me.  When I looked out, on the long low perch there was  not one, but two Kingfishers, I am still not 100% sure if they were both females or not but undoubtedly they were both juveniles. What then transpired had me riveted for 2 whole hours because that's how long it took this battle to simmer and then start.  There was in fact lots of inactivity with beak stretching and threat postures from both birds who had by now, flown opposite me to the other side of the brook. When the fight started it was instigated by first lots of calling from the dominant female, probably the "girl" that I have been watching for the last week. Then all of a sudden the other bird attacked "my" female and the tumbled down off their perch in to the brook. There was lots of beak holding and rolling around which went on for around 30 seconds with one coming out on top as you can see and literally holding the other one under. When the fight broke up they were both out of sight but quite quickly one returned and took up position, triumphantly it appeared, right in front of me. 

The story behind my photographs is a typical one. yesterday I had taken two cameras with me and unfortunately, dropped one in to the muddy puddle at my feet. I quickly dried the gritty muddy off it and it was almost Ok but the viewfinder is now scratched and you can hardly see through it. Today because I hadn't expected to be there very long, I went again with two cameras and the battery was low in my best camera. This eventually died quite early on. I was therefore left with damaged camera number two to try and capture the action. I managed quite well all things considering.  I have to say that when it was all over and I came home, I was trembling with excitement and could hardly speak. I had witnessed and been able to photograph some really special behaviour. I have put a copyright tag on the photo because I do not want anyone using the image without my permission. You can see it without   the © by following the link as described.

2 responses to “Kingfisher fight to the death?”

  1. awesome photos Charlie
    Jane

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  2. excellent work!~ Glad both birds were ok though… it almost appeared as if one would drown the other!

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