Both yesterday, and then again this morning, I have had some wonderful opportunities and interactions with my beautiful Kingfisher. I have almost 'pulled it off" as you can see, but my plans continue to develop and I hope to get a clearer shot than I have been able to achieve so far.  It's hard to put in to words how difficult the whole thing is, so many elements need to be in place and all work as you want them to. The most important thing of course, is the Kingfisher because without her putting in a show, then there is no point to any of it.  To be there at the right time is difficult to predict and necessitates so much sitting around with my feet and legs covered in cold muddy water, up to the knees.  Yesterday evening was just starting to become unbearable, I hadn't had a visit from her and the fish were performing well, I had been in the hide for well over an hour when suddenly, there she was. She dived in, I took the photo and that was job done!  However, she hadn't finished, the fish she had  chosen was one of the big minnows and even she couldn't swallow it as easily as she would have wanted to. Unfortunately, that meant that she was almost full up and didn't then, really try to get another one, so big had her first meal been. Here is a shot of this massive fish, almost as long as her body!

Notice how she always swallows her fish head first, if you learn one fact about Kingfishers this is one to easily remember.  If you ever see a Kingfisher carrying a fish tail first then she is either going to feed her young, or it will be a male carrying a fish to present to his female as part of the courtship and mating ritual. In that case, you should vacate the area and leave them well alone because not only will you be breaking the law, you will be disturbing them which is what you DONT want to be doing!

So, any way, back to last night and her behaviour.  After the big meal she perched on the edge of the tank and just took an interest in the fish, eventually she couldn't resist it when a fish swam a bit too close.  She lent forward and picked one up with no effort at all and swallowed it as normal.

You could say that this minnow is a lucky fish, she has had enough and couldn't be bothered to dive in and take it.

Getting on to this morning, I had a visit from her after half an hour or so and she pretty quickly perched on the tank.  I wasn't quick enough to get the shot when she dived in so that was a disappointment and when she dived again the water was too murky to see her……… but I have a plan!!!!

Even when she had had enough and she went to a slightly higher, and more tucked away perch, she was still interested in the movement of the fish.  I have to be honest, I was glad when she had had enough and I could leave the hide and come home to warm my freezing toes!