I haven’t seen the Kingfisher since Monday………… is she OK?  I always ask myself that when she goes AWOL for a day or so.  Her departure always happens after a rain shower and then the water level of the brook rises.  This triggers some different feeding behaviour in her and she moves to another part of the territory where the feeding opportunities are probably  better.  I would have honestly expected her back with me today though and it was a real shame that she was absent because the light was just perfect for underwater shots almost all day.  I actually had three different sessions today, a total of around 4 1/2 hours so I am pretty sure that she isn’t in my part of her territory at the moment, perhaps she will return tomorrow?

Sat there waiting was a tad boring but I was enjoying the odd glimpse of a Common Darter that, true to it’s name kept darting past. This dragonfly is known to be one of the latest on the wing in the UK so it was no surprise really but still nice to see, even though we have had a couple of frosts and are only few days from November. I climbed in to the brook, (with my waders on of course), and wandered up stream looking for signs of otter and I am glad to say that I found fresh spraint yet again.  I discovered a favourite resting place for one of the Darters, on a log where he was catching the suns rays at midday,  and had an opportunity to take some really good close ups in th extremely good light. I have posted them here for you to enjoy.  The close ups of the head are particularly interesting to me because it shows their immense jaws  of this vicious predator.