We haven't had a Collared Dove in the garden for several weeks now and  I am not the only person to have noticed their absence. This morning there were two, glad to see them back.  The weather is dodgy today with overcast skies and a high chance of rain. I am planning a trip to the brook however where I hope to see the female Kingfisher.

Well, it's now PM and as you can see from the above, it was a successful morning trip. As I got in to the car it was just starting to get damp but it was brightish and without a trip out, it would be a long day in doors. I carried on regardless and managed to tuck myself in the hide before it got too wet.  Gradually it worsened, but I was under cover and the camera is designed to be used in unfavourable conditions with 127 weatherproof seals so Iwasn't too concerned when the rain and wind got much worse.  I sat and waited as normal and the minutes ticked by to an hour. Keeping a watch down stream I saw quite a splash and theres only one thing that is going to splash like that and even though I couldn't see a bird on the bank I ws pretty sure that a Kingfisher was not too far away. Just the hint of a bird in the territory is enough to suddenly make it not boring anymore.  But when the minutes continued to tick by, I have to admit that I did start to get a bit frustrated.  I literally said out loud " Oh, come on" and it worked, she flew towards me just as she had on Sunday and landed exactly where she had before, straight on the perch in front of me.   The wind blew her plumage  about, that alert head on the side pose is typical when a bird is intent on fishing and so it proved, she didn't see any prey and then flew off up stream making my morning worthwhile.