Almost two weeks ago I erected a new hide on the local brook.  Regular readers of my blog will know that in the previous three years I have had some excellent views of the resident Kingfishers there. The hide is a small well camouflaged enclosure just large enough to sit inside but small enough to be unobtrusive.  In front I had placed a likely appealing perch and when I first planted it in to the bank and based on my previous experience, I knew that any passing Kingfisher would not be able to resist it.  The difference this year though was the difficult conditions that the birds had to contend with during the breeding period when water levels rose dangerously and flooded out nests on at least two occasions. I am  licensed by Natural England to photograph Kingfishers at the nest and both of my licensed nests had suffered in this way. In addition to this, disturbance had been intense with the sand blasting and  painting of iron works on the bridge near by. Hardly conducive to a natural experience.  At last, the 3 week job which actually took 10 weeks  was finished and the workmen had packed up and departed and peace prevailed.   Last evening I sat in the hide at 6.55 with a clear view of the perch.  I hadn't taken my camera, it was just a recce after all. Imagine my joy when within just 12 minutes there was a Kingfisher complete with small fish perched on the very perch where predicted. The bird saw me as I saw it and even though it was only literally 8 feet from me,  I wasn't able to see it for long enough to know how old it was and what sex. This is great news, it of course means that a Kingfisher has taken over the territory and I am yet again (for the 4th year running) going to be able to watch the resident Kingfisher and get some great photographs.  It also means that one or two friends who are keen to see a Kingfisher, will be able to join me.  What was particularly pleasing for me  was the success of my plan which was based on my understanding of Kingfisher behaviour, which I have learnt over the previous years.  Because Kingfishers are territorial it's relatively easy to predict their behaviour  as this proves.

During the day I had watched for the  Buzzard  and the Rabbit carcass.  Oddly this had been ignored over the last few days but the Jays were regular visitors again providing some great photo opportunities.

The Jay arrived and immediately called loudly, later I heard this bird imitating the distance "mew" of a Buzzard which has fooled me regularly but now I know when I hear a Buzzard that doesn't mean there is one above me!