Here it is………. the seasons new territory holder. I am pleased to report that it is a young, and quite young…… 6 or 7 weeks male Kingfisher. It is really exciting to be able to prove that somewhere close by, a pair of Kingfishers have bred and produced young this year. This, in spite of the two nests that I am licensed to photograph at, failing due to heavy rain and flooding. The story of this photograph is really exciting and a good one. I don't do early mornings very well and thankfully with Kingfishers thats not too important because they are active throughout the day. It was around 1030 when I went down to the new Kingfisher hide that I had erected 13 days ago, the day before yesterday I had seen a Kingfisher right in front of the new hide. I had been yesterday to try for a photograph but without success. I sat waiting for an hour or so and then decided that even if a bird arrived the light was going to be all wrong. I emerged and planted the perch in a new spot now up stream and with the light coming from the right direction. Now, this new position was obscured with grass and water plants so I did a bit of gardening to clear the view, but I didn't over do it. Back in the hide, I sorted things out and got the lens focused on the perch but I hadn't done enough gardening and the perch was still a little bit obscured. I had been out of the hide and up to my wellie tops with water for at least 5 minutes and I was anything but subtle as I pulled out grass clumps and dock leaves. Then back in the hide I had made a commotion rearranging the monopod etc. So imagine my utter delight when there right in front of me was the "new" Kingfisher. Frustratingly he immediately dived in and came up with a Stickleback but I just couldn't photograph him eating it because of the grass between me and the perch.After a while he flew down stream. Wow, (I only use this word very rarely, but this was a wow moment). I climbed out of the hide again and thoroughly cleared the annoying grasses and sat back to survey the scene, a Kingfisher called and there he was again! I still couldn't photograph him this time, my camera was still in my lap! I tried to poke it out of the hide "hand-held" but he didn't like it and off he went. I thought that was it and made my way back to the car but I had left my keys in the hide. So back to the hide to get them ……. and there he was again, sat right on top.
In the afternoon I returned for more and the Grey Wagtails really showed well. There were three in total, a breeding pair and one of their youngsters. They all perched on the branch placed for the Kingfishers.
Wildlife in a Suburban Garden 
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