A Few Hours with the Local Kingfisher

18th November 2021

Each winter a Kingfisher takes up residence on one of our local rivers and allows some wonderful close-up shots to be taken. Last year it was an adult female which was incredibly tame and would be more interested in concentrating on her fishing than worrying about the people passing by. So time to see if she is back.

No sign of the Kingfisher at first, but there was a Little Grebe that was providing a good support act. This was a very tame bird that was totally unfazed by my presence, and was also a bit of a poser.

It was catching Sticklebacks as if they had gone out of fashion, but an interesting way of dealing with them

Whereas a Kingfisher subdues it prey by smashing it on a branch, the Little Grebe shakes it to death!!

At that point a Kingfisher arrived and it was immediately apparent that this was a different bird to last winter which was a an adult female. This bird is a juvenile by its brown feet and rather browny orange underparts, and a male due to the totally black bill.

Although I did manage some shots it was nowhere near as trusting as the adult female and far more mobile.  Also, see how the blue on the Kingfisher changes depending on the light conditions

It was catching a number of Sticklebacks and together with the Little Grebe must be decimating the local Stickleback population.