Rye Meads Kingfishers Update

23rd March 2026

At the time of my last visit four days ago a pair of Kingfishers had arrived on site and were alternating between the nest banks at the Draper and Kingfisher Hides. Now they seem to have settled at the Kingfisher Hide and are both busy tidying up the nest burrow in readiness for egg-laying, Also, what was most noticeable today was the the bird using the central perch was the female whereas before she kept to the post on the far side of the pond. And as can be seen from the sand on her bill, she was doing a lot more work on the burrow this time.

Managed to get a food pass today.

I was intrigued as to what the prey item was as it seemed to be completely black with no distinguishing features. It was in fact a Three-spined Stickleback but viewed from on top and therefore you could not seen the spines. It was only when I found another photo showing the side view that the three spines were evident.

As stated above both birds were spending a lot of time in the nest burrow which means their bill and plumage get covered in sand. Therefore the first thing they do when they leave the burrow is fly to the central perch and dive into the water a few times to clean off the sand. This of course provides some great action photo opportunities.

Hopefully not long now before the female is on eggs.

More Kingfishers at Rye Meads

19th March 2026

After a disappointing last two years the Kingfishers are back at Rye Meads and on my last visit were alternating between the Kingfisher banks at the Draper and Kingfisher Hides. Now they seem to be concentrating on the Kingfisher Hide, although to confuse the issue a third Kingfisher has been seen (all three seen together) and even a report of a fourth bird but as far as I am aware not confirmed.

Both the birds at the Kingfisher Hide are ringed on the right leg, but one of the new birds is reported to be ringed on the left leg. The uncertainty here is that all birds ringed by the Rye Meads Ringing Group are ringed on the right leg so if it is ringed on the left leg it would have been ringed on another site. A photo of the left-ringed bird would be useful.

Here are some shots of the male.

And the female with that striking orange on the lower mandible.

And some together.

No idea what is going on here!!!

Then came a food pass from the male to the female.

And now for some action shots. This one nearly got away!!

Ready, steady..............go!!!!!

.................and bring me back a fish!!!!!!!!

An amazing couple of hours.

St Albans Cathedral Peregrine Falcons Update

19th March 2026

Not much activity when I first arrived with the male sitting on his favourite overflow pipe on the tower. No sign of the female.

The male then flew off and was not seen again before I left.

Shortly after the female flew in and perched on top of the cross. Obviously a good view-point for her but partially hidden for photographs. They can't sit right on top because the lightning conductor is in the way!!

What is amazing is that while all this was going on a rather mis-guided Stock Dove was walking around by the picnic tables being watched by the Peregrines!!

The Peregrines have been seen mating in the last few days and the female has been visiting the nest tray on the roof and has created a small depression at this end of the tray where the eggs will be laid.

To view the live cam on the nest go to https://www.stalbanscathedral.org/peregrine-live-cam

and...................................................WATCH THIS SPACE