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.