UPDATE 3rd March 2009
Well folks, I’m pleased to report that the pair mentioned in my opening post of last week now seem well established in the nesting territory with egg laying apparently underway
I have visited the site at about 7am’ish for the last 3 mornings and each time have seen the pair together near the nesthole, with the female entering the hole for a few minutes on each occasion – presumably to lay.
Kingfishers lay one egg a day, a typical clutch size being 5 – 7 with the female usually laying her eggs at approximately the same time each day and often with the male ‘standing guard’ outside the nesthole while she does so. Based on my recent viewings I reckon we’re now at the 3+ egg stage.
The pair seem to have passed through the courtship phase very quickly – which leads me to think that they are probably the same pair from last year, as with established pairs the courtship routines are often much shorter than with a newly formed pairing (any comparisons with human behaviour are purely coincidental
)
I haven’t yet seen any fish passes or copulation taking place but, as happened last year, the pair have selected a nesthole which is rather badly positioned for observation/photography (they do like to make me work
), though over the last 3 days I have managed to assemble a screen hide in the undergrowth overlooking the nesthole and from which I can see most (but not all) of the immediate area and with several large trees/bushes obscuring my view at some angles. Needless to say, the birds seem to have a tendency to perch in some of these out of view positions often with just a tantalising reflection in the water beneath them revealing their presence.
From a photographic point of view the location of the nesthole presents some further challenges, being in quite heavy shade but with lots of bright light filtering in through the trees immediately around it and causing some distracting light flashes/patterns in many of the shots I’ve taken so far. The hole also faces west, meaning that I’m shooting into the sun during my early morning visits. Still, I shouldn’t complain really – I’m just happy they’re back
.
Here’s a couple of my better shots so far -
This one shows some of the distracting light patterns I mentioned -
and this one shows the problem of the trees in the way -
Interestingly, although the nesthole they are using is an old one they have actually dug a new entrance tunnel just to the right and slightly below the old one – as shown in the photo below. However, given the speed with which they’ve reached their current stage and the relatively small amount of soil removed, I’m convinced that the new tunnel must link up with the old one and uses the original nest chamber.
Finally, many readers of last year’s Diary will know that I like taking behavioural and ‘quirky’ shots. This last one shows the bird shaking off water, having just come out of the nesthole and taken a cleansing dip before landing on the perch to dry itself off. Technically a far from perfect shot but I do like the effect of the water droplets flying off around the bird
-
More news as it happens
Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers and Barn Owls)
*****************************************
REMINDER
As a fairly uncommon and easily disturbed bird, the Kingfisher is afforded the highest degree of legal protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If you “intentionally or recklessly” disturb a Kingfisher (or any other Schedule 1 listed species) whilst trying to photograph it “in, on, at or near” the nest or whilst it has dependent young, and without the necessary Licence from Natural England, you may be committing a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 6 months.
******************************************
Linear Mode
