KINGFISHER DIARY 2009 (with photos)

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by nightowl57

Thankyou for taking the time to write your diary and the last photo was very effective. What is the incubation period? Also (this may sound a stupid question) as the female lays one egg per day, do they also hatch one per day?

Thanks nightowl. In answer to your questions - the average incubation period is 18-21 days but incubation doesn't actually start until the clutch is complete so that all the eggs hatch at roughly the same time

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers and Barn Owls)

[nightowl57]

Thankyou Jeff, I impress my other half with all the knowledge I learn from you!

[DavyG]

Thanks for another excellent diary update Jeff.

Your images are very good, I'm envious!

Dave

[sleipnerofasgard]

i quite often quote you Jeff, whenever anyone asks me about Kingfishers, actually even when they don't ask

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by nightowl57

Thankyou Jeff, I impress my other half with all the knowledge I learn from you!

Originally Posted by sleipnerofasgard

i quite often quote you Jeff, whenever anyone asks me about Kingfishers, actually even when they don't ask

Thanks nightowl and sleipnerofasgard - I'm glad to hear you're making use of the information

and thank you too Dave

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers and Barn Owls)

[JeffH]

UPDATE 7th March 2009

By wading through nearly 3 feet of water in near darkness before dawn this morning (and in the process discovering that my waders weren’t quite long enough ) I managed to get onto the island where the birds are nesting and, without causing them any disturbance, to get my portable dome hide into a better position for observation and photography of the nesthole area.

The effort was worth it though as the birds rewarded me with some excellent views and photographs . Here’s just 3 examples – there'll be more on my website in due course -





This 3rd shot shows one of the birds perched on an exposed root near to an old nesthole (bottom right) in the opposite bank and almost directly opposite the hole they're currently using -



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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.
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Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers and Barn Owls)

[sleipnerofasgard]

You're getting pretty good at this picture taking malarkey, maybe you should take it up as a hobby excellent stuff yet again Jeff, keep em coming

Frank

[Pete Collins]

Great photos Jeff, thanks for the update.

[ron1863]

Cracking shots Jeff.

Could you clarify the law regarding Kingfishers. We have them on our small river and I was wondering what I can and can't do if I ever came across their nest.
I don't wish to disturb them in any way, so would probably watch from a distance with binoculars.

Ron

[wend5000]

Wow. those pics from the 7th are amazing. Cant wait for the next updates!
Keep them up Jeff. Well done
Wendy
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