The Kingfisher

Beryl · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2006, 08:00 PM

Today I saw a Kingfisher for the very first time, that is apart from pics , photos and films.
So as I was hidden for abou an hour and 45 mins lying in wait He finally came and obliged me with 3 differnt places and this is one. On my way home a oem flowed into my head and here it is

Patience is a virtue
One should keep it if one can
I waited an hour and forty-five
My eyes tuned in to scan

My waiting was rewarded
My time was wasted not
For flying down along the brook
I see this tiny bluish dot

My camera was excited
I tried to keep it still
For I was standing on a slope
My feet were poised uphill

The little dot got bigger
Then it rested on a twig
I knew what it was as soon as it stopped
‘Cause it wasn’t very big

I was staring at a fisher
His beak was full of fish
Britain’s own Kingfisher
Then he flew off with a swish

Deer Stalker · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2006, 08:12 PM

Good poem. Deffinatley worth the wait. The first time I saw one, I just saw the flash of blue/green fly off & the first thing that went through my mind that it was an exotic escapee, then it dawned on me that it was a Kingfisher. Amazing birds. You'll be hooked now too.

Ollie · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2006, 08:20 PM

Very nice poem Beryl, and I am so pleased that your patience paid off. I still get a thrill when I see a Kingfisher, usually just a flash of blue as it goes past. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and photos with us
Roger

Barbara · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2006, 08:35 PM

Great poem Beryl, there again I knew it would be. As Roger said previously thankyou for sharing with us. You'll probably see him again on that branch Beryl, I think they tend to have favourite perches which they use all the time..........Wish I could write poetry like you, usually on the way home from the reserve, I am usually singing along with the CD playing in the car

Beryl · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2006, 09:52 PM

Yes thank you. It was great to watch him. I must have rattled off over 100snaps. He was sitting on the other side. This side there is a tree and it hangs right down almost to the fence so he doesn't know that I am there. It takes a lot of waiting and patience though. I saw him shoot up the brook a couple of hours before so I thought he waould come back. He did.

carlj · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2006, 10:25 PM

Beryl, I'm glad to see your enthusiasm for the fella. Have been watching our pair on the river for 18 months now, and love every sighting. But still waiting for that elusive shot.

Beryl · #7 (**permalink**) 10-09-2006, 10:31 PM

Thanks Carl. Like I said , I saw him quick as whip along the brook stopping once so I waited.
I'm still quite high about it.
I have written 3 poems now about the Kingfisher

Lincs Yellowbelly · #8 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 08:14 AM

Lovely shot

I had them landing on the rod the other day whilst on the River Wye, just never got to the camera without them getting spooked

Beryl · #9 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 08:33 AM

What a shame. . Next time have the camera ready on a tipod with a long wire to your camera so you can just squeeze the triger and snap the bird whilst your still fising. Or some thing like that
Does that make sense to you? I don't know all the technical words.

Jonny · #10 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 09:33 AM

Well done Beryl, they are like blue bullets arn't they..........

Captain Kev · #11 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 12:26 PM

I'm sure not many people get to see a Kingfisher for the first time and get to photograph it at the same time, well done, and a fine poem, Keep em coming Beryl.

Earth Hart · #12 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 01:42 PM

Beryl, What a lovely poem and pic. The first time I saw a kingfisher it was just a blue streak down the stream. Since living in Wells I have seen them many times, but the real crazy thing is that they are in the town, along one of the streams that flow through it. Watch out, they can become an addiction.

Earth Hart

Beryl · #13 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earth Hart

Beryl, What a lovely poem and pic. The first time I saw a kingfisher it was just a blue streak down the stream. Since living in Wells I have seen them many times, but the real crazy thing is that they are in the town, along one of the streams that flow through it. Watch out, they can become an addiction.

Earth Hart

Yes. Thank you
This one is in Town in a brook not much bigger than stream. I went to day and managed to get a few photos but some one with dogs was aloewing it to chase and frighten all the ducks.
He thought it was fun, so the Kingfisher went into hiding.

Beryl · #14 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Kev

I'm sure not many people get to see a Kingfisher for the first time and get to photograph it at the same time, well done, and a fine poem, Keep em coming Beryl.

Thanks Cap'Kev. I had been told about the Kingfisher so I had a sort of start if you like, I just stood waiting ( for nearly 2 hours) and got him.

pete-c · #15 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 03:39 PM

I like the poem. My first view of a Kingfisher was like Deer stalkers a flash of blue but once seen never forgotten.Well done.

Pete

Kev Lewis · #16 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 05:12 PM

Nicely caught in images and words Beryl. They are a superb bird if you can get close enough to see them perched or fishing

Patience is definately a virtue when it comes to this species and you have to be be completely hidden or still in order stand any chance of a close up view

Beryl · #17 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev Lewis

Nicely caught in images and words Beryl. They are a superb bird if you can get close enough to see them perched or fishing

Patience is definately a virtue when it comes to this species and you have to be be completely hidden or still in order stand any chance of a close up view

Thank you Kev.

I actually stood under a tree whch had branches bowing low so I was gidden by the multitude of leave an was dressed in green, Wood pidgeons above (Had to where my blobby hat) I was jolly determind to get him. Hopefully at the end of the month I will be able to aford a 300mm lens( birthdasy coming) then I'll get a close up. I'm not alowd down into the brook I would get arrested I think.

Kev Lewis · #18 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beryl

Thank you Kev.

I actually stood under a tree whch had branches bowing low so I was gidden by the multitude of leave an was dressed in green, Wood pidgeons above (Had to where my blobby hat) I was jolly determind to get him. Hopefully at the end of the month I will be able to aford a 300mm lens( birthdasy coming) then I'll get a close up. I'm not alowd down into the brook I would get arrested I think.

If there is a chance of placing another perch nearer to you in the brook it will almost certainly use it

Also worth putting alot of fish groundbait around the area. Attract the fish and it will attract the kingfisher

A cheap and cheerful scrim net from an army surplus store is worth investing in

Beryl · #19 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 06:14 PM

Oh . Thank you for info .
This brook is a man made brook to combat fooding flooding the town which used to be 4 feet under water back in the 60s (I think) occasionally and so no one is aloud any where neer the side. one has to stand up on bank it slopes steeply and I would say about 15 ft high fron centre to eye level. so any extrar perches etc are out. I'll get closer when I get my new lens. I got him in flight today. I just kept saying "Wow" To my selfall the away home.

Kev Lewis · #20 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 06:16 PM

yup it's a Wow bird

For inof: female has lipstick on the lower beak (thats how I remember it) if there is a trace of white on the tip of the beak it's a young one

Beryl · #21 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev Lewis

yup it's a Wow bird

For inof: female has lipstick on the lower beak (thats how I remember it) if there is a trace of white on the tip of the beak it's a young one

OK. Thank you.

I have copied all your tips and pasted them into word, I hope I won't always live here. I often go to my son's in Kent and I spend a lot of my time in Petts Wood. Mind you there are no Kinfishers there but there are more brooks and streams arround so I can explore if I move up there

Kev Lewis · #22 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 06:39 PM

I can almost guarentee a kingfisher fishing at a place near Canterbury at a range of less than 30'

Beryl · #23 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kev Lewis

I can almost guarentee a kingfisher fishing at a place near Canterbury at a range of less than 30'

Hmmmmm. Small world. My ex comes from Canterbury. My son live in Petts Wood Bromley but as I am retired I have all the time. I have actally wtitten three peoms about the kingfisher now. I love the little bird.

Beryl · #24 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 11:09 PM

It seams for some reason the photo that went with the poem has been removed from the forum. I'm sorry you can no longer see the Kingfisher with the fish he caught as in the poem. I did not remove it.

cherrybee · #25 (**permalink**) 11-09-2006, 11:20 PM

yes but it is still in your gallery Beryl.When you put it in the forum there was 2 copies of it in your gallery so that is probably why.You didnt need to upload it again to the gallery under forum images you can just link it to the forum by pasting the code under the one you put in the gallery

and they can still see it or go to your gallery for a look