kingfishers feeding in salt water!!

[bob.phillips]

Went to Crete a few weeks ago and whilst sitting at a bar late one afternoon overlooking the sea sipping a beer ( as one does ), I noticed a kingfisher sitting on the rocks and diving into the rock pools for small fish. I witnessed this activity in several different locations on the sea and by different birds.

Do our kingfishers in the UK fish in the sea????.

I did take some pics, but didn't have my long lens so they look a bit like a blue dot on the seashore.

Bob P.

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by bob.phillips

.....Do our kingfishers in the UK fish in the sea????......Bob P.

Yes they do Bob - some do all year round and others move to the coast during times of prolonged severe weather during the winter when their regular feeding areas are frozen over.

[rossy]

hello bob yes in winter some do move to the coast and estuaries where normally the water dosent freeze. these birds are very terrortorial and defend there patch. problems arise when rivers and streams they fish freeze. i havent witnessed them at the coast but you can safely say someone on here has. rossy.

[welsh.lensman]

Hi Bob, there are two Kingfishers that visit the salt scrapes at WWT Llanelli on a daily basis, they take fish from the seawater there throughout the year.

[bob.phillips]

Wow, thanks for the quick response. I'm used to seeing them on the rivers and lake so it was a bit unusual to see them on the sea. As a bit of a fisherman I sometimes have them perched on the rod, which provides a useful perch for them to fish.

Re. the original post, Crete has little fresh water, particularly in the summer/autumn period, so maybe the sea is the most prolific fishing area for the kingfishers.

Regards and thanks again for your responses

Bob P.

[cutecoot]

Originally Posted by bob.phillips

I'm used to seeing them on the rivers and lake so it was a bit unusual to see them on the sea.

I thought that too, when I saw a kingfisher down at Pagham Harbour last year, not exactly the sea as such, but not really an environment I had expected to see a kingfisher. Came here and found out (probably from Jeff!) that some migrate to the coast in the winter, amazing what you learn on here

[boogle]

hi..i have noticed kingfishers at hest bank morcambe fishing in the wintery months but not in the warmer summer months...so yes i would agree with all the above !
Boogle !

[nigel_b]

I've seen a kingfisher hunting in Poole Harbour from the main hide at Arne.

[Jason Claxton]

Yes there is definitely movement by Kingfishers to the coast.I see them at Lower Test nature Reserve,at the top of Southampton water.

[PMG]

Conwy RSPB reserve, which is right beside the river and must be very salty when the tide comes in, has kingfishers regularly and having seen them fly around just over the path next to the river, I should think in winter, esp if the reserve is frozen , then they do fish the salty river.

Same goes for the Spinnies/Aber Ogwen - they fish the pools and fly along the front over the beach and also into the river exit which must be brackish when the tide is in ........