Kingfisher Diary (with photos)

JeffH · #1 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 07:31 AM

As many WAB members will know, I've been privileged to have a female Kingfisher visiting my garden ponds on a regular basis for nearly a year now.

I'm delighted (and excited!) to report that she's now found herself a mate

Even better - the pair appear to have set up territory around a relatively small area of water within a few minutes walk from my home

I've been observing the pair for nearly two weeks now on an almost daily basis and it's been fascinating to watch their courtship rituals at fairly close range.

So I thought I'd share the pleasure with my fellow Kingfisher-loving WAB members by starting this Diary with regular reports and photos - I hope all the Kingfisher fans enjoy it.

The first photo below shows the female awaiting her mate in their territory -

The next photo shows the male having arrived with a fish for his mate -

This 3rd photo, although of poor quality, is the best I've got so far of the pair together. It shows the female consuming a fish brought to her by the male. Unfortunately, the delivery and passing of the fish caught me by surprise and took place so quickly that I was just too slow to capture the moment. Immediately after this copulation took place (again I was too slow to capture on camera

) and the male then flew off - I believe that's what today's youngsters call a cheap date

Anyway, more news/photos as it happens.

Jeff

mrs fish · #2 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 07:42 AM

You truly are privileged

I love the matching coloured feet and beak on the first pic

I eargerly await further updates

John · #3 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 08:14 AM

Hi Jeff

I am truly envious of you. To have a Kingfisher visiting your garden is one thing but to have the pair in such close proximity to you is another. To be able to record what goes on is amazing and I, for one, am looking forward to watching future events for this pair.

Thanks for starting the thread.

John

HARIMAU1610 · #4 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 08:35 AM

Lovely shots and good capture on the male with fish....They are going to be catching alot of fish soon once the little ones are born, plenty more oportunitys to photo and study, great stuff

Ian

smartie · #5 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 08:39 AM

Lovely pictures, This one could run and run...

jennyb · #6 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 09:08 AM

Great pictures, Jeff. You are lucky to have them so close by.

We look forward to the next installment.

Jenny

colincurry · #7 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 09:37 AM

Lovely shots, Jeff.

I haven't been able to get near to the spot at Overcote because of the flooding - might try tomorrow - looks like a nice day.

Colin

goosey · #8 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 10:11 AM

Great photo's Jeff, you must be made up now she has found a mate. Lets hope all the mating rituals come to something and we will be seeing some young in your future updates. All very exciting, I've never been lucky enough to see a kingfisher. Thanks for sharing.

Blackdog · #9 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 10:12 AM

You are a very lucky man Jeff. I can think of one or two WABers who would sell body parts for the chance to photograph these sequences

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrs fish

You truly are privileged

I love the matching coloured feet and beak on the first pic

It must be a new fashion. Didn't it used to be handbags and shoes? (something I heard my Grandma talking about when I was a sprog you understand

)

buzfuz8149 · #10 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 10:27 AM

Great photos and so glad that you are sharing them with us,

I know it's good to see them on our rambles, but I can still enjoy looking at the photos of the occasions we are unlikely to see - especially as a pair.

Carol.

matt_xyz · #11 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 10:46 AM

great stuff, Jeff. Keep the photos and updates coming.

Matt

JeffH · #12 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 06:07 PM

Thank you all for your kind and encouraging comments.

I'm very pleasantly surprised at the level of interest in this thread - with 86 views and 10 replies so far today - and at the risk of becoming the site's Kingfisher bore (OK, don't tell me - I already am

) I'll try to post updates on at least a weekly basis.

I had a superb hour and a half's watching the pair again this afternoon and managed to get a whole sequence of half decent rapid-fire shots of the male passing a fish to the female followed by another bout of copulation which I also caught on camera - but I'll save those shots for my next report! Meanwhile, here's another shot (taken this afternoon) of the male bringing a fish for the female -

As they used to say at the end of the Flash Gordon films during the Saturday afternoon cinema matinees during the 1950s - .....stand by for next week's thrilling episode

Jeff

colincurry · #13 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 06:33 PM

Amazing picture Jeff.

I don't remember seeing Flash Gordon, but can remember (vaguely) The Scarlet Horseman (who was in a wheelchair when not mounted) and oooo Barton.

Colin

colincurry · #14 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 06:37 PM

PS Have I been censored. The Barton I referred to was called "Richard" familiarly known as "oooo". Let's see.

Colin

Jon · #15 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 06:56 PM

Excellent shots and a great story Jeff, can't wait for the next episode,
Jon

glsammy · #16 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 06:56 PM

Excellent shots Jeff, keep it up. You lucky so and so!

Ollie · #17 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 07:03 PM

Brilliant stuff Jeff, and don't worry about boring anyone. I for one and I'm sure many others can't wait for the next installment. Keep up the great work
Roger

JeffH · #18 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 09:15 PM

Thanks again for all the kind words - I'm delighted to be able to share the pleasure with so many of you.

The shots I described in my last posting as "...a whole sequence of half decent rapid-fire shots of the male passing a fish to the female..." actually turned out rather better than I expected and so, if anyone's interested, I've just posted 3 of them to the Gallery, though I expect it'll take a little while for them to appear.

I think shots of a fish pass between Kingfishers is a Gallery first so I hope you all like them

Jeff

John · #19 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 09:16 PM

You ain't boring me Jeff. Keep those images coming.

John

eeyore · #20 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 09:31 PM

very nice stuff jeff - you dont mind if the next wab meet is in your living room do you

I could see one of those as calendar material

JeffH · #21 (**permalink**) 25-03-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eeyore

very nice stuff jeff - you dont mind if the next wab meet is in your living room do you

I could see one of those as calendar material

Cheers Pete. As for the WAB meet, well the wife has always fancied running a tea room............I'll have a word

Jeff

Wild-Woman · #22 (**permalink**) 26-03-2007, 05:11 AM

Breath-taking stuff Jeff. That's some garden visitor. Let's hope that the pair bring along their family later. Have you considered contacting Springwatch?

Jules

PS-Thank you for taking the time sharing this lovely story with us.

JeffH · #23 (**permalink**) 26-03-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffH

Thanks again for all the kind words - I'm delighted to be able to share the pleasure with so many of you.

The shots I described in my last posting as "...a whole sequence of half decent rapid-fire shots of the male passing a fish to the female..." actually turned out rather better than I expected and so, if anyone's interested, I've just posted 3 of them to the Gallery, though I expect it'll take a little while for them to appear.

I think shots of a fish pass between Kingfishers is a Gallery first so I hope you all like them

Jeff

I'm pleased to report that the sequence of 3 fish pass shots I mentioned in last night's posting have now appeared in the Gallery, if anyone's interested.

Jeff