Kingfishers in south England

matthewjones · #1 (**permalink**) 17-03-2010, 06:27 PM

Hi,

Can anyone help to recommend a place where I have a good chance to see a kingfisher in the Surrey, Hampshire area, or anywhere near there.

Thanks very much.

toadpole · #2 (**permalink**) 18-03-2010, 12:24 AM

only wish i knew ...its one of my lifetime dreams to see one ...but i am sure somebody on here will be able to help ....good luck Marion

Bobbobthebob · #3 (**permalink**) 18-03-2010, 11:50 AM

Not much help but I've seen them most often while kayaking on the Thames and the Medway. Often they get spooked by the kayak from a fair distance and fly further down river; their loud call grabs your attention. After that you'll probably see it every time you round a bend in the river until it decides to loop around and go behind you.
Otherwise I've seen them while walking by the Thames near Richmond, once in Bushy Park and once in the Lee Valley nr Cheshunt.

I think the general formula is: (decent sized stream or river with small fish + trees and scrubs lining the banks for perching on) x luck = kingfisher sighting

matthewjones · #4 (**permalink**) 20-03-2010, 03:17 PM

Thanks very much. Seems like the little birds elude everyone!

JeffH · #5 (**permalink**) 20-03-2010, 04:16 PM

Hi Matthew and welcome to WAB.

As you may have seen/read from recent TV news bulletins and press reports (it was mentioned on the BBC TV 1pm news only yesterday) Kingfishers have had one of their worst winters for many years with up to 80% or 90% of the UK population possibly lost as a result of the prolonged spells of severe weather we've experienced over the winter.

Those Kingfishers that did survive are now pairing up for the breeding season (if they can find partners!) and I'm afraid you're unlikely to find many of us who are aware of the location of Kingfisher nesting territories willing to disclose their whereabouts on a forum such as this for fear of adding to the birds' problems by creating disturbance caused by people searching them out for viewing or photographic purposes.

There are, however, several nature reserves at which it is often possible to see Kingfishers from the safety of their public hides, though I'm afraid I'm not aware of any in the areas you mention.

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls & Avocets)

The Woodman · #6 (**permalink**) 20-03-2010, 06:55 PM

I was pleased to see three Kingfishers fly past me at very close quarters whilst working in a river in south Cumbria on Thursday. I couldn't tell which was doing the shouting but there was definately some agression shown. One returned on its own a few minutes later. Territorial / pairing behaviour perhaps.

At least there's three that have survived the cold spell here.

sunnydale · #7 (**permalink**) 21-03-2010, 11:25 AM

Welcome to WAB Matthew

welsh.lensman · #8 (**permalink**) 21-03-2010, 09:36 PM

Hi Matthew and welcome to WAB.
Although not much help to you in your quest there are at least three kingfishers at the Wales Wetland centre that have survived the Winter, fingers crossed for a successful breeding season.

JeffH · #9 (**permalink**) 22-03-2010, 12:20 PM

Hi again Matthew

Further to my earlier post, I thought you might like to know that in the latest edition of 'Waterlife' (the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust's magazine) it's reported that - "Kingfishers have been regularly sighted at Arundel (the WWT's reserve in West Sussex) over the winter months, with great views from the Discovery Wetland Centre and the boat trip"

If that's not too far from where you are, sounds like it might be worth a visit

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls & Avocets)

wizzo · #10 (**permalink**) 22-03-2010, 07:49 PM

Hi Matthew and welcome to the forum. We have quite a few 'hot spots' close to where I live in Bristol. However, I've yet to spot one in weeks of hard searching. This doesn't bode well, as usually we have a good population of Kingfishers here. The good news is, that Kingfishers recover quickly over a period of years and as long as we don't have further harsh winters in the next few years, then things should get better and these truly wonderful birds will thrive once again. As Jeff says, not many people on here will disclose exact areas especially with the present situation, however, normally I would point you in the right direction, as my personal opinion is, if people go trouncing around potential sights without knowing what they're doing, then more harm could be done. Anyway, if things start looking up, you could always come over to Bristol, and I could take you to a few different spots. Wizzo