Adult delivers a fish.
July 6th and youngsters yet to fledge.
It was much of the same this morning. Both birds coming to the nest burrow as normal bringing fish of various sizes. When I arrived at 6.40 it was very calm and peaceful with the just the sound of birdsong and Kingfisher calls in the air. There was a fisherman who had obviously been there all night but he was at least 200 metres from the nest and he wasn't causing any distress for the birds so I didn't get involved. Fortunately the river is quite shallow just in front of the nest so it is not a favourite fishing spot. As normal when the birds had caught large fish they paused in front of the nest before flying in and today I did see some different behaviour. The male perched on the branch with his large fish but instead of taking it in to the nest he flew off with it. It seemed like he was disturbed but there was absolutely nothing to be seen, perhaps a bird of prey flew over and I didn't see it but something definitely upset him. There is an optimum time when the light is the best its going to be, that is between 7.30 and 8.30 when the sun shines on the the face of the bank and I made the best of it, trying to get some good in flight shots. It is just so unfortunate that the river is so wide at this point and for really good photographs I would need to be about 30 feet closer, but never the less it's still been a wonderful experience and opportunity to watch these breeding Kingfishers and record the action.
Later on in the day I went back to see if things were still OK, its hot now and the "worse case scenario" would be someone playing in the water in front of the nest or picnicking above it. Dog walkers and dog paddlers can be tolerated because they dont stay to long and the Kingfishers have learned to feed in between people so to speak. However, long term stayers are a different thing. I was horrified to see 6 almost adult youths fishing very close. I told them what the score was and they immediately packed up and went to fish somewhere else which says a lot about the young lads living around here. As if to reassure me that everything was OK, even as I spoke to the lads, one of the birds flew down river opposite then crossed over and flew straight in to the nest with a fish. Amazing really because we were very close and I would never have imagined that they would still carry in with people so nearby.
Female flies to the nest
5th July
It's now a tense few days at the nest site with the nestlings surely ready to fledge very soon. We are in the middle of a warm spell of summer weather with hot, bright and very sunny conditions. I spent 3 hours at the nest this morning and in that time both birds were delivering fish to the burrow regularly. A few times the female perched on the mud beneath the nest and then lingered with a large fish before she entered the nest and fed the youngsters. This is all pretty much the same as I have observed for the last week with not a great deal to add. The excitement of the chicks fledging the nest is about to happen and this should hopefully give me some great photo opportunities. I am hoping for interaction between the adults and young. We have had some disturbance from fishermen this last few days and I have contacted the Wildlife Crimes Officer at the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. He offered me some guidance as to how I should deal with these potential nest threatening disturbances and both yesterday and today I asked people to move away which I am glad to say, they did willingly. Hopefully, over the hot weekend we won't have further problems.
The only other things of note today was the female who as she perched beneath the nest with a fish was suddenly disturbed by a dog walker just above her on the bank. She flew over to my side of the river still with her fish and then when the coast was clear, flew back and went in to the nest. On another occasion she entered the nest when people were splashing about no more than 30 metres away proving that even though Kingfishers are said to be easily disturbed, their instinct to feed their young is even stronger. It could be that this busy area is a good place to breed because predators such as mink and weasels may be reluctant to frequent this area. The only threat to their safety now I believe is a sudden flood. A spring tide is due on Sunday and Monday fingers crossed it won't flood the nest, it hasn't so far so things should be OK.
Waits beneath the nest.
July 4th
I decided not to itemise minute by minute on my visit today. It's still a little overcast so dog walker wise, it's relatively peaceful. Dogs seemingly don't get so many walkies when the weather is iffy. I have constructed another screen hide with a clearer view of the comings and goings, quickly erected and then finished off with willow from inside using the Himalayan Balsam for cover at first. At first it was quiet Kingfisher wise but very soon I had a great view of one visiting the nest. It perched on a willow branch conveniently washed down river and to the right of the nest. I wasn't properly set up to photograph so I probably missed the chance to take a good photo but not worry because within minutes another was there with a fish and I took probably my best picture of an adult with a fish, it looks like a roach. It's been quite active with a bird calling from somewhere nearby. Fledging does not appear to have taken place yet, but who knows, that calling could be a young bird?
Quite interestingly, whereas yesterday the birds always seemed to arrive at the nest from down stream, today appears to be the opposite which suggests that they are returning repeatedly to a spot where they know there is a shoal of small fish. Why go looking elsewhere when you know a good source of food.
On my side of the river.
July 3rd
As I arrived at the nest site this morning at 1002 I could hear Kingfisher calling but there was a subtle change today. At 1007 one flew up river on my side, that was different than normal. I was hoping that the youngsters had fledged and I was keen to find out. As the session went on I came to the conclusion that they hadn't. At 1010 another bird was calling, probably the other one of the pair and it was flying on my side of the river just like the first one. Obviously as the chicks grow and get near to adult size the adults need to catch more and more fish to keep up with them. But today, strangely, after 30 minutes I hadn't seen a bird at the burrow. This was very unusual compared to my observations on the previous 2 days and hard to explain. At 1025 I heard a bird approaching but it didn't enter the nest and I didn't see it either. Then I heard some much more excited calling, this usually happens when the birds meet each other but still I didn't t see a bird at the nest. Then one of those dog walkers who wants to encourage their dog in to the river, turned up. Yesterday evening I actually watched Kingfishers entering the nest with fish while all that was going on nearby so I was not too worried. Contrary to all you read, these Kingfishers are not that easily disturbed. As if to contradict me though, a Kingfisher called an alarm and then flew away. I had still not seen a bird at the burrow, maybe they had fledged but I would expect to see young Kingfishers if that was the case? Kingfisher watching can be traumatic and I hoped everything was OK but I was starting to get pessimistic again.
After an hour at 1100, even though I had heard Kingfishers repeatedly both flying by and up and down river I had yet to see one enter the nest burrow, that was most unexpected. This is a change in behaviour, could it be that the adults are trying to encourage the youngsters to leave the nest by not feeding them? At 1110, at last a bird delivered food and then within a minute or so another. They had obviously been well fed before I arrived. It was another 30 minutes before another delivery but then there is a constant visit, every 15 minutes or so.
My conclusions from this visit: The chicks are continuing to be fed. The parents were unusually quiet with less calling than on my previous visits. The birds seemed to arrive at the nest burrow quietly and fly straight in. That is quite a feat of flying skill. They always arrive from the same direction and then depart back to where they had come from. I suspect that, as they were flying in and leaving in silence, I had missed some of the food deliveries earlier on. Just by taking your eyes away from the burrow for even a second could mean that you miss them.
With a perch prey.
2nd July
I returned to the Kingfisher nest site this morning at around 1030 and I am glad to report that everything is progressing properly. I made an effort to record everything that I saw, trying to learn as much about their breeding as possible.
1031. The male arrived with fish to feed the youngsters but he was disturbed by walkers nearby, he flew to my side of the river and in to the willow...... then he ate the fish himself. he then flew back to the nest side and perched on the bank above the nest and waited for the walkers to leave. He allowed them to get within 6 feet of him before flying away calling loudly, the walkers were oblivious. Kingfishers seem used to endless disturbance so no worries for me nor obviously the Kingfisher. It will be interesting to see how they deal with constant disturbance today.
1042 A KF heard but not seen.
1048. With much double syllable calling ..... Short long short long short long ....a bird arrived with a small perch, a big fish for a baby Kingfisher, come to think of it large for even an adult, this was a first for me. Even though there was a dog in the nearby cow drink he perched on the mud beneath the nest and flew up to feed the young. There was much calling as he flew away, still aware and protesting at the presence of people nearby.
1051 calls heard
1053 Calls heard
1134 Distant call heard.
1135 Now the calls are nearer.
1138 A single sylable call call down river. ......"short... Pause....short"
1139 KF leaves the nest, probably the calling bird but I hadn't seen it enter the nest.
1140 More calling then I see abird flys up river.
1142 Now some quiet calling.
1145 Bird flies in to nest and food is delivered.
It's raining and therefore its quiet with no walkers so birds are coming and going unhindered hence their relative quietness.
1148 interestingly, a dog leaps in to the water followed by a Kingfisher flying around calling, obviously disturbed and then by.....
1152 that dog had gone. I wondered how long it would be before a bird returned.
1205 The female arrived with prey, a roach, she perched on the mud beneath the nest and then flew up. Judging by the size of the prey the chicks must be due to fledge very soon. Interestingly the bird seemed very well camouflaged against the reddish earth.
1212 Excited calls are heard.
1217 I hear a call but no bird seen.
My conclusions from today: Adults were away from the nest constantly, hunting. The young are not being brooded by either parent. The fish are large, as big as an adult would eat and both of these facts would indicate that fully grown youngsters are in the nest and ready to fledge any day now.
The birds don't always call when they arrive at the nest. The male usually flies straight in to the burrow but the female appears more cautious and often lands in front of the nest before entering with her food. Sometimes there is much agitated and excited calling however. Male will fly to my side of river if disturbed but I have yet to observe the female do this.
Proof of hatched chicks.
Chicks being fed
It was 5.40am when I sat in the hide in front of the nest this morning. Almost immediately I saw a Kingfisher disappear inside the burrow, that was very pleasing! As I had walked towards the area I wasn't confident because I just couldn't imagine that the nest burrow and it's contents cold have survived what appeared to be the river level flooding above the nest burrow. Surely it would be a miracle if they had survived that. Amazingly that miracle had happened. Roughly every 10 to 15 minutes I watched a Kingfisher disappear inside, and then emerge from the burrow. Then the 100% confirmation that I hoped to see happened. The female landed just in front of the nest with a large minnow, after a short while I watched it disappear inside and then jut seconds later it emerged without the fish. What a result and absolutely amazing. All in all, in my 3 hours at the nest the Kingfishers delivered about 15 fish and by 7 o'clock the visits had become less frequent. Usually the birds would arrive quietly but on occasions they would call loudly before I then saw them enter.
Action at the burrow.
30 June. Adults flying in to the nest with fish
The last time I was at the Kingfisher nest site was exactly 2 weeks ago. At that time I had doubted that the nest was still viable but I had some hope when I did see the male perched opposite the nest. But I hadn't seen any bird going in or out of the burrow for several visits. I had been keeping an accurate diary and knew that if there were eggs and indeed the parents were sitting, then they were due to hatch sometime last week. I had a planned trip to Minorca on the calendar so I came to the conclusion that the best thing to do was to check things on my return. If there were chicks in the nest then the parents would be in and out to feed them. So this evening, there I was, sat in the hide..... without a camera...... just to check if there was any activity and frankly without much hope. I had sat for at least 45 minutes when I suddenly I heard a Kingfisher, then I heard it again and then again and the next thing was the sight of a Kingfisher disappearing in to the nest burrow and within seconds out it came again. I just couldn't stop smiling to myself, almost with disbelief! I was pretty certain that the nest had failed but how wrong I was!!!!!!
Then, my heart sank because I could see a clear water line well above the hole, how could that be, even if they had hatched eggs successfully how could they have survived a flood? But my hopes soared again when I later saw two birds and one with a fish, I couldn't be certain that it delivered the fish successfully but that is certainly what it seemed because I then saw a bird emerge from the nest without the fish! Watch this space as they say, it seems as though they are much more resilient than I thought.
I see no activity.
15th June Has this nest failed?
***Check this image with that taken on 4th June. It shows the bird on exactly the same spot in the same tree. ***
I know it seems as though the quality of my photos has declined? This is because I am photographing at my licensed Kingfisher nest site and it isn't possible to get in a position that would ensure that the light is more suitable. Yesterday at the nest, frustration and disappointment are the two words that spring to mind. I sat and waited for 2 hours hoping to see some activity around the burrow, but I didn't see any birds either entering the nest or leaving. However, I heard a Kingfisher calling at least once every ten minutes culminating with the male perching right there as you can see, in the willow tree in front of me. This is a favourite spot in this tree and I have seen the bird in exactly the same place several times and on separate days during the last three weeks. It is not a good place whatsoever for a good photo, hence the disappointing image which does not show the the bird at it's best. I am now almost sure (but not certain) that the nest has failed. The eggs were due to hatch from yesterday onwards, but it's not possible to say when incubation actually started so I am only making an estimation. I haven't come to a conclusion yet but I do believe that the birds are now nesting somewhere else, but until I either find this nest burrow or see some activity at the original nest burrow, I am undecided. The breeding success of a Kingfisher is always uncertain and precarious and as this is the second round and the first round did produce fully independent youngsters then it is not too much of a disappointment. The birds will for certain go on to try again.
Has the nest flooded.
12 June.
When I had visited the Kingfisher nest site yesterday I had been dismayed to see that the high water line was almost up to the nest even though there was still several minutes to go before high tide. I had to leave because it was almost dark and went home keeping my fingers crossed in the hope that the burrow would not be inundated. Spring tides are always higher than neaps and we are on springs at the moment . I took some confidence, and still do, to note that during the May spring tides the predicted levels were even higher and yet I know that the Kingfishers had managed to raise at least 3 youngsters to fledging. So it appears that they may have been able to endure in spite of what must have been avery close thing. If you look at the picture you can see that last night the water level reached the very edge of the nest and I am banking on the structure of the nest burrow to have preserved the safety of the clutch. Because the nest burrow slopes upwards I am assuming that the actual nest cavity which is hollowed out at the end of the tunnel is going to be several inches higher than that water line. Fingers crossed. If that doesn't prove to be the case then we have to accept that nature is very unpredictable. The Kingfishers have chosen a very precarious site, right on the edge of the rivers highest level. This afternoon, even though I didn't see any activity at the nest that is not to say that incubation was taking place as usual. I did hear and see a bird fly by as normal so I can only assume that, in spite of the danger, things are still progressing. I am returning to the nest site this evening when I hope to see some activity at the nest to confirm the situation.
Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update*
I returned to the Kingfisher site this evening to continue my observations. I have to confess that I am now seriously concerned that the nest has failed. I sat again for 1 1/2 hours waiting to see some activity at the nest. I didn't..........! It could be that I am just being unlucky, I don't think it's unusual for a Kingfisher to spend 2 hours on the nest before changing over. I have no experience of watching Kingfishers at the nest so I have nothing to compare. I do know that while one is incubating it is normal for the other bird to be well away from the nest. The only sniff of an indication that everything is still OK was when, both earlier today and this evening, a Kingfisher flew past the nest burrow calling as it went. I think that this may indicate the presence of a bird in the nest and the flying bird was on both occasions, calling to its mate..... but who knows?
Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update* *Update*
Will the nest flood?
11th June and the river is very high!
We are in the middle of a crisis at the Kingfisher nest site. The river is tidal, this wouldn't normally present a problem, however the height of each tide is dictated by the phases of the moon and there are two types of tide. The highest ones are spring tides, and the lowest are neaps and the height difference can be dramatic. Yesterday was a very high spring tide and when I visited the nest to check I could see that the morning tide had been up to within a foot of the nest hole! The worry is that the evening tide was going to be higher and when I left at 9 0'clock it hadn't quite reached the high line of the morning but there was still 30 minutes to go before it reached its full flood. Would it inundate the nest? It was getting dark when I left so when I return this morning I am hoping for a successful outcome. I didn't hear or see a Kingfisher last evening but that's not unusual as one was probably in the nest and I wasn't there for even an hour. It can be a lot longer before you hear or see one when they are incubating, so even though I am slightly concerned we will have to wait and see if everything is OK. All in all I am slightly pessimistic.
Lots of disturbance.
June 7
I arrived at the nest site this morning after not visiting since last Tuesday evening. I had found it really stressful then and thought that there is not a great deal I can do to help if disturbance is taking place, I can't do anything about it so I would rather not know. When I got there this morning, just as before on my last visit it was as though there was no nest nearby, Kingfisher wise, it was quiet and there was no sight or sound of a bird and if you didn't know of the nest burrow just opposite, you would be no wiser. My ears are tuned in to the sound of a Kingfisher calling and I noted down every time I heard one. My notebook tells me that it was about 15 minutes before I heard one, just twice in a minute or so and then within 30 minutes one flew in front of the hide from up river. When the first hour was up I had briefly seen one bird and I suspected that the other one was sitting tight on eggs in the burrow. At least I hoped so. The usual dog walkers and stone throwing owners had come and gone but most hadn't lingered too long and as there was no sign of a Kingfisher then they were causing no disturbance whatsoever. After I had been there 75 minutes, suddenly a bird arrived and called loudly but unfortunately that coincided with the arrival of yet another dog and owner so the bird who I suspect had arrived to take over, moved on up river. There was now a period of well over 35 minutes when there was absolute peace and quiet with no people or dogs and this would have been a great time for a change over at the nest. It didn't happen then though and I did begin to wonder if everything was OK? I now know that to be the case and it just proves that the none incubating bird keeps away from the vicinity when the other one is sitting. It was during this quiet time when a Carrion Crow actually perched on my hide (with me sitting in it), proving that it is an accepted part of the landscape now. I love it when this happens. After 15 minutes short of 2 hours the first really interesting activity took place and I will quote from my notebook. "KF calls loudly and again flies by me.... and now again. Now I film it next to the nest (see above) but it gets disturbed by someone who, totally oblivious walks right past on the bank above the bird just 2 feet away. (I wonder how many times people do that)? The bird flies of (still unseen), and flies towards me and then, calling very loudl it flies off up stream. It's 18 minutes later when the walker and his doggie had gone and then it flies back and settles on the same stick. In fact, in exactly the same place. Note: This is usual behaviour, once a KF has used a perch it will repeatedly use it. Unfortunately there was still a dog and owner near but this time, even though he is aware of them he stays put on the perch. During that 18 minutes I saw a bird fly strongly up-stream, this was the female leaving her sitting duties. I could clearly see that this perched bird was the male and after a few seconds, up he went to take his place on the eggs. The female had spent more than 2 hours in it's nest. All in all, after a lot of patience, a great outcome. It seems as though incubation is progressing nicely.
How can they breed here?
June 4th.
This is a blow by blow account of this evening's session at the Kingfisher site. It shows that this breeding pair of Kingfishers, who have already successfully fledged youngsters at this site are tolerant of an incredible amount of disturbance.
"I arrived at the nest site at 6.30 this evening to be confronted with people paddling deep in the water in front of the nest. My heart sank, I don't know how long they had been there of course but I decided to ask them to move away explaining that breeding birds were near here and they were probably causing a massive disturbance. They complied immediately and moved away which was good to see. That small party was replaced by another walker and his dog almost immediately so it will be interesting (to say the least) to see if the birds are going to be able to tolerate this level of disturbance. I certainly hope so, but only this evening's session is going to give me the answer. If I was a Kingfisher then there is no way that I would have chosen this site, the problem being that as the spring turns in to summer there is much more disturbance.
By 6.40 it has gone quiet thankfully and all the other local bird residents have returned in the shape of the breeding crows and a Pied Wagtail that is taking advantage of the massive amount of insect life and a Greater Spotted Woodpecker is calling behind me. But now, at 6.45, two young men are just down river skimming pebbles! It is incredibly frustrating but most people don't stay too long.
At 7.01 two noisy kayakers have arrived, the water is too shallow to traverse so they have climbed out of the boats and then wadded down river, what next? Needless to say, no sign of a Kingfisher yet.
Its 7.08 a dog and a walker arrive and the owner is throwing stones in to the water for her dog to chase. Incredibly with the dog and stone thrower still present I hear the first Kingfisher of the session, that's at 7.12, but not nearby ! Hopefully this is one of the pair coming to relieve it's mate in the nest. Unfortunately the dog walker is lingering and is still here at 1918 but eventually she leaves.
At 7.33 another kayaker gets stuck in front of the nest, he eventually gets free and then I hear a Kingfisher again.
I am still hopeful that one of the birds is in the burrow and has been there through all of this. Perhaps when you are 3 feet inside the bank, the disturbance is tolerable.
Disappointingly, just when I hoped for quiet, at 7.43, a dog and its two stone throwing owners have arrived. In to the water it goes with loud barks and much commotion, even the Wagtial is upset! I pray for peace! They remained for 14 minutes, hopefully now, a Kingfisher will show up?
At 8.07 a man arrives with no dog, a rarity in itself. He takes a few pictures of the river and stands around near the nest burrow, 2 minutes later he is gone and now I hear a Kingfisher close by but flying down river. At 8.11 it returns and calls 3 times. Amazingly I am joined in the hide by a recently emerged Golden Banded Dragonfly, a treat in itself.
But now, at 8.16 there are yet more dogs. They are in the water in front of the nest and then, as the sun starts to go down and the evening becomes golden, our latest dog walker has gone at last. It's 8.25 and a Kingfisher is now back with lots of calling and suddenly I can see it. (that's after a wait of 2 hours). I can now hear lots of calling with interaction between 2 birds, there is that churring sound that I mentioned the other day and then, suddenly I see a Kingfisher enter the nest....... amazing! It seems that there was a bird in the nest for the entire time that I have been here. It's partner arrived then called to let the sitting bird know. The sitting bird emerged and they greeted each other and then the new bird took over it's incubating duties. Its now 8.30 and I can still hear a Kingfisher, then I see it as it flies low over the water to the trees by the hide and now I have a clear view of it to my left and behind me, it's turquoise back glowing in the setting sun. Now there's much excited calling and flying around and at 8. 33 silence prevails. At 8.40, unbelievably, more doggie walkers arrive and a Golden Labrador plunges in to the water as a Jack Russell barks encouragement. I hear the recently emerged Kingfisher calling it's disapproval. Eventually as the dogs depart, the Kingfisher lands on one of it's favoured perches in front of me and I get to see that this is the male. It's an incredibly difficult shot with the bird silhouetted with the sky as a background.
Before I leave at 8.51 I see another bird enter the burrow and I decide that the lure of a cold lager is too tempting to resist, I pack up and come home happy to know that in spite of all this incredible disturbance they are incubating eggs."