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.