The River King

Often working by the river i regularly hear the shrill whistle and sometimes catch a quick glimpse of a blue blur as the Kingfisher flashes past. I have tried to photograph them before but only managed a few lucky distant photos. So for a first outing of the Stealth hide the Kingfisher seemed like a good challenge.

On Saturday morning i headed down to the river and set the hide up opposite a low overhanging branch that i had seen a Kingfisher perched on a few weeks ago, this only took a minute at most, got the tripod and camera set up, got my seat out and settled in.

Hiding in the hide.

Thirty or forty minutes quickly passed as i listened to the soft babbling of the river occasionally seeing a Nuthatch collecting moss for a nest, then suddenly the shrill chirp id had been waiting for, there were a few minutes of teasing calls then a Kingfisher flew onto the perch. It was a male and had fresh soily deposits on his bill (perhaps a sign of nest excavating), he stayed there for a little while and then flew a few meters up stream perching on a dead stem, still in view he had a little preen and flew off up stream.

Male Kingfisher

Male Kingfisher

Male Kingfisher with soily deposits on his bill

Male Kingfisher

Male Kingfisher

As i sat reflecting on my closest encounter i have ever had with such a wonderful bird another chorus of calls rang out down stream, like a blue bullet over the flow of the water a Kingfisher landed on the perch again, this time it was a female. She sat there quite content for about five minutes.

Female Kingfisher

Female Kingfisher

Watching the female on on the branch with her head bobbing up and down with an occasional sideways glance was very peaceful, the tranquillity was shattered by a cacophony of calls between the female and another Kingfisher up stream. Suddenly the male appeared with a fish which was orientated the wrong way for him to swallow, they both moved closer she happily accepted the fishy gift from him. While she swallowed the fish the male stood guard, a moment or two passed and the male left up stream with the female soon following behind. 

Male arrives with a fishy presant

A fishy exchange

I was left a little bit in awe, it was amazing to see such an intimate display of pair bonding so close. Quite thrilled and contented with what i had witnessed it was time to leave, i quickly packed the hide away and returned home for a brew.

Rippled watery reflection