Kingfisher

Those that read my blog regularly  will know that I have had some fabulous close-up encounters with Kingfishers, near to home on the local brook. However so far this year, I haven't been so lucky and in spite of rebuilding a hide back in June, and visiting it regularly, I haven't had a visit from a Kingfisher so far this year. In fact I hadn't even seen one where peviously it had been a daily occurance.  Kingfishers are strongly territorial and I have been pretty confident that eventually one would take up residency. At lunchtime today, I was almost exhaltant when I went to the brook and straight away I saw a Kingfisher. It saw me at exactly the same instant and, as they do, flew upstream immediately. This is great news.  I have had two sessions in the hide  since, expecting the new resident to perch in front  on the strategically placed perches. I am full of excitement and anticiaption and can't wait to get a close look...... is it an adult?  Is it male or is it female?  Will it visit often? So many questions to be answered. As I sat waiting, and with the camera at the ready, a young Moorhen swam past, just feet away and I was pleased to note that this species had obviously bred here.