Red-breasted merganser

I had quite a successful session this morning even though it was damp and raining. I like a challenge and with the promise of getting photos of the Kingfisher at Turf, I thought that a dull wet day would be a good one. It certainly would quieten things down, and if I have learnt one thing about Kingfishers it is that they are easily disturbed. I was very pleased when I got to the spot where yesterday I had placed a stick over the water. The stick was wet with guano and the mud beneath was white and splattered. Reading the signs, I could tell that sometime before I had arrived a Kingfisher had been on the perch. It is tidal at this point and so it was easy to work out that the droppings were fresh. Not only had the Kingfisher been there, there was Otter tracks in the mud as well, a sure sign that an Otter had been there this morning as well. I sat down close to the perch and waited for the Kingfisher to arrive but it didn't! Typical of Kingfishers, once you think that you have it sorted they do something unexpected! But not to worry, that little spot is good for other species and the Red-breasted Merganser (brown-head) above put on quite a show. It really is exciting...... imagine you are sat quietly concealed and a photogenic bird is on it's way towards you. This particular bird has the habit of coming to fish right close in by the lock gates giving real opportunities for good photographs. I watched her...... (I do believe she is a young female).... diving as she searched for food. I counted to myself while she was under water and tried to predict where she would surface. She was under the surface for a count of 25 to 30, this was useful to know because I could then try to predict where she is going to emerge. I was trying to catch her with prey in her beak when she surfaced and I almost did a couple of times but I suspect that she was feeding on small prey which she could swallow almost immediately. It certainly was great to photograph her. Previously I have seen males fishing there as well so,hey...it's just a matter of time and a bit of luck.