I was excited when I returned to the river today, I am always expectant and hoping that I would see something special. Even before I had got myself properly concealed and settled I heard a Kingfisher and saw one disappearing in to the nest burrow. This was good to see as it is immediate confirmed that everything was OK. Just like yesterday there was a lot of activity with repeated calling and much chasing around with first a Kingfisher calling to my left and then to my right. Then there was one calling from the mud in front of the burrow and I could see it looking up to the nest where the female had just entered. After a minute or so it flew in to the nest to join her and then moments later it tumbled out tail first, I assume that he couldn't turn around inside the nest because the female was in there and had to come back out in reverse. The male would leave the nest every few minutes and then return back inside immediately, this was repeated over and over. I had witnessed this behaviour yesterday as well. Today the birds excitement didn't seem to be so intense and after an hour or so it was almost calm with just the odd call as the male came in to check up on the female who appeared to be spending more time in the nest again now. Its hard to assess at what stage they are at but I would assume that yesterdays activity and to an extent todays, was all about mating and breeding behaviour. I had presumed that eggs had already been laid but I am not so sure of this no. It is going to be hard to guess when eggs have been laid.
Its almost impossible from the distance to get really 1st class photographs but its better to have slightly inferior pictures that show interesting behaviour rather than close ups that may have an affect on the birds breeding.
Recent Comments