It's been a tremendous eye opener to photograph and record the species that I have observed in just one tiny spot on the local brook over the last couple of months. Take yesterday, a Dipper was suddenly on the tiny waterfall just in front of the hide. This was more than unexpected, I would never have associated this habitat with what I think of as a bird of much more remote locations and different kinds of watercourses. The brook here has very few sections where the water flows quickly yet this dipper must have been able to find food even though the water can be muddy. They feed entirely on invertebrates and very small fish which the catch by fully immersing themselves underwater and walking along the bottom of the stream. They use the fast flow of water to force them down on to the bottom to feed. The first assumption to make is that this bird was just passing through, but from where and to where? We are miles from Dartmoor for example? Further to this, I have been told that Dipper have been seen here on the brook previously, I can only assume that they must be breeding somewhere on this watercourse. Regardless of these quandaries, it certainly was a great sighting. Later on in the day, I was yet again really surprised when a Kingfisher arrived in front of me but not the male that I had been seeing for the last 6 weeks but this time, a female. Knowing that Kingfishers are highly territorial I wouldn't have expected a new bird to suddenly be hunting here where I had previously seen a male, the presumed territory holder. It was brilliant to see it, first fishing about 30 yards away and then fly closer and eventually - well after only a minute or so - land on the reed mace just in front of the hide. It dived and immediately caught a stickleback, and then after landing on a light reed, move on to the heavy branch that I had laid in the water. It dealt with the prickly fish and I managed some great shots, a very successful session. At this spot I have now recorded the following species: Fox, Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Stonechat, Robin, Redwing, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cormorant, Teal, Mallard, Moorhen, Buzzard, Black Headed Gull, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren and of course Dipper. 20 species in all.
Recent Comments