This is the 9th year that I have had the absolute privilege to photograph Kingfishers very close to my home on the nearby brook. At the end of the breeding season, young birds take up residence - there is usually a tussle between siblings and the winner gets to claim the territory. This makes for some very interesting photo opportunities. The first youngster usually shows up around the middle of July. They breed on the River Exe not too far away and also on the brook further up stream and it's anyone's guess where the youngsters originate from. But what is for sure, the brook is a perfect habitat for the lucky territory holder. Over the last week I have been keeping watch and waiting for the first bird to show up. Yesterday evening on my 4th stake-out session of the week, suddenly from up stream a gorgeous jewel like young male flew in and landed on the perch that I had planted, protruding from the bank and spanning the narrow watercourse. Any passing bird would surely stop there and so it proved. I was excited and it proved yet again that there is no substitute for patience.
I went back this evening at around 5 and by 5.40 there he was again in exactly the same place but last night it had been obscured by the thick growth of Himalayan Balsam. I had cleared it away before I sat down today and hid under camouflage netting. I had the chance then to watch, study and photograph the young male over the next hour and a quarter.
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