I’ve just got back from a lovely week staying on the banks of the River Otter, in my homeland of Devon. While I’m secretly a little disappointed not to see any of the river’s namesake (not that I expected to), I’m delighted that I got some glimpses of that jewel among British birds, the kingfisher.
I’ve always found British kingfishers very elusive. While I’ve had good views of kingfishers in Africa and India, until a couple of years ago I’d never seen one in this country. Last week I was able to see a kingfisher several times. There’s something magical about seeing a flash of electric blue dart past. In my view they are the most beautiful birds this country is home to.
It’s been my ambition to get a good photo of a kingfisher for years. Sadly the kingfishers were not very cooperative, preferring to perch in trees that still had plenty of leaves to obscure them. I didn’t have the patience (nor the thermal layers) to wait in the near freezing temperatures for the perfect shot. But I would love to return in spring, when they will be busy fishing to feed their young, and the weather might be slightly kinder to a keen but warmth-loving photographer.
So, in the absence of a decent photo of a kingfisher by me, I can only suggest you have a look at these beautiful watercolour images of kingfishers by the wonderfully talented painter Jean Haines. Details of where you can see her work can be found on her website.
Related articles
- A miracle at the Kingfisher nest. (parrotletsuk.typepad.com)
- Kingfishers nesting on a nearby river. (parrotletsuk.typepad.com)
Wild South 
One or two Belted Kingfishers visit my ponds throughout the year. They are often absent for a few weeks, and then I hear that loud “chittering” as they fly over the water. Here is a photo of one of them: http://wp.me/p26kDO-2ID. Sorry to be such a bother, but these birds are a big part of my life.
Garry
Nice photo! Sounds like you are very lucky with your avian visitors – it must be amazing having barn owls and kingfishers visit your garden! Thanks for your comments – they’re no bother, and it’s fascinating to hear about the wildlife in your part of the world. As you can tell from this blog, I’m rather fond of birds too… ;0)