Slimbridge
Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 8:40 pm
I had a day out a Slimbridge last week. I haven't been there for about 4 years and it was about the right time for the Kingfishers so I took a day off and had a trip over there.
Started off with some fighting shelducks!
and then made my way to the kingfisher hide.
I stayed in there for about 2 hours. They had a resident expert who was pointing out where the birds were in the foliage but they were a long long way off and the windows were secured shut to avoid disturbing them so taking photos wasn't easy. This was as good as I got, but it was really nice to watch the courtship. Basically she sits and waits for him. He goes fishing and comes back with a juicy stickleback and presents it to her. If she's feeling fruity, she'll take it, smash it on the branch and down it in one. Classy girl!
Then they get busy for 5 seconds and he goes off to find another fish! If only life was that simple 
I wasn't terribly happy with the pictures but it's a start on my kingfisher quest.
Started off with some fighting shelducks!
and then made my way to the kingfisher hide.
I stayed in there for about 2 hours. They had a resident expert who was pointing out where the birds were in the foliage but they were a long long way off and the windows were secured shut to avoid disturbing them so taking photos wasn't easy. This was as good as I got, but it was really nice to watch the courtship. Basically she sits and waits for him. He goes fishing and comes back with a juicy stickleback and presents it to her. If she's feeling fruity, she'll take it, smash it on the branch and down it in one. Classy girl!
Then they get busy for 5 seconds and he goes off to find another fish! If only life was that simple I wasn't terribly happy with the pictures but it's a start on my kingfisher quest.
