It’s often the shrill call that alerts me to the presence of a Wilden Marsh kingfisher. Sometimes it’s an iridescent blue flash zooming a foot or two above the river that catches my eye and, occasionally, I see a kingfisher actually perched on a tree branch, twig, or fence post. Kingfishers fly at only one speed: fast and straight, but they can hover when fishing. The brilliant blue of the kingfisher’s back feathers is not a result of pigment, but is a function of light striking specially modified layers of feather cells.
As far as I can tell, there are three kingfisher territories on the marsh.
There are 87 different species of kingfisher in the world, but only one, Alcedo atthis, breeds in Europe.
Few British kingfishers ever move more than 250km; freezing weather, though, will prompt them to move to the coast. Severe winters can lead to as many as 90% of Britain’s kingfishers perishing; an individual bird will eat around fifteen minnows each day. kingfishers counteract high mortality amongst their young by hatching two or three broods a year, with as many as 10 chicks in each.
Though fish form the main part of the kingfisher’s diet, it also eats many aquatic insects, ranging from dragonfly nymphs to water beetles.
A fabulous wee bird! Once seen, never forgotten!
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I occasionally see one round here but have never been quick enough to capture one on camera.
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I miss 99% of the kingfisher photo opportunities that present to me, so I understand how you feel, Tom.
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This is a real beauty!
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The Belted Kingfishers in our wetland is as fast as yours… but not nearly as showy! The Marsh Kingfisher is extraordinary!
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Lovely photograph of the kingfisher.
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Gorgeous bird and a lovely photo! We had a female Belted kingfisher visit our yard yesterday, and perch (briefly!) on a branch overtop our backyard pond – long enough to have a look through our binocs, but not long enough to fetch my camera. She was very nattily dressed, but nowhere near as colourful as your visitor!
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Belted kingfishers look a little bit mad to me, and naughty too. 🙂
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Hah! That is true – especially when they zoom over your head in a kayak, scolding you madly the entire time. 🙂
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Gorgeous capture, Michael, and what a beautiful bird!
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What a stunning bird! The species I know best is the Belted Kingfisher. I chased one down the Jordan River in my Kayak in October.
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They take some chasing, Roger.
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