Sunday, July 6, 2014

Mainly Kingfisher

I’m hoping that blog readers like to see Common Kingfishers because that’s virtually all the pictures on show today when other birds failed to play ball with the camera. Don't forget to click the pics for a Kingfisher feast.

There are many boats of all shapes and sizes at Glasson Dock, the vessels tied with all manner of ropes and chains. The moorings and the boats make for great perches where a Kingfisher can watch the water just a few or several feet below. From across the water I spotted one doing just that. 

Glasson Dock

A Kingfisher has eyesight with polarising filters which cuts out reflections and enables the bird to see their underwater prey better. When they plunge into the water, the eyes are protected by a membrane, so they actually catch their prey blind, relying on touch to snap their bills shut. A Kingfisher prefers to hunt in shallow water because it gives them better accuracy. 

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Kingfisher

Just like the owl family, the kingfisher family of birds bring up the indigestible parts of their food as pellets. In the case of kingfishers they regurgitate tiny pellets of indigestible fish bones. The pictures below show today's Kingfisher doing that. 

 Kingfisher

 Kingfisher

Kingfisher

I walked a good way along the towpath towards Conder and then back to Glasson with reward in the shape of an unexpected Nuthatch, the bird calling loudly from the tiny wood alongside the path.

Nuthatches have been somewaht scarce in recent years, although they may still be a mile up the road at Thurham. It's  a Nuthatch haunt of many years standing but not a particularly good summer birding spot. The Nuthatch below is from 2011.

Nuthatch

Otherwise, a good count of 12+ Reed Warblers, made up of three singers and other birds scuttling through the waterside vegetation to feed or be fed. Also, 2 Chiffchaff in song, 4 Tree Sparrow, 3 Reed Bunting and 3 Whitethroat. 

A good number of Moorhens use the thick waterside vegetation, some feeding their likely second broods. 

Lancaster Canal - Glasson

Moorhen

Two whistle stops at Conder Green revealed 50+ Swift, 120 Redshank, 12 Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Spotted Redshank.

The usual herons, 4 Little Egret and 2 Grey Heron.

Linking today to Stewart's World Bird Wednesday.

More soon from Another Bird Blog.

25 comments:

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Love kingfisher.. Fantastic pictures.. Congrats..

Unknown said...

Excellent photos of the kingfisher. It's a gorgeous bird.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Really great pictures of the kingfisher, Phil. I think you should start a contest to rename it. I'll start it off with Superb Dazzler!

eileeninmd said...

The Kingfisher looks anything but Common, Phil! Gorgeous bird and photos.. Enjoy your new week!

Carole M. said...

a lovely location and fabulous return of Kingfisher photographs Phil. Glad you got the Nuthatch in there too...and the dear Moorhen.

Maude Lynn said...

Gorgeous pictures!

Adam Jones said...

Brilliant shots. I can only dream of getting anything like that of a Kingfisher. Very jealous.

carol l mckenna said...

Marvelous photography ~ love the port scene and the Kingfisher is exquisite for OWT ~ thanks, ^_^

artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

Laura said...

That kingfisher is beautiful. I've never seen one before!

lorik said...

What an absolutely gorgeous bird..and it has my favourite colour combination. You have done a great job of showing the beautiful detail in the feathers etc, especially the head.

Valerie said...

Stunning images Phil - thank you so much for sharing.

K V V S MURTHY said...

The different moods of the bird captured very well..!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I LOVE 'your' kingfishers, which are more colorful than ours ... and I have only once ever been able to even get a mediocre picture of one, even tho we see them fairly often on both coasts. Didn't know that they did that pellet thing like owls. Learned something new here (as I pretty much always do). Thanks.

Fun60 said...

Fabulous photos of our most beautiful bird.

Cynthia said...

What wonderful photos. I have loved kingfishers since I was a little kid, but yours are quite different from our (Minnesota, US).

chai-and-chardonnay.blogspot.com said...

Wonderful images of the most lovely little bird!

i am pam said...

love kingfishers! the one we have in FLA is not to brightly colored but still beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Stewart M said...

Great looking bird - always a decent day if you see a kingfisher in my opinion.

Sorry for slow reply - hectic weeks!

Cheers - Stewart M

Hootin Anni said...

Magnificent images of the kingfisher. And I learned a lot by reading about their specialized lenses. Enabling them to see more clearly the underwater goings-on.

Your other birds are just as great tho...but that coloring of your kingfisher photos definitely steals the show today.

FAB said...

A good day for the fish catcher and the cameraman ... super shots Phil.

I'm regularly hearing Nuthatch but too much foliage to get any pics!

EG CameraGirl said...

Lucky you to have gotten so many fantastic photos of the kingfisher!

Bob Bushell said...

I've a perfect one of those, the Kingfisher, you have though. Perfection is the word Phil.

Neil said...

Beautiful Kingfisher

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

HI What a brilliant series of images you got of the Kingfisher.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Well, HAPPY, HAPPY, for one the Swallow as your new header/banner image is a marvelous photograph Phil and we all know how much I adore Swallows, just stunning! Wow and then all of the amazing Kingfisher image shares, what a perfect share for the day...well I am 2 days behind, but catching up and so thankful I have. Great share, as always Phil. Hope you are having a dandy day~

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