Kingfisher Sightings

[asthecrowflys]

Hello All,

I want to shoot some Kingfishers, (camera/long lens, not air rifle!) Has anyone seen any? They are very allusive. May I ask everyone to post here where they have seen them please. I can access all of the North Broads with a trailable boat. 

If possible use What Three Words. This is a fantastic smart phone app that divides the whole world up in to 3m x 3m squares. If not, then just a very good description, location, which river bank etc. 

Thanks for your help.

[charlesa]

From past experience if you were to moor at Irstead Staithe on the Ant (although a very popular spot so can be very tricky to bag a mooring) and watched the river there, you should have a good chance. 

[charlesa]

Welcome to the forum by the way !!

[asthecrowflys]

Thank you charlesa, that's a spot I can get too without launching the boat too.

[Lulu]

We had a kingfisher sitting on our pushpit rail yesterday evening in the marina at Stalham.  Wish I’d had my camera to hand,  then this morning we’ve spotted 3 on the way to Paddy’s Lane. Absolute rubbish photo but proof! 

[asthecrowflys]

Hello Lulu,

 

Thank you, how fabulous. Which Stalham marina was this and where is Paddys Lane? Thank you

[Lulu]

Broadsedge Marina and Paddy’s Lane / Barton Turf is just before you get to Barton Broad (coming from Stalham) 

[WherryNice]

I have had them fly along the river in front of me for quite some distance whilst travelling up the Ant above Barton Broad on a couple of occasions, that general area seems good to see them.

[grendel]

I have seen them on the way from wroxham to coltishall, from Beccles up to geldeston, and inside the wet shed at richardsons, cheeky blighter was sat behind me not 4 foot away on the next boats pulpit rail, while I had the camera pointed the other way.

[asthecrowflys]

Excellent, will get the boat out and head to Barton Broad area next week. Thank you Lulu and WherryNice

[Chelsea14Ian]

We've  seen them all over the broads. Yes last summer at broadsedge.Oftrn sitting on boats,ropes etc.

And here's a big one spotted last summer!

[Regulo]

If you do ever go South, Surlingham Broad (Bargate) is a reliable location. North end, under the trees.

[BroadAmbition]

Inside the wetshed, sometimes onboard 'B.A' too!

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

Anywhere from Richo's at Stalham down to How Hill regularly

Griff

[DAVIDH]

1 hour ago, Chelsea14Ian said:

And here's a big one spotted last summer

You actually had me looking too!

[TeamElla]

They're both cheeky and opportunistic too (see first pic)

I know that these pictures are very old, but the clarity of the water at WEST SOMERTON makes it a reliable place to find kingfishers.

As with anywhere though, incredible patience is needed to capture a decent picture of one.

[TeamElla]

Here you go:-

cropping.ranged.behaving

[Cheesey69]

Stalham. On way to staith there was a Boatshed, now demolished leaving a hole in a row of willows. They hunt in the gap and along hedge. 

[vanessan]

Often seen them between Beccles and Geldeston and, yes, they are fond of pulpit and pushpit rails in boatyards!

[Wussername]

One encouraging aspect of this thread is the apparent healthy population of the Kingfisher. It was not so many years ago that the bird was a rarity, seldom seen.

Severe winters were held responsible and cold springs. Frozen rivers and dykes caused serious problems for the bird and the population plummeted. Now it seems global warming has favoured the species.

I wish the same could be said of some of our other birds. I have seen a dramatic decrease in so many of our common resident birds and visitors. Birds which I used to see on a regular basis, not only in my garden but in the fields that surround my house, fields of wheat, barley and sugar beet. Raptors play an important role, Marsh Harrier, Red Kite, Sparrow Hawk and Buzzard often seen, not in sufficient numbers to cause such a dramatic effect.

By the way, I live on the outskirts of Lingwood, Strumpshaw and its nature reserve. Very close, a few minutes walk from Strumpshaw Hill over looking the valley of the river Yare and a ten minute walk to the Buckenham Marshes.

Something is happening. What has happened. Where have they gone? and why have they gone?

[YnysMon]

We have seen changes in our garden population over the years too. Whether good or bad, I have no idea. We first moved here in 1986, to an area of Milton Keynes not that far from Willen Lake, and just beyond that, the M1. For the first few years we regularly had flocks of starlings descend upon us. Starlings are now a rarity. House sparrows are a regular feature, as are blue tits, etc. pigeons (some are very fat rascals). The new kids on our block are goldfinches, appeared about four years back and seem to be getting more numerous each year.

[CambridgeCabby]

Very true , seeing coots and moorhens used to commonplace , now it seems to be a privilege 

[asthecrowflys]

8 hours ago, TeamElla said:

Here you go:-

cropping.ranged.behaving

Great thank you

[NotDeadYet]

Two weeks ago we saw three (separately, not a flock!) on the Ant between the Stalham turnoff and Wayford Bridge.

[ChrisB]

I concur with Upper Ant, Stalham Dyke, right to the top and abov Wayford.