The king in his domain

A few days ago Woodpeckers went for a walk with a friend part of which included the towpath on the canal near Thrupp. She rang me from there to tell me that several photographers with lonnnng lenses were excited by the presence of a couple of kingfishers. I was busy at the time so couldn’t join them.

This morning the weather was rather dull and overcast in the aftermath of some rain. Suddenly at lunchtime the sky began to slowly clear and I decided to go for a walk along that section of the towpath on the off chance of seeing a kingfisher. when I arrived it was particularly quiet with just an occasional walker, but with very few birds at all. I walked to the next lock at Ham Mill and stood on the old brick bridge over the canal which carried the ancient footpath across the valley. From there I looked along the canal for some time enjoying the warm weather and the brighter lighting conditions.

A woman walked up the canal towpath towards me and asked if I had seen anything exciting, to which I had to say no. she did say that she had seen a kingfisher nearby earlier and ten she walked on. Within a minute u heard her call out and saw her raise her hand and point. I slowly walked towards her guessing she’d seen a kingfisher and she said it had flown on again up the cut, but it was definitely around. I thanked her and she returned back down the canal.

I stood in anticipation of a long wait, but within a few minutesI saw the classic flashing blue colours of a kingfisher flying at full speed a couple of feet above  the water. I saw it veer off towards the reeds on the opposite bank and walked towards that area. Then I saw it perched on this sign on the bank. I took a few pictures, but this particular moment was when it raised its neck from its normal squat position as if in alarm, which I managed to catch.

It did fly down in a dive for a fish, but it flew off with the catch. I then followed the kingfisher for about half an hour and did take other pictures, but this one is my favourite.