Kingfisher Jan 2024

Male Kingfisher River Rea CH/NR January 2024 daily. Female Kingfisher on the Bourn Brook DH January 2024 daily. Birds not seen however after heavy rain or when the river is full flow from the rain.

Female Kingfisher at the Bourn Brook Uni, several times January 2024. When there was heavy rain I think the same female Kingfisher was on the canal further along at Selly Oak. Good to see it catch a fish.

The juvenile Kingfisher that was present at the end of 2023 was not heard for a number of days during January 2023. It returned on 18th Jan.

Male Kingfisher along the River Rea at Lifford in the usual place.

River Stour Dipper

 River Stour Dipper present 1/1/2024 at Mousesweet Brook

River Stour Dipper

 River Stour Dipper on the Mousesweet / Black Brook 7/12/23

River Rea / Bourn Brook Kingfishers Nov 2023

River Rea / Bourn Brook Kingfishers Nov 2023

There were 3 Kingfishers at the River Rea / Bourn Brook join early morning.

Adult male & female and then a juvenile (call).

I think the male has seen off the female & the juvenile remains flying downstream.

Not seen much of Bourn Brook Kingfishers, I did see one by the Uni and one by the blue bridge.

At dusk one flew from the valley heading towards a pond/pool nearby.

Belne Brook Dippers Nov 2023

2 Belne Brook Dippers Nov 2023

1 Dipper usual spot early morning Belbroughton

1 Dipper near a footbridge in someones garden & then the HP brook section

River Stour Dippers

Last week I located a River Stour Dipper on the Mousesweet Brook / Black Brook.

Kingfisher seen on the join to the River Stour.

River Rea Kingfisher nests 2023

River Rea Kingfisher nests 2023

Lucky to find 2 River Rea Kingfisher nests in July.

3 fledged on the Thursday 31st August (KN)

Another 2 fledged Saturday 2nd September (DL), same day as the West Midlands all dayer.

For the all dayer, 2 Kingfisher were seen at Bartley Reservoir and I saw one myself that afternoon.

The dates for the nesting Kingfishers were;

River Rea & previous nests flooded due to rain 7th July

Nest digging started 8th July and could have taken a week to complete

Female was laying eggs 14th July and could have taken a week to complete

Male bought female a fish to the nest on the 15th July and she flew out to take it

Female mainly sat on the eggs (BTO/RSPB state 20 days)

Eggs hatched early August and were brooded for approx one week

The female left and the male bought fish for the chicks in the nest.

After approx 24 to 25 days chicks fledged (RSPB state 24 days)