Kingfisher (F) - (Alcedo atthis) Double click for large

            Taken in January 2020

Kingfishers breed in their first year, and pair-formation usually starts in February. If the male and the female have neighbouring territories, these may merge for the breeding season.

Both birds excavate the nest burrow into the stone-free sandy soil of a low stream bank, usually about 0.5m from the top. The birds choose a vertical bank clear of vegetation, since this provides a reasonable degree of protection from predators.

The nest tunnel is usually 60-90cm long, and the 6cm diameter is only a little wider than the bird. The nest chamber at the end has a slight depression to prevent eggs rolling out, but no material is brought to the nest. 2-3 broods are raised in quick succession, normally in the same nest.

The first clutch of 6-7 eggs is laid late in March or early in April. Both adults incubate the eggs, and the chicks hatch 19-21 days later. Each chick can eat 12-18 fish a day, and they are fed in rotation once a chick is fed, it moves to the back of the nest to digest its meal, causing the others to move forward.

The chicks are normally ready to leave the nest when they are 24-25 days old, but if the fish supply is poor, they can take up to 37 days.  Once out of the nest, the young are fed for only four days before the adults drive them out of the territory and start the next brood.

Taken on: January 15, 2020

Tags:

Kingfisher

Fisher

water

river

stream

fish

bright

blue

orange

birds

hunt-fish

Alcedo-atthis

slow

moving

still

vulnerable

hard

winters

habitat

degradation

through

pollution

unsympathetic

management

watercourses.

bird

animal

perched

Canon

EOS-7D-Mk2

Somerset

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Groups appears in: • Distinguished Pictures (P1-A1) • Feathers+Beaks=Birds (P2 / C2) more » • BirdWatching Magazine • BBC Springwatch (Official) • Somerset's Wonderful Wildlife • Canon EOS 7D Mark II - Official group • Birds..wild birds field guide of Britain • Birds of Britain and the Western Palearctic • PLANET ANIMAL (animal planet) • NATURE TOP • Flickr Photo Unlimited (No People) « less

Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II, f/8.0, 1/640 sec, 300mm, ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 7D Mark II
Lens:	EF300mm f/2.8L IS II USM
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/640)
Focal Length:	300mm
ISO:	640
Exposure Bias:	-1/3 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.7 (Windows)
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