Some one called at the house last week and said there was a bloke with a long lens sat in a certain spot near the brook which runs through the forest.Tney said he had been there several hours. My son Steve and I went down later and found the area of flattened grass where the " photographer " had been sat. He was obviosly trained on a kingfisher nest hole. They use this bank quite frequently. The hole was running with "stuff" out of the entrance and there was much evidence of young being in the nest, and quite well grown I reckon. I doubt if the person has heard of Schedule 1 species but that's a whole new issue.
Any way as I walked away I thought I'll check the nest hole by hanging my head over the bank as the hole was quite near to the top. ( I have a licence )
Surprise surprise !! The young had been dug out by foxes (or a fox I should say). Fish bones all over and a great big foxey scat on top of the debris. He must have heard the young squawking.
Pity the photographer wasted a few hours I suppose.
I know foxed do Sand martins like this all the time but its my first Kingfisher.
The onle good thing is they are buiding again 100 yards from the house on a private bit so it may be a bit more secure ( Foxes can read !!! )Cheers
JohnR
Discussion
2 repliesAny way as I walked away I thought I'll check the nest hole by hanging my head over the bank as the hole was quite near to the top. ( I have a licence )
Surprise surprise !! The young had been dug out by foxes (or a fox I should say). Fish bones all over and a great big foxey scat on top of the debris. He must have heard the young squawking.
Pity the photographer wasted a few hours I suppose.
I know foxed do Sand martins like this all the time but its my first Kingfisher.
The onle good thing is they are buiding again 100 yards from the house on a private bit so it may be a bit more secure ( Foxes can read !!! )Cheers
JohnR
Lee
Drew