Common Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher / alcedo atthis. 16/05/19.
My day photographing Kingfishers was not totally dominated by the male bird. The female, (his mate), put in three appearances altogether with long intervals between each one.
As the female was occupied in caring for a new brood, she largely confined herself to the nesting chamber. I'm pretty sure her brief visits out to the perched, calling male were more about having a change of scene and getting some exercise than about hunger. The dark nest chamber must be a fetid, cramped space to spend time in for long.
It looked as if this Lady Fisher had been doing a bit of home improvement in the tunnel. The tip of her beak is covered with grains of soil. Her partly open mandibles signify that she was calling to her mate.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.
Common Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher / alcedo atthis. 16/05/19.
My day photographing Kingfishers was not totally dominated by the male bird. The female, (his mate), put in three appearances altogether with long intervals between each one.
As the female was occupied in caring for a new brood, she largely confined herself to the nesting chamber. I'm pretty sure her brief visits out to the perched, calling male were more about having a change of scene and getting some exercise than about hunger. The dark nest chamber must be a fetid, cramped space to spend time in for long.
It looked as if this Lady Fisher had been doing a bit of home improvement in the tunnel. The tip of her beak is covered with grains of soil. Her partly open mandibles signify that she was calling to her mate.
BEST VIEWED LARGE.