I had gone looking for Kingfishers again. A once popular spot, it is not being used as regularly as it once was.Just after I arrived one turned up, out on the island, in the lake.
Too far away to photograph.
Normally, it would then fly into one of several perches. Not today, he just flew away.
Four hours later, that was the only sighting of the day. I needed to start thinking about leaving, I had things to do, and thought I was going to draw a blank today, photographically.
Then I heard the familiar whistle as he flew back onto the island. There are two perches that he normally uses, one quite near, the other, a bit further away which seems to be more popular. So I got my camera ready, set up on the furthest perch, and waited.
Ten minutes later, he was still sat out there, as though he was just teasing me.
Suddenly everything changed, a quick whistle, and he was on his way in. This time, he decided to land on the lower branch of the closest perch. As I was trying to move my camera round, and find the bird, to my surprise, another Kingfisher darted out from the reeds on the left.
This one landed alongside the first one, and I tried and failed to get a shot of both of them together.
Then the first bird, flew up to the higher branch on this perch, followed swiftly by the second bird. However as the second bird was heading upwards,the higher bird leaned down and caught the other bird in his bill. His head and across his throat was well and truly gripped tight.
At first he wriggled and flapped, then he just hung loosely, dangling down underneath the top bird. They remained like this for a while, changing position slightly. The top bird, didn't seem to have any problem holding him in place.
Then the top bird released his grip on the branch and they both plunged down into the water. They seemed to be underwater for longer than normal, before they both emerged and flew off.
Kingfishers are territorial and this was obviously a fight over the territory, and it seems could have had serious consequences.
Kingfishers might be expert fishermen, and look fabulous, but it seems they also have a dark side.
More water birds here....
http://365project.org/markp/Alternatively/20-10-2016
