Take Me To The River

I live about ten miles from one of Oxfordshire's major rivers and usually get down there once or twice a month.  Lately, however, I have been visiting twice a week, as the river really comes alive in May.  Recently, I have encountered cuckoos, hobbies and at least four types of warblers - all the usual spring migrants in fact.  However, it is the kingfishers that really interests me and, as they were not in evidence at all over the winter, I have been keen to catch up with how they are doing on "my" stretch of river.  The species would appear to have suffered heavy losses last winter.  I have only seen one pair of kingfishers over a 4 or 5-mile stretch of water.  It was a similar story over the previous winter though and, on the evidence of my own experience last summer, they appeared to bounce back really well.

I have been especially looking forward to getting down to the river this week, as the previous weekend my fellow riparian Finchley and I had installed a new artificial perch over the river, from which no self-respecting kingfisher could resist fishing.

You'll be as keen as I am, then, to see the latest footage that I filmed.

Typically, while I was setting up, a male bullfinch landed on the perch and mooched around for a while before I had even unpacked my camera.  No matter, I was in for the long haul and made myself comfortable.  So, you'll be pleased to know that my morning sat by the river in the cold north-westerly wind wasn't completely wasted.  I managed to capture this footage before I left.

Oh well.  There's always tomorrow.