I just wanted to share with you all that I have at last seen my first kingfisher. I have always wanted to see one and finally I have achieved it. I watched it for 5 minutes or so, it was quite near to me. I had to hand some binoculars which helped me to see its beauty.
I was amazed how large its beak was and its short tail. It twice dived off a branch to pick something up from the stream, before popping back to eat it.
So another life long dream to tick off my list. I am so delighted.

Congratulations!

I think they are one of the most colorful birds around in the UK, and a joy to watch, esepcially if you get more than a glimpse like you did.

How wonderful! I was so chuffed when I spotted mine in Wales . They are incredibly beautiful little birds.

Kingfisher

I think they are a truly breathtaking bird and I just have to stop and watch whenever I see one. I was lucky to have seen and videoed the pair that featured in Autumn Watch at Martin Mere last year, we were in the Ron Barker hide on the Sunday after the series had finished, when they flew onto some vegetation on the far side of the drain just in front of the hide.

Once you get your eye in and more especially get your ear trained to their call, it's surprising how common they are. We stayed on a caravan site in Derbyshire earlier this year which had a stream on two sides. As soon as we were sorted out, I scouted along the banks with binoculars and sure enough, there was a kingfisher. On our first visit to Marton Mere with some friends, one of the first birds we saw when entering the hide was a kingfisher, which seemed to have a particular route round and over the mere. Speaking to one of the volunteers afterwards, he said that he had never yet managed to see one!

Keep looking, and good luck with future sightings.

That's wonderful for you Jane! Kingfishers are so beautiful to look at, unfortunately I've not yet seen one in the wild but would love to one day.

i am sorry to say its many a year since i seen a kingfisher we used to have them nest in a local bank near a stream but there is hardly any depth of water there now so the kingfishers moved on,but once you have seen a kingfisher you will never for get it.

I totally agree, they are beautiful birds and great to watch when you get a chance. I haven't seen one many times, and never for long as often I've just got a glimpse of it as I walk across a bridge or somewhere similar. But when I have seen one for more than a couple of seconds I think they may be one of my favourite birds to watch.

I saw my first kingfisher when I was on a boat trip, and one went flying really close past the boat. It was magnificent!

I saw one today on the estuary at Hayle!

Where abouts is that?

West Cornwall. Have you not heard of the Hayle Estuary? Its the most westerly estuary in the UK and a mecca for birders. It has had loads of rarities in the past. There has been Green-winged Teal, Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gul and Avocet this week!

Nice! I have only seen 1 bird from that selection, an Avocet.

By the way, this is my 100th Post!! Woo-hoo!!!