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Post by lawrieleslie on Sept 19, 2014 6:39:35 GMT
The best places are clear fast flowing rivers and streams such as the Dane in South Cheshire or the Dove at uttoxeter. The best thing to do is to stand still and listen for the high pitched shrill which you will hear before you see them. There are plenty about in both locations and are not that rare. oooohhhhhh.... LP says slow rivers or still water!!! looks like we've got a good old fashioned Mexican Twitcher off!!! Just to add to the confusion the River Yealm is tidal up to Puzlinch Bridge where Kingfishers hang out. The river can be both fast flowing and lake-like stillness.
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Post by Linx on Sept 19, 2014 19:45:23 GMT
Where I used to live in Newark there was a brook beyond the garden fence and one used to perch regularly on the fence, watching me through the kitchen window. Always an exotic sight, like when you see a Spotted Woodpecker (or whatever that black one with the red beak is called). I used to come across a charm of goldfinches quite regularly as well.
Yet when I was growing up in Weston Coyney, my most exotic ornithological experience was the odd winter robin. I can only conclude you get a better class of bird in the East Midlands compared to North Staffs!
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 20, 2014 1:12:36 GMT
Where I used to live in Newark there was a brook beyond the garden fence and one used to perch regularly on the fence, watching me through the kitchen window. Always an exotic sight, like when you see a Spotted Woodpecker (or whatever that black one with the red beak is called). I used to come across a charm of goldfinches quite regularly as well. Yet when I was growing up in Weston Coyney, my most exotic ornithological experience was the odd winter robin. I can only conclude you get a better class of bird in the East Midlands compared to North Staffs! Nonsense. It's as much about how you look, as where you look. North Staffs has some fantastic birds. Granted we're not coastal, so there's a dirth of Egrets and Avocets, but there's plenty more to see if you look properly. Peregrines in the middle of Hanley, Water Rails in Baddeley Green, and Wrynecks on Hill Top for a start.
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Post by Northy on Sept 20, 2014 5:19:51 GMT
I see some quite regularly along the canal near to the Anderton boat lift, when I'm walking and running, seen them along a 3 mile stretch out to the A49 in the west. Also Heron's regulary use the stretch, sometimes using the canal boats as perch's when the people inside are still asleep. 3 weeks ago though I saw a mink in the canal Just in case you don't know where the Anderton boat lift is and you are into bird watching - There is plenty of birds around our area, mere's, canal, River weaver, wetlands with wading birds Couple of years ago we had nesting black winged stilts, first in 30 years in this country apparently. www.northwichwoodlands.org.uk/I took some pictures of a kingfisher on my phone earlier in the year, but it died and I had to have it replaced.
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Sept 20, 2014 7:14:26 GMT
I took some pictures of a kingfisher on my phone earlier in the year, but it died and I had to have it replaced. Where did you get your replacement kingfisher from?
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Post by ST1 Stokie on Sept 20, 2014 9:06:20 GMT
Ritchie Barker Out! that's where I saw the one I mentioned. alongside the houses that back onto the canal. also see quite a few herons along the towpath
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Sept 20, 2014 9:15:06 GMT
oooohhhhhh.... LP says slow rivers or still water!!! looks like we've got a good old fashioned Mexican Twitcher off!!! Just to add to the confusion the River Yealm is tidal up to Puzlinch Bridge where Kingfishers hang out. The river can be both fast flowing and lake-like stillness. I'm going by personal experience in both Devon (where I sued to live) and the Lakes where I live now. I'm not saying that Kingfishers don't inhabit areas with fast flowing streams but I always seem to see them more often by bodies of still water such as lakes and canals or by the quieter pools in faster flowing rivers. For example, I live near Thirlmere - a large reserviour and I tend to see them by the shore in winter when the reservoir is full and the water reaches the trees and bushes along the edge where the birds can perch to fish. The Beck which acts as the outflow for some of the water (the rest goes underground to Manchester) is fast flowing along much of its length and I rarely see a Kingfisher there, but the two or three quiet pools which have bushes on the banks are a favourite place for the birds and I see them frequently. It stands to reason that fishing must be easier for a Kingfisher on overhanging perches above still (ish) water which means that small fish are easier for the bird to spot.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 20, 2014 10:34:47 GMT
oooohhhhhh.... LP says slow rivers or still water!!! looks like we've got a good old fashioned Mexican Twitcher off!!! They're all wrong, I got this one in Mumf's back yard at Chatterley Whitfield, at a medium paced stream... View AttachmentI could not get anywhere near it, so this photo is massively cropped. So mission accomplished then. No luck in Stockton Brook?
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Sept 20, 2014 10:46:31 GMT
They're all wrong, I got this one in Mumf's back yard at Chatterley Whitfield, at a medium paced stream... View AttachmentI could not get anywhere near it, so this photo is massively cropped. So mission accomplished then. No luck in Stockton Brook? I class it as a partial success. I need to get much, much, closer to get a shot that I will be happy with. I spent the morning at Stockton Brook without seeing anything of interest, that said, the habitat appears to be perfect, with many potential perching sites. I've got it out of my system now, but I will drop by the locks again when I'm passing.
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Post by RichieBarkerOut! on Sept 20, 2014 10:51:28 GMT
Ritchie Barker Out! that's where I saw the one I mentioned. alongside the houses that back onto the canal. also see quite a few herons along the towpath I saw a heron there on my last visit, and it was a local guy that told me about the kingfisher. Unfortunately, it's not one of the pose for the camera variety, as it kept moving away as I closed in on it.
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Post by ST1 Stokie on Sept 20, 2014 17:19:09 GMT
There are a few small fishing lakes on fesi park just by snow centre I've seen lots of herons there
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Sept 24, 2014 23:27:48 GMT
Had a pint on the veranda at the back of The Foxley in Milton earlier and a kingfisher fluttered past, round the bend towards the village. They are certainly still out there.
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Post by lawrieleslie on Sept 25, 2014 6:41:27 GMT
Anybody know how to embed pictures onto posts from Flickr. I have two photos taken by a friend yesterday of a Kingfisher on the Isles of Scilly. Anybody??
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Post by potterglen on Sept 26, 2014 19:33:27 GMT
I want to take a photo of a kingfisher, preferable a wild one, rather than one off a bottle of lager. Does anyone have a suggestion as to where I could find one? Saw one while walking along the canal enroute to the Brit from Trentham Travelodge, just at the end of the houses opposite the canal path. You'll have to be still and quick on the camera button, they're nervous bleeders.
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Post by DansViews on Sept 26, 2014 19:34:37 GMT
Cudmore
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Post by Northy on Sept 26, 2014 19:45:06 GMT
Where did you get your replacement kingfisher from? O2 repair shop
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Post by Northy on Sept 26, 2014 19:45:42 GMT
Wtf is happening with the quotes
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Post by penkvillepotter on Sept 26, 2014 20:52:09 GMT
Saw one about 6 weeks ago flying over the small pool by the stone bridge at Knypersley Pool.
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