The RSPB reserve at Rye Meads near Hoddesdon is really worth a visit, it is a great reserve and has a number of Hides where you can sit and watch various wildlife. But over the next few weeks the Kingfisher's Hide is the best place to go as they have two breeding Kingfishers and they can be constantly seen returning to their nest with mouthfuls of tiny fish like Minnows or Stickleback for the young chicks in their nest.
When I started the Bedfordshire Birdwatching Group 6 months ago, I promised a gentleman named Clive that he would see a Kingfisher. He had never ever seen one before, we had been on various walks and to various reserves but had not been fortunate enough to see one. So, after seeing them two weeks before I knew they would be about. I met Clive in the Car Park and we see set off for a nice walk in the sunshine towards the Kingfisher Hide at the far side of the reserve.
Their nest is on a man made sandbank to the left side of a small area surrounded by reeds and bushes, the area is beautiful and there are lots of different young birds about, a Kestrel nest which is on a Pillon up above is being used and the Coot's have chicks, Moorhens are near the edge of the trees hiding behind the trees and there are even groups of Carp leaping out of the water and flapping their fins in the sunshine.
Dragonflies can be seen darting across the water, landing on the bull rushes occasionally to have a rest and to sunbathe. The Kingfisher's laid their eggs about 3 weeks ago and they have been constantly seen zooming towards the Hide, landing on a prominent twig near their nest and then coming out and perching on a small set of branches coming out of the water in front of the Hide.
I was really fortunate that both the Kingfisher's returned almost at the same time and they both landed in front of me and I was able to take a picture of them together. Some people ask me what is the difference between a male and female Kingfisher? The main difference is that the female has a red/orangy lower beak which can clearly be seen in the picture (above, right).
The Kingfisher Hide seems to attract all sorts of Birds like Long Tailed Tits, Blue Tits and occasionally a Bittern, a bird I never seen but heard Booming (Calling) at Minsmere.
After sitting at the Kingfisher Hide for half an hour watching the Kingfishers I walked around the reserve to the 3 other big hides where I saw an Oystercatcher, Lapwings and also an abundance of Black Headed Gulls who seem to like nesting on the Islands. We watched a Grey Heron on the far bank looking for its lunch and also a Common Tern swooping over the water catching insects.
So, if you have a wish list of Birds you want to see and a Kingfisher is among them then go along to the Rye Meads reserve and see one. I was delighted for Clive, being able to make his wish come true and see his first ever Kingfishers, not one but two of them.
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| An Oystercatcher on the rocks. |
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