Kingfisher pellets and a nest to watch!!!

In my previous post I posted the photograph below and I am pleased to say these are Kingfisher pellets and footprints. A very special find as Kingfishers normally regurgitate there pellets over water meaning they break up and become part of the river bed so I was very pleased to find a area with 6 pellets in one spot!!!

What are Kingfisher pellets?

 Kingfisher pellets are regurgitated fish bones that the Kingfishers can't digest they are compressed into a small pellet which are dropped by the bird. Birds of prey do the same when they leave they undigested parts of there prey on logs where they eat they prey.

As we wandered past we noticed a Kingfisher on the opposite side of the bank land on a nearby stick then fly into a hole and began to clear out dirt. I don't intend to photograph the birds at the nest but instead I shall wait for the young birds to fledge and dive into the river from perches I have put in place. I shall be watching the pair to see how they fair but due to raising water levels on the river with the sudden burst of heavy April showers I am not sure if they will make it.

Thanks for reading

Mike

Kingfishers and Barn Owls are just two of the relatively uncommon species afforded the highest degree of legal protection under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. If you “intentionally or recklessly” disturb a Kingfisher, Barn Owl or any other bird listed in Schedule 1 whilst trying to photograph it “in, on, at or near” the nest or whilst it has dependent young, and without the necessary Licence from Natural England (or other licensing authority), you may be committing a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 6 months.