If anyone is interested in getting AMAZING prolonged views of a beautiful female Kingfisher perching and even fishing and eating only a matter of feet in front of your eyes then I would definitely recommend a trip to Verulamium Park in St Albans at the moment. You may have to wait a few hours for the bird to turn up as I had to yesterday but when it does you are in for a real treat!
3 hours free parking and then just a 5 minute walk to here: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/transport-and-streets/parking/Car-parks-in-St-Albans/westminster_lodge.aspx
I will get some photos up of it on my Flickr soon!
Cheers!
Thanks Ben. It might be worth a trip round the dreaded M25.
Is this the location of car park (E)? I presume the KF is on the lake somewhere.
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Tony
My Flickr Photostream
Sorry TeeJay, I completely forgot to mention the exact location! Yes "E" is where you park and the Kingfisher uses the small stream that runs alongside the lake, it's the River Ver so anywhere on that map from the words "River Ver" down to "Ye Olde Fighting Cocks".
Thanks Ben. I might give it a try next week if she's still there.
Good Luck TJ!
From speaking to people it seems that she is becoming a bit less frequent so waiting time between visits is getting longer. Maybe now 'winter' is turning into spring she is going to be spending more time courting, nest preparing and eventually incubating and she could dissappear altogether so I cannot guarantee a sighting but I've been twice in the last week and seen her twice, albeit for 5 minutes and 15 minutes respectively in a 2-3 hour wait....apparently over Jan & Feb she was back and forth more regularly and views were more prolonged.
Regards,
Ben