Winter maintains its hold.

The bitterly cold weather has maintained its icy grip on Winnall Moors this spring and as you might expect appears to have effected the wildlife. The most noticeable effect has been on the Kingfishers which have been showing less interest in the nest hole. I am hoping this is due to the cold weather halting the start of the nesting season, as on the few warmer days we had a couple of weeks ago there was a flurry of activity. The kingfishers are dependant on fish to feed themselves and their young, and unless the temperature rises fish numbers will remain at their winter low. However, the lack of interest in the nest may simply be due to the pair finding a more suitable location or even the death of one of the birds. It is a hard life being a kingfisher and they must eat at least their own bodyweight in fish every day to stay alive.

Here are some links to the Kingfisher activity earlier in the month:

A kingfisher comes into land on top of the camera

The cold weather has also meant that the Water Rail on the reserve are less timid and after weeks of searching I finally say my first Winnall Rail recently. This striking wader, with a bright red beak, walked right in front of me near the board walk and continued to give itself away with its alarming shrieking call which has been compared to that of a squealing pig. They are also know to grunt, groan and make a noise like ” the contented purring of squirrells”!  

Its not just Kingfishers the nest camera has been capturing, we’ve also had wrens and Nuthatches, whilst on the otter cam we’ve been visited by thrush species; see below for links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-FBivHGXEI Wrens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqhYSsvk2QQ Thrushes fighting

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Kingfishers investigating our nest and building bird boxes

It has been an exciting two days at Winnall Moors with the remotely placed cameras revealing that a pair of Kingfishers has been investigating the artificial nest tunnel built by Back to Nature volunteers. Initially a lone bird was seen flying into the entrance tunnel, albeit briefly, but yesterday the volunteers saw two birds in the same frame, confirming a pair has found the nest. I also caught a glimpse of a Kingfisher flying past the office window with a fish in its bill with the head end facing out wards. As Kingfishers have to swallow fish head first, so that the scales and fins don’t get stuck in their throat, this must have been a male taking the fish to a female. In Kingfisher courtship the male offers fish to the female to prove his worth as a fisher and potential mate that can provide for food for the chicks when they hatch. 

While I was checking the footage that had been recorded over the weekend I caught a glimpse of a Kingfisher flying into the nest tunnel and a crowd of excited volunteers gathered round me to watch the action. The bird flew off and then quickly back into frame which was greeted with a cheer from everyone looking on. We watched them on the live feed for a few minutes before the birds flew off.

After the excitement died down the volunteers made wooden nest boxes, one for blue tits and one for nuthatches or starlings. The size of the entrance hole dictates what bird will move in, for Blue Tits the recommended size is 25mm and for Nuthatches/Starling its 32mm. Its a little late to be putting up nest boxes (the ideal time is mid winter as birds will remember any suitable nest sites they have found over winter to be ready for spring), but I have put them out this late before and had success with great tits so fingers crossed some birds will move in. 

Drilling the nest box entrance

Finished nest boxes

Nest box in place

Not only did we see Kingfishers yesterday, but also a Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Long Tailed Tits and a male Blackcap. The last bird on that list is normally a summer visitor but it is thought that Scandinavian Blackcaps are over wintering in the UK to avoid the worst of the weather.

 

Here is the link to the first of the Kingfisher footage:

More will follow shortly.

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