September 19th, 2019

​It was a brilliant day for the weekly bird count at KFB. Not only was the weather superb but the birds weren’t bad either.
The Great White Egret was feeding in the dyke in front of the hide and whilst watching it, there was a reflection on the water of a Kingfisher - it was sitting on a branch just a little further on. Later there were two Kingfishers standing on the ground on the edge of an island. That was quite unusual; normally they are up on a branch or on vegetation, but I’m guessing they were siblings as Kingfishers are usually solitary birds out of the breeding season.
Then the bird I was hoping for appeared from the south and headed straight to the lake; the juvenile Osprey on its 20th day spent in the area. Although I had seen it on the day it was first reported from a friends narrow boat I was travelling on, I had yet to see it at KFB. Not only did I see it, but I saw it catch three fish during the morning and on the first occasion watched it perched in a tree across the river for 40 minutes tucking into its breakfast.
What made it even more satisfying was later whilst I stood on the river bank overlooking the lake from the west side, a couple from Kent came along who I had met in July and as I told them about the Osprey it appeared again. It did a bit of fishing, catching one on its third attempt and flew off with it. That was nice!
​Bruce.