Tuesday 16 December 2014

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY - Pied Kingfisher - Ceryle rudis

Yesterday we woke up to a beautiful SLIDE SHOW SUNRISE over Lake Malawi (on my blog) and today I am showing you the Pied Kingfisher that were nesting in a bank at the beach at Montfort Cottage.  There were between 40-50 of them, like the one below, who were busily bringing fish for their young that were still in the burrow/nest. 


This kingfisher is estimated to be the world's third most common kingfisher.  A large, black-and-white kingfisher, about 17cm in length, with a long, black bill and short neat crest with the upper parts being barred in black.  Male has double breast band; female has a single, incomplete breast band. Juvenile is like female, but feathers from chin to breast edged buff.


The Pied Kingfisher is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Its black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish makes it distinctive. 



This is Montfort Cottage where we were staying for a few days while Daniel, my grandson completed his Scuba diving lessons and dives.  The garden lead directly down to the beach where the birds were nesting.



The breeding season is February to April. Its nest is a hole excavated in a vertical mud bank like this one above, about five feet above water. The nest tunnel is 4 to 5 feet deep and ends in a chamber. Several birds may nest in the same vicinity. The usual clutch is 3–6 white eggs.




They are usually found in pairs or small family parties. When perched, they often bob their head and flick up their tail.


In this shot you can easily distinguish between the male and the female.



This kingfisher feeds mainly on fish, although it will take crustaceans and large aquatic insects such as dragonfly larvae. It usually hunts by hovering over the water to detect prey and diving vertically down bill-first to capture fish. When not foraging, they have a straight rapid flight and have been observed flying at nearly 32 mph.




Voice: Rattling twitter; sharp, high-pitched ‘chik-chik'. 


The Pied Kingfisher sometimes reproduces co-operatively, with young non-breeding birds from an earlier brood assisting parents or even unrelated older birds.   




They can deal with prey without returning to a perch, often swallowing small prey in flight, and so can hunt over large water bodies or in estuaries that lack perches that are required by other kingfishers. Unlike some kingfishers, it is quite gregarious, and forms large roosts at night.


Common resident at freshwater wetlands, coastal lagoons and tidal pools.


          Several subspecies are recognised within the broad distribution.


         
I have a short video to show you, CLICK HERE if it does not appear below.

         


                       I was thrilled and sat for ages watching them fishing.

                           I hope you enjoyed seeing the Pied Kingfisher. 

       I am linking this post with WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

Thank you for visiting my post today.

Many thanks for the kind comments you leave on my blog and Google +.

32 comments:

  1. Love that top-notch. And would happily have joined you watching these feathered wonders. Thank you.

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  2. Great, they are most obliging for a Kingfisher.

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  3. Great images and interesting info Margaret. It must have been an enthralling and captivating time just sitting and watching these beauties going about their business?...[;o)

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  4. Thank you for all the beautiful pictures
    and the video as well. Very informative.
    Have a fine day
    【ツ】Knipsa

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  5. Oh wow, very cool to see a family of Kingfishers.. Awesome photos and post, Margaret..

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  6. An amazing bird! A great series of photos!

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  7. a joy for me as well!! I would have stayed the day as you just never know if it will happen again!! your images are wonderful!!!!

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  8. really awesome! love the gent's belt. :) cute chittering!

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  9. What a beautiful bird Margaret!I have never seen before!!
    Great shots!I really enjoyed you video!
    Have a lovely week!
    Dimi...

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  10. What a wonderful series of images Margaret!
    Your stay at the cottage came with a lovely added attraction. :)

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  11. I can't imagine that many Kingfishers in one place. A wonderful series with so much information about the birds.

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  12. This is a very impressive bird! And look at that beak! It looks almost as big as the body. Perfect for fishing!

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  13. This is refreshing memories for me. I have seen the birds for instance at the borders of Lake Victoria. You show us a number og great shots of this pied kingfisher.
    Greetings, Kees

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  14. Those are fantastic shots Margaret. That must have been one hell of a good photo session. I didn't realise until now that Pied Kingfishers nested colonially like that. Thank you for sharing your pictures and the information.

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  15. A magical encounter and great photos Margaret.

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  16. Oh you have me drooling over this bird! You had me at Kingfisher but it's a really really cool looking bird. I have to listen to its sound now. Sweet find!

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  17. They have that distinctive Kingfisher look. Quite attractive,I might add.

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  18. Great photos of the Kingfishers. They are wonderful birds.

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  19. Super pictures and what a great bird.

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  20. Great series of images! Enjoyed the video!

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  21. What a pretty (and unusual for us) kingfisher! Kingfishers aren't easy to get a shot of, they are so quick!

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  22. Great photos and interesting information!
    Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday!
    Lea

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  23. Hello There, I enjoyed your post today. The kingfisher is a gorgeous bird--and you got some fabulous photos. Sorry I haven’t been around much lately. I do try to read blogs—but just haven’t commented very much lately like I usually try to do. Please don’t give up on me. Hopefully my life will be back to ‘normal’— whatever that is (ha), sometime in January.

    I did get a cortisone shot in my knee —which has helped with the pain somewhat. In January, I will most likely have meniscus tear surgery…. BUT—in the meantime, I plan to have a fantastic Christmas —and hopefully get to see my kids/grands… God is Good.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  24. Beautiful birds. So interesting to see the nesting area.

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  25. Loved the video Margaret, thank you. I could see their distinctive twitch of the tail and can totally understand how you could enjoy just sitting and watching them for ages :D)

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  26. Wow Margaret, you captured some really beautiful photos of these Kingfishers. The ones toward the bottom are really outstanding too~

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  27. Love the black and white coloring of their shirt little bodies...and then that huge beak! Fascinating-looking birds! What a great sighting! And the fact that they nest in the ground is amazing. Loved the video!

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  28. Wow- interesting birds, Margaret! They look kind of top heavy- their bills so large for their bodies, but they're attractive indeed!

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  29. you were so lucky to be able to watch them and get lots of images :)

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  30. Wonderful images of this beautiful bird. I enjoyed this post very much.

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