Halloween Halcyon

I saw my first kingfisher on Christmas Day. MrQ and I and our children walked along the High Street in Ongar after our Christmas meal prepared by my mother-in-law. The bird flashed over the River Roding as we watched from the bridge. We were thrilled.

Since then I've captured these birds from hides and memorably in their natural habitats on the Rivers Mimram and Lea.

Today I went to the family nursery and staked it out in case errant nephew tried to gain access. I parked the van across the entrance and read the newspapers. All was quiet so I went for a walk down to the back field. The first thing I saw was a pair of conjoined dragonflies flying over the pond. A male common darter landed at my feet. Then I spotted and photographed some willow emerald damselflies. Great that these have arrived in the Dengie Hundred.

As I stood in the sunshine in my shirtsleeves I heard a piping call and didn't immediately identify it. A splash. A kingfisher! I couldn't see the bird but trained my camera to where I guessed it had perched and got the above rubbish shot.

I'm beyond thrilled. We certainly didn't see kingfishers on this pond when I was child and I've never heard of anyone seeing one here.