kingfishers

[fishbait]

I have just seen a kingfisher in the port of Dunkerque. Its several km to the nearest fresh water which makes me wonder if they will fish in saltwater?? Could any of you far to clever chappies confirm this??
Many thanks.

[Thunderbird+]

Hi fishbait,
I've seen them at rivers streams lakes and ponds but not the coast but according to this site they do sometimes go to the coast in the winter.
http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/birdguide/king fisher.asp

I wonder if fish are scarce further inland ?

[burnhal]

I saw once once at Newtown on the Isle of Wight. This is tidal water- saltmarshes. From what I remember this was summertime.

[fishbait]

Hi Thunderbird plus, your link didn't seem to work however i will take your word for it. I am an Avid ornithologist and work Voluntary for the RSPB, i have however never seen kingfishers on the coast until today. It was a real shock to see one it just seemed so out of place.

Maybe you are right i don't want to harp on about climate change but birds are a very good indicator of how environments are doing. I was working down at seaford last year with the kittiwakes, we saw many deaths due to starvation. It is believed that the rise in sea temperature has reduced plancton which feed the sands eels that are the main food sauce of kittiwakes.

Makes me sad to think that thoe.

;)

[heathfield]

A friend recently reported watching a kingfisher spending a couple of hours successfully fishing in the (salt water) docks at Dundee.

[burnhal]

Hi fishbait- where do you do your voluntary work? I am a voluntary warden at Otmoor near Oxford

[fishbait]

Blean Woods Canterbury, I also try and get involved withe the ABB events, this year i worked at Bewl Water with the great crested grebe's and the New Forrest showing Hobbies and Goshawks. Many thanks for the confirmation heathfield, i will look out saltwater fishing in the future.