Kingfisher

Swish, swish, swish goes the little kingfisher as it darts across the water’s edge. Its call is like a thin but piercing whistle. Few birds are as colourful as this little charmer, and it is fairly rare, so keep your eyes peeled if you see a bright blue flash with a pointy beak.

Due to its size, the kingfisher can’t cope with strong currents and prefers to hang out near still or gently flowing water. It builds its nest in the surrounding sandbank by digging a small tunnel.

Catching fish is a sport for the kingfisher. It can sit on a branch and watch for ages, and when the right prey appears in the shallow water, it dives straight down and harpoons the fish with its pointy beak. The little bird then beats the fish so that it is stunned or dies, and finally swallows it whole, head first, so that the fish bones don’t get stuck in its throat.