I've always wanted to see a Sacred Kingfisher but have never been lucky enough until today. I found one about 50m from my house!!
I was driving home and watching all the Welcome Swallows darting around when a unfamiliar bird sitting on a powerline caught my eye. I thought it was a Kingfisher so I rushed the 50m home and got my camera and then drove back. It was still there! Hooray. I took a great photo but then my camera beeped and 'NO CARD' flashed up. I actually teared up. I was devestated. Anyway I rushed back home, grabbed the card and went back to get a photo but my Kingfisher had gone.
I sat around for a bit hoping it would come back and what do you know, it reappeared on the other side of the road in a tree. I managed a few bad photos but the weather was horrible and drab and I couldn't get very close because of a rude barb wired fence in my way.
Anyway I was just wondering if they tend to hang around the same place. I think tomorrow is going to be better weather and maybe if I'm better prepared and it's not pouring rain I'll be able to get a good photo of the Kingfisher. Do you think there is a good chance it will be back around the same area tomorrow?
EDIT: On further investigation I'm starting to think it was a Red Backed Kingfisher which also makes me very happy. (I've never seen a Kingfisher before.) If anyone knows their Kingfishers I've posted 2 of the best bad photos in Identification forum.
From my limited recent experience of kingfishers I think they tend to hang around the same spots.
I only recently started to notice kingfishers a lot more while out doing bird surveys, as I heard the distinctive "ki-ki-ki-ki-ki" of the sacred kingfisher and was unsure what it was, so had to identify the bird making it. After that I started hearing it a lot more and seemed to see them regularly on subsequent visits to the same site.
I would suggest if your site is near a creek or water source there is a fair chance that the bird will still be in the area.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane
I suspect being near a creek or river with suitable breeding habitat is the key to a kingfisher hanging about (excepting, perhaps, the red-backed kingfisher which I've seen in the SA mallee, many kilometres from water). I've seen a sacred kingfisher twice in 25 years at our place & both times it was after heavy & prolonged rain had filled our ephemeral dams. Both times the kingfisher had come & gone in a flash.
I have a bush paddock that backs on to my house and the road where I spotted the Kingfisher. It has a creek running through it that is about 200m away from my fence so I suppose that is a pretty good sign that the Kingfisher may be resident in the area.
I'm really happy with the amount of native birds I've seen around my house the last 6 months or so, there seems to be a really big varity lately, things I've never seen before. Maybe the rains have brought them back or maybe I'm just looking harder. Off the top of my head I've got Rosellas (Crimson and Eastern), Black Faced Cukoo-Shrike, New Holland Honey Eaters, Scarlet Robins, Superb Fairy Wrens, Scarlet Robins, Yellow Robins, a bird of prey that my husband has seen in flight twice and I've only just caught a glimps of as it dove into the bush and now a Kingfisher too! It's absolutely fantastic.
North Central Victoria
Yep, I'd say hang around the same creek area up and down a few hundred metres maybe andx you are bound to see it abain bibby.
The sacred has a noticeably buff breast ( more so in the male than the female) and you should be able to tell quite clearly, plus of course there is no red on its back. I have never seen a red backed one I don't think.
Don't worry you are not the first of us and you won't be the last to get the no card flashing at you, but it is a good idea if you have the flexibilty to set it to no shooting without a card...then you wont waste your time. I always give it a quick check that way when I leave the house.
Better luck next time
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Bibby, it's amazing what you see when you realise there's a whole new exciting world out there. Shortly after I became interested in birds I found my awareness & my observation skills increased hugely. Keep looking! And I think your observation about the rain bringing birds to your area is probably on the money. All sorts of creatures are advantaged by rain & they provide all sorts of food for all sorts of birds.
I must agree with Woko. Since I have recently become more interested in birds, I find my observation is much better and there is so much more to see. I recently noticed a Sacred Kingfisher by the underside colour and shape of the wings. Since then, I have seen them everywhere at the local wetlands --- the call is especially noticable. I have only seen them once before in NZ! Enjoy them Sue
I've seen one once at our place, sitting on the fence of the tennis court. But only the once. I keep looking for it, just in case.
Kathiemt
Selby, Victoria
Sacred Kingfisher and the glass door
Heard a noise at the back of the house in Sydney early this morning. Found a Sacred Kingfisher flapping on the Verandah. I thought it was injured as one wing was out and it couldn't fly. Called WIRES and took it to the local vet. Good news -- no damage -- just stunned. Lovely bird with a sharp beak! First one we have seen in our garden in almost 40 years.
John L
Keep protecting & restoring the natural environment, leajoh, & you'll get lots more of that sort of thing. And the birds won't be the only things that will be stunned!