{"id":14445,"date":"2026-02-09T16:55:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T16:55:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marfell.me.uk\/wordpress\/?p=14445"},"modified":"2026-02-27T09:43:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T09:43:53","slug":"kingfisher-otter-7-8-feb-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marfell.me.uk\/wordpress\/kingfisher-otter-7-8-feb-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Kingfisher & Otter, 7 & 8 Feb 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On Saturday afternoon I decided to go down to Roberts Park to look at a fishing notice near the weir, more on that at the end. I thought it was a while since I had been to look at it, but, now I have looked back through my photos, it was only November 2024. Even though fine rain was coming down I decided to stay out and went down the drive to Saltaire Sports Ground. (Velvet Shank, Bracket Fungi, Goldcrest) and then back along the canal. (Puffball & Grey Heron) While out the frequent topics of conversation where Kingfisher and Otter. I have seen many Kingfisher over the years but had yet to see an Otter so I decided to head down to the Aire Sculpture Trail <\/a>on the river beyond the New Mill apartments. On the tow path at Salts Mill I was asked if I was looking for wildlife. We talked about looking for Otters and while we were talking one popped its head up out of the water just next to us. The header image is the Otter from the Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As usual you can tap\/touch\/click on an image to see it in better quality in the carousel gallery with an i<\/em> for more information. And if you like what you see please click on one or more of the Share <\/em>buttons at the bottom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Otter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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On the Saturday the Otter put on a bit of a show for us and several times it came up to the tow path. I was surprised at the speed and number of fish it could catch and eat. The light was not good so on Sunday, with a brighter sky, I decided to see if the Otter was still on the canal. It was but it tended to stay right over by the mill so I didn’t manage to get any decently lit close views of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Otter went down to Shipley Wharfe at the pace of a brisk walk staying close to the far bank all the time and going between moored boats and the side. Fantastic to watch and then you notice what it has to share its environment with. Discarded Irn Bru bottles and plastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At water level in the walls of Salts Mill are pipes and holes and the Otter disappeared into a couple of them for a few minutes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Kingfisher<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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While watching the Otter on Saturday a Kingfisher flew along the canal and perched a short distance beyond the Otter, I managed to get a decent photo of it. Then on Sunday, while the light was still reasonable, I decided to walk along the canal to the aqueduct and Dowley Gap which can be a good place for Kingfisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After going round behind the cottages (see later for Jelly Ear Fungus, Pied Wagtails, and Carrion Crow) I came back to the footbridge to quite a few people looking across the canal to the bushes. A female Kingfisher was quietly posing, flying a few metres and posing again. She didn’t seem bothered by the people trying to keep level with her on the opposite bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I then started walking back towards Saltaire along the river and within a couple of minutes kept hearing Kingfisher on the other side of the river. The bush that they seemed to be in also had what looked like a Chaffinch flitting about in it. I know I am next to useless at identifying birds from their song but I was pretty sure I could tell the difference between the sound of a Kingfisher and a Chaffinch. After a bit of looking I spotted a flash of blue through my binoculars and managed to get my camera on a pair of Kingfisher. The male kept leaning forward in what I assumed was a bit of courtship posturing. I did not see it present any fish to the female. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Goldcrest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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On the Saturday, on the way through Saltaire Sports Club. I spotted some movement at the top of some Brambles so I stopped to see what it was. I could hear Blue Tits, Great Tits and a Wren so I kept looking and eventually spotted a Goldcrest flitting about. As is often the case it was never still for more than a split second as it zipped about picking at tiny insects as it went. Focusing on it was never easy so I am quite pleased with these four photos. It looked as though there were three of them going between the bushes and the larger trees.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Fungi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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During both days I kept my eyes open for fungi and we have:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n