The Azure flash of blue as the male Kingfisher suddenly appeared on the low hanging branch, as it gently swayed in the breeze, over the muddy green waters of the river Ouse. It is moments like this that make walking the same areas on a regular basis so worth it.
Special Moments
A few minutes either way and I would have missed this sight of one of Britain's most colourful birds, landing within just a few metres of me. After mere seconds he was off once more heading downstream, his piping call the only reminder of his visit, until he was gone, round the bend in the river, sight and sound now just a moment from the past.
Male Kingfisher perched over the River Ouse in Milton Keynes
If you take the time to think about things, days out walking in nature, (be they on your local patch, park, or wandering the hills of a Scottish upland) are full of special moments like this, over in a flash, almost instantly consigned to the memory banks, or with luck your memory card.
Mixed Day
Wandering the Floodplain forest on Thursday (sorry late posting for various reasons) the mix of brilliant Autumn sunshine and thick gray rain clouds compared much with the mix of wildlife on offer, the stunning Kingfisher just one of several, over in an instant, moments with the areas fauna.
Blue Skies over the Ouse Valley
River Ouse below the Iron Trunk Aqueduct
Distant views of a Peregrine, sharp winged and very pale underneath, hunting either over the Eastern end of the nature reserve or the railway line, viewed only from afar; A Sparrowhawk being harassed by local Jackdaw, as it tried to sail on the light breeze over the muddy banks of the Floodplain Forest; A Common Buzzard, tumbling out of the skies as a pair of Carrion Crow took umbrage to it's presence.
All moments witnessed on my walking, but over again all too soon.
Buzzard and Crow tumbling Together
Flying Upside down or Falling?
Changing Times
I spent some quiet moments in each one of the hides, a little solitary time just staring out of the open windows, my enjoyment of the moment only broken by the occasional interloper (I know other people using public hides, how dare they). My solitude a time to ruminate, contemplate the internal struggles I often overthink; work through the darker, sad thoughts that my time spent outdoors helps to keep at bay.
The fleeting nature of the moments of the day, enhancing my melencholy for once rather than replacing it. As I sat the day slowly ebbed away from the early sunshine into a mood matching grey, so much so that by the time I was on my return walk a soft drizzle had set in. But that was a little way away yet.
Kestrel Riding the Breeze
Castlethorpe Bound
By the time the clouds had gathered I found myself wandering the path beside the railway line, heading towards Castlethorpe, rather than having headed home, time on my side for once. A little off patch exploration, with a view to seeing what birds were along the edges of the winter sown fields.
As I wandered near to the large water tower, a large flock of Chaffinch flew off over the railway line, dark shadows on the almost slate gray skies. Dimmly lit Yellow Hammer perched atop the thick blackthorn hedge lining the hidden train track, the small spikes of the bush mirroring the large metal spikes of the separating fence.
Yellow Hammer
As I reach Castlethorpe a different Kestrel to the earlier bird sat atop electricity pylons, while Redwing and Fieldfare buzzed over head. Sitting on a makeshift bench I sat and stared out over the Buckinghamshire countryside and realised you could see huge chunks of the Milton Keynes sprawl before me. The central Milton Keynes (CMK) skyline visible above the lower lying housing estates.
Kestrel Amongst the Wires
After much more contemplation of life in all its intricacies I started to head back and it was not long before the dark clouds decided now was the time to slowly start shedding their load and the drizzle set in. A dark ending to a mood matching day.
Other Photos
Dunnock
Coot
Kestrel Swooping
Kestrel hovering
Blue Skies over the Floodplain Forest
Clouds staring to turn Grey
Golden Trees
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