Heavy Rain and Kingfishers on the River Usk.
07th September 2018
Well I said I wanted more rain, but not all in one day!! And that’s what it felt like yesterday down on the River Usk near Brecon.
I thought I’d have one more visit to the river before the water levels start to rise in the autumn. I had watched the weather forecast for yesterday and it said a few showers passing through, no problem for me, a little rain - so what!
I was up at 05.00 and I was on the river by 06.00 - everything as usual was packed into my car the night before to save time.
I had been watching two Kingfishers for a couple of weeks on a favourable stretch of river, ie slow moving water with overhanging branches. Although there was only a pre – dawn light at this time, as I was erecting my hide on an area of banking a Kingfisher flew past ‘Peeping’ away and flying up river. These birds are always about in semi darkness, they can’t possibly see to fish but that doesn’t stop them from flying around. I had previously identified the exact spot for placing my perch in the river and I walked in until the water was quite high up my wellingtons. I placed my concrete flower pot, (see previous posts re perches), on a level area of river bed and put a perch I had brought with me down into the hole in the middle of the pot. I made my way back onto the exposed area of stones and proceeded to cut a few light Willow branches with my machete. I draped these branches over and around my hide to blend it in to the surroundings. I set my kit up and got under cover and sat there waiting, very soon I could hear a bird nearby but it flew straight past my perch, however, I was still hopeful because I felt it was in a good position. A light drizzle had begun to fall and I thought ‘Here come those predicted showers’. After a while the drizzle started to intensify into heavy rain and the heavy rain then descended into thrashing rain! At one stage I couldn’t see across the river to the other side. My hide is quite waterproof so I was confident of staying dry even in those conditions. After about an hour of monsoon – like weather the rain thankfully began to slacken. Disappointingly the Kingfisher continued to ignore my perch and after two hours I was starting to lose hope. I was looking out of the side flap of my hide and I could see the bird about twenty yards away sitting on the floor in front of a Willow tree preening, then as they do, it took off and flew up river out of sight.
After a quick deliberation I made my mind up to move my hide, (something I never do), but I was exposed to any further weather in my present position and there was no activity around my perch anyway. I quickly got out and retrieved my perch and erected it in the river in front of the willow where I had seen the Kingfisher preening. This didn’t take long because of my flower pot method, there wouldn’t have been time to mess around finding appropriate stones to erect a free standing perch. I moved my hide while still erected underneath the overhanging Willow for more protection from the anticipated weather, the skies did not look promising! I draped my cut branches around the hide as before. I was quite pleased how quickly I had managed to get all my kit undercover – the Kingfisher hadn’t returned back down river - or so I’d thought. Previously the hide was about thirty feet from the perch but now under the willow it was more like forty - but no problem. I was watching two dippers feeding amongst the stones nearby and then they flew and landed right outside the hide no more than a yard away but there was nothing I could do about that. I looked at my perch and I was somewhat taken by surprise to see a Kingfisher sat there looking in my direction. I must have missed it flying back down river, I couldn’t believe how quickly it had taken to the perch. It didn’t seem at all bothered and I started to take a few shots just as the heavy rain came back in, it was lashing down again!
The Kingfisher came back and fore the perch many times and looked quite at home. The other perch position just did not suit it, they can be so fickle. After about an hour the rain was easing off again and the bird had temporarily disappeared so I decided to make a break for it because I had got some half decent shots. However, as I was packing up it started again and because I had to make two trips to the car I had a good soaking, but I just couldn’t stay any longer in case more rain persisted. I may try one more time to see if I can get the Dippers and maybe some more Kingfisher shots.
I thought I’d have one more visit to the river before the water levels start to rise in the autumn. I had watched the weather forecast for yesterday and it said a few showers passing through, no problem for me, a little rain - so what!
I was up at 05.00 and I was on the river by 06.00 - everything as usual was packed into my car the night before to save time.
I had been watching two Kingfishers for a couple of weeks on a favourable stretch of river, ie slow moving water with overhanging branches. Although there was only a pre – dawn light at this time, as I was erecting my hide on an area of banking a Kingfisher flew past ‘Peeping’ away and flying up river. These birds are always about in semi darkness, they can’t possibly see to fish but that doesn’t stop them from flying around. I had previously identified the exact spot for placing my perch in the river and I walked in until the water was quite high up my wellingtons. I placed my concrete flower pot, (see previous posts re perches), on a level area of river bed and put a perch I had brought with me down into the hole in the middle of the pot. I made my way back onto the exposed area of stones and proceeded to cut a few light Willow branches with my machete. I draped these branches over and around my hide to blend it in to the surroundings. I set my kit up and got under cover and sat there waiting, very soon I could hear a bird nearby but it flew straight past my perch, however, I was still hopeful because I felt it was in a good position. A light drizzle had begun to fall and I thought ‘Here come those predicted showers’. After a while the drizzle started to intensify into heavy rain and the heavy rain then descended into thrashing rain! At one stage I couldn’t see across the river to the other side. My hide is quite waterproof so I was confident of staying dry even in those conditions. After about an hour of monsoon – like weather the rain thankfully began to slacken. Disappointingly the Kingfisher continued to ignore my perch and after two hours I was starting to lose hope. I was looking out of the side flap of my hide and I could see the bird about twenty yards away sitting on the floor in front of a Willow tree preening, then as they do, it took off and flew up river out of sight.
After a quick deliberation I made my mind up to move my hide, (something I never do), but I was exposed to any further weather in my present position and there was no activity around my perch anyway. I quickly got out and retrieved my perch and erected it in the river in front of the willow where I had seen the Kingfisher preening. This didn’t take long because of my flower pot method, there wouldn’t have been time to mess around finding appropriate stones to erect a free standing perch. I moved my hide while still erected underneath the overhanging Willow for more protection from the anticipated weather, the skies did not look promising! I draped my cut branches around the hide as before. I was quite pleased how quickly I had managed to get all my kit undercover – the Kingfisher hadn’t returned back down river - or so I’d thought. Previously the hide was about thirty feet from the perch but now under the willow it was more like forty - but no problem. I was watching two dippers feeding amongst the stones nearby and then they flew and landed right outside the hide no more than a yard away but there was nothing I could do about that. I looked at my perch and I was somewhat taken by surprise to see a Kingfisher sat there looking in my direction. I must have missed it flying back down river, I couldn’t believe how quickly it had taken to the perch. It didn’t seem at all bothered and I started to take a few shots just as the heavy rain came back in, it was lashing down again!
The Kingfisher came back and fore the perch many times and looked quite at home. The other perch position just did not suit it, they can be so fickle. After about an hour the rain was easing off again and the bird had temporarily disappeared so I decided to make a break for it because I had got some half decent shots. However, as I was packing up it started again and because I had to make two trips to the car I had a good soaking, but I just couldn’t stay any longer in case more rain persisted. I may try one more time to see if I can get the Dippers and maybe some more Kingfisher shots.