It’s strange how things sometimes turn around. For many months, it was very unusual to see a Kingfisher over a long section of the river Wharfe near Ilkley. Then, towards the end of the breeding season, the area was being used as a fishing location by two birds to provision a nest located somewhere upstream (see my last Nature Notes). Now, in a further twist, this has become a winter territory worth fighting for.

The recent storm (Lillian) brought very strong winds, and many tree branches were broken. A few landed in the river and were making their way downstream, sometimes quite quickly. However, as the river level went back to normal, one very large, angular branch, with various ‘off-shoots’ became stranded in the middle. This potential perching location tempted passing Kingfishers. I’m not sure it was an ideal fishing spot, but it was worth exploring and seemed to be a useful staging post, when they were travelling along the river.

One morning, I could see a Kingfisher perched there. However, something didn’t seem quite right. The bird was standing unusually upright, with its bill elevated. This is posture sometimes used by Kingfishers to convey threat. Looking through my camera lens, I could see it was an adult female. This was probably the same bird I had seen on a few occasions. Perhaps it was checking the treeline for predators. There is sometimes a Sparrowhawk in the area, and that could be reason enough for adopting a ‘threat’ posture. Nevertheless, I was puzzled and stayed to watch.

I soon realised a second bird was there – hidden from my sight. It was perched on a higher section of the branch. After a while, the second bird (a juvenile) moved closer to the adult female. Both were adopting similar ‘threat’ postures. These birds were engaged in a territorial dispute.

Kingfishers are generally thought to be solitary outside the breeding season and, in the UK, it is unusual for birds to move far. Adult pairs separate, but often to take up previously held winter territories. However, at this time of year, there are also many juvenile birds looking for their own space. Consequently, territorial disputes do occur on a fairly regular basis. Mostly, they don’t amount to much. After a while, one bird will chase the other out of the area, and that will be that. However, if neither bird is willing to yield, they can become prolonged and even violent. This stretch of the river, unused for so long, has now become valuable Kingfisher ‘real estate’.