A third brood

 

 

Well this is a first (we think) for WWT Llanelli - actual evidence of a third Kingfisher brood on the Reserve.

This very young male Kingfisher was showing typical behaviour of having recently fledged, alongside the giveaway features of a young juvenile - very dark breast plumage, dark sooty feet and the white tip to the bill.

The first brood fledged on 20th May (at least one male and one female), the second brood during the last week in July. Three young males fledged.

Unfortunately there was some regular disturbance around their breeding area, including an area `roped off` to the public (for a reason!), so at time of writing we`re not 100% sure where they nested for their 3rd brood. 

This young male Kingfisher may or may not have brothers or sisters, time will tell, but faces a tough time head. Storm Agnes is due to hit Wales and other parts of the UK today and into tomorrow, so hoping it will find shelter but also be able to learn to fish quickly. Hopefully there might be more young from this third brood, but they`ll all need to sort themselves out as we head into autumal weather. The mortality rate for Kingfishers over the first couple of years can be high.

The data collected this year and last year in particular has been helpful in getting a better insight into their breeding patterns, territorial behaviour, etc.

Other Kingfisher seen on the salt marsh from the Michael Powell and British Steel hides breed or have fledged from a separate secluded area. These birds are more likely to be seen during the winter months than those from the Reserve (Millenium Wetlands).

We wish our latest young a lot of luck 👍

(The location of this photo will remain undisclosed)