We had a fabulous time in the winter sunshine at Chew Valley Lake this morning. Chew Valley Lake, just south of Bristol, is the sixth-largest artificial lake by area in the United Kingdom, with an area of 1,200 acres (4.9 km2), but only the forty-seventh largest by volume, reflecting the fact that it is a shallow lake. It is a national centre for birdwatching, with over 260 species recorded. It is particularly shallow at the moment following the dry summer and today there were lots of birds benefiting from the ideal conditions for waders and waterfowl and plenty for me to photograph.
However, the most exciting aspect of our birding session was meeting 7 year old Stanley and his dad who, in fact, pointed out the common kingfisher to us. It was a sheer delight to chat to Stanley who was most knowledgeable about birds and clearly loved being out and about in the fresh air with his dad pursuing his hobby. Stanley told us all about the places he had been recently and what birds he had seen. He told me that he had recently seen a bittern and that one of his favourite birds was a Bewick’s swan. When I told him that we had just seen a pair of Whooper swans at another part of the lake he was very keen to go and see them. Stanley’s dad told me that Stanley much prefers being out birdwatching rather than staying at home, as many young people do, absorbed in electronic games. I am sure that Stanley will become a well adjusted and decent man just as, I imagine, his dad is.
It was very interesting watching the kingfisher as it moved from one side of a sluice to another (and from shade to bright sunshine) as it seem to change considerably in colour. I remember reading that the common kingfisher is in fact brown and that the bright blue colour you perceive is due to a phenomenon called structural colouration. Structural colouration is seen throughout the animal kingdom and makes creatures appear much more colourful than they actually are. So while the coloured pigments in the kingfisher’s feathers are brown, you actually view them as a brilliant blue. It takes some believing, I know.
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