18 Comments
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Blue's avatar

Dear Jack, I absolutely love that you wrote a complete essay on spending an afternoon noodling about on a riverbank being amazed by a kingfisher and all about how you learned to take photos and her habits and livelihood. It's the absolute best thing I have read all week because your joy spread out into the world, infecting other people with itself! (Yorkshire expat!)

Jack Wallington's avatar

:) thank you that's really kind! I love these kinds of articles really, just sharing the experience as best I can

Jo Wheeler's avatar

Stunning photos!

Jack Wallington's avatar

thanks Jo :)

Linda Wood-Thomas's avatar

Fabulous photos Jack. What a revelation that kingfishers nest in the bank!

Jack Wallington's avatar

I know! I hadn't realised until then, always something new to learn :)

Mark Miller's avatar

Well done and thanks for sharing-they’re a lot of fun to watch.

Margaret Tomlinson's avatar

What a treat these photos are!

Sue Kunzmann's avatar

Beautiful photos Jack, thank you for sharing. I was on a bird watching excursion last week and also saw a kingfisher but you have to be so quick with the camera! They don't sit still that long!! It was bird of the year last year here in Switzerland. Oh and by the way, I love your book Wild about Weeds - lots of very useful ideas!

Jack Wallington's avatar

They certainly are nippy aren't they! Have to almost predict where they will be and focus on that. Thank you, I'm so glad you like Wild about Weeds :)

Chris Horbury's avatar

Thank you Jack. That brought back happy memories of seeing Kingfishers, up and down the Calder Valley and beyond, always very special. As an aside I was pleasantly surprised to see a photo of my nephew, James Basson in ‘Wild about Weeds’.

Jack Wallington's avatar

Thanks Chris! I plan to go out soon and look for them in other spots.

How funny, it's a small world. James and Helen were huge inspirations of mine early in my career and that interview has been one of my highlights over the last eight years. It was a real honour to include him. Back then I had no idea Wild about Weeds would go on to become what it has. It was a big piece of team work.

Treasure Your Freedoms's avatar

She is gorgeous. As a child, I regularly used to see kingfishers in the local stream. That startling blue is unforgettable.

Thank you for sharing.

Sarah Bowie's avatar

Beautiful photos, Jack and what a wonderful experience. Thank you for sharing it.

Nina Grimes's avatar

I really enjoyed reading this Jack & looking the at your beautiful photos. I’ve only seen two, one near to Salem Field and one on the canal whilst walking to Todmorden. Both times I was in awe, but it was over in a flash, unlike your experience -

I’m rather envious! Nina

Jack Wallington's avatar

They're very territorial and don't travel far, so the key if you spot on perching looking at the water is to sit and wait, they'll come back

Shirley Broughton's avatar

Lucky you!! Delightful, thank you.

Jack Wallington's avatar

It felt like such a privilege :)