Decline of European Kingfisher

THE OTHER evening I took a group of about 50 people for a nature walk along the banks of the River Liffey as part of the Newbridge Junefest. 

We gathered beside the busy bridge in the town and I explained to them that because we were quite a large group and I was using an amplified microphone we wouldn’t actually see much of the wildlife that lived along the river, so I would give a little talk about the treasures that might be encountered on a quieter stroll.

I was standing with my back to the river and the group was in front of me. I began by telling them that the lovely linear park we would be walking through was a kingfisher territory. I was half way through explaining the significance of having such beautiful and relatively uncommon birds in the town when suddenly the group sprang to attention and started pointing, Someone shouted: ‘There’s one!’ I spun round just in time to catch sight of an electric blue flash flying through one of the bridge arches. It was a good way to begin.