Writing in the English magazine Country Life, in a weekly feature known as Country Week, Susan Hill, a well-known and long-established writer made the confession that she had never seen a kingfisher. She lives in the country. She tells us in this particular article that she sees almost daily, not one, but two pairs of buzzards, "circling like gliders above the slope behind the barn." Then there are sparrowhawks, from time to time "arrowing purposefully into flocks of yellow-hammers. And, of course, kestrels are two a penny." But she has never seen a kingfisher. "And my longing to do so is becoming stronger by the year." She tells us that a friend who sees them often on a trout river, the Kennet, and her doctor, who finds them on quiet mornings on the Test, another trout river, have both promised to take her with them next year "and I hope every year thereafter until I see for myself that mythical, magical flash of brilliant blue." Good luck to her, because the brilliance of the colour and the antics of the diving and catching, are a small miracle; the throwing up of the little fish to make sure the head goes first down its throat, but above all, the sheer colour and speed of action. We haven't so many that we can afford to lose any - Cabot estimates 1,300 to 2,100 breeding pairs scattered through the country.
Three or four years ago, on the Borora or Moynalty river, there were several nesting pairs of kingfishers. The awful accident of the fire in Mullagh and the detritus from that which floated down the Borora seemed to have killed all worthwhile life for some ten miles down. But Gerry Farrell of Moyalty, argued from the first that the river would heal itself. And should be left to do so. This referred not only to the fish but to the crayfish and all small life therein. Kingfishers, too, and dippers. For kingfishers often move down to the estuary waters in winter.
Anyway, six months ago John Bailey of Navan saw one and the other day so did Gerry Farrell of Moynalty. They'll be back. One man living near the riverbank had a kingfisher post established which was often daily occupied. He once saw three side by side on a willow brand a few inches from the water surface. They used to be regarded by water-keepers in England as vermin. A famous one, William James Lunn once found sixteen of the birds had penetrated a wire nursery he had made for trout fry. You can guess what he did with them. But on one small river they are back here. And Susan Hill is hardly alone. Perhaps many in this country have not seen one. Y