Posted on 22nd November 2025.

The resident Kingfishers have been seen daily at the Rife over recent weeks. Most sightings are towards the southern end from the car park and up to about 300 meters north to just after the water pumping station on the east side. There have been other sightings further north up to the Country Centre.

The east side is definatly the side to be on for the best sightings, and on the lower footpath. They also like to perch on the concrete structure of the sluice gates right by the Blue Bird cafe car park.

If you are patient and don't take your eyes off of the water, you may get a very quick flash of blue and orange as it flys low over the water.

When perched on branches or reeds, usually about 5-8 feet above the water, they can easilly be missed despite their bright colours. It is well worth having some binoculars and looking carefully for them.

They have a quite distinctive whissle call which they use when flying, so if you hear that they will not be too far away.