Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Coventry

As we were passed our entrance tickets, so the heavens opened and the rain came down. Fortunately the Badger Cafe provided an excellent pot of tea and toasted teacakes as we sat out the downpour. The skies cleared just as we were finishing our last cup of tea and we still had enough daylight to enjoy five of the six hides around the nature park.

All images copyright Gain Lee

Other wildlife seen along the way featured the usual rabbits, but also a rather beautiful Muntjac deer.

Each hide presented it's own wonderful surprise. We were treated to a pair of Ruddy Ducks bobbing around directly in front of us.

They were only to be interrupted by a Great Crested Grebe being chased and cheeped at by it's chick.

Meanwhile, a Cormorant lazed away the afternoon on a far post.

The last of the five hides was, for us, the most enjoyable. We should probably thank the earlier rain for having scared people away! As we opened the hatches we could hear a Wren making the most cacophanous noise. It sat before us, oblivious to our presence.

A pair of Hobbys put on a wonderful flying display, taking occasional rest in a nearby tree.

We had chance to see Coots of all ages! The best treat was watching a pair nest building.

We do like to think of this last hide more as our 'studio', having accepted the local Kingfisher for a portfolio sitting.

After all our walked miles through the English countryside, eyes peeled for the slightest whiff of blue, we could scarcely believe our eyes when we received our first Kingfisher visit on the nearest twig (see the first image on this blog to see twig on the left).

We watched as the bird fished then sat. After it had flown, we were treated to further visits at approximately forty-five minute intervals.

The grand finale was a fly-by of two Kingfisher, followed by the pair of them playing on the second twig.

This really was an incredible day and we are thrilled to have seen what feels like a lifetime's installment of Kingfisher action in one afternoon!