Kingfisher (IJsvogel): Quite peculiar and spectacular bird. In Holland breeding from march through september. Often several nests (year around fish). They may starve after few days frost so try avoid chasing or disturbing them even during short-time frost! Colourful bird, yet easily overlooked. Usually flying low. Man and wife defend territory fiercefully. Wife does most of the fighting. Man and wife dig nest and about one and half meter corridor in one or two days. Both parents breed and feed juveniles. Juveniles each wait in turn in near nest opening so each one gets his portion fish. After some time nest gets messy: accumulated bird shit, fish etcetera. So after about two weeks feeding parents, after feeding young and leaving nest, take one or more plunges into the water cleaning feathers. Juveniles learn to catch their own food in first two days – or starve or drown – and thereafter are being chased from territory.

Banded Kingfisher (Bonte IJsvogel): Photographed in Israel in Eilat National park. Also occasionally observed hoovering above the ocean nearby.