The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
WHERE THE DAYS ARE LITERALLY HALCYON
A stretch of the River Devon provides the perfect spot to look out for one of Scotland’s most colourful birds – the kingfisher
E ach time on the approach to this backwash pool of the River Devon, which lies in the shadows of the Ochils, a sense of excited anticipation sweeps over me, for here, in among the tangled stems of willow carr, there is every chance of spotting an exquisite gem.
More times than not the kingfisher is there, but she usually sees me first and whizzes away on blueblurred wings.
Often, I curse – fretful that once more I have missed the opportunity to observe this dazzling bird in more detail.
But that is the way with kingfishers for, despite their bright azure and tangerine plumage, they have the uncanny ability to blend seamlessly with the riverside.
They are also shy birds, quick to take flight at the approach of a person.
The most frequent sight of one is usually a streak of cobalt flashing low over the river, accompanied by a piercing call.
It is always thrilling to see, but the encounter so fleeting that one is left with an inner craving to see more.
Occasionally, I strike lucky and spot this kingfisher on its fishing perch before she has seen me.
I cautiously secrete myself behind a bankside alder and pop my head out from behind the trunk to observe her.
I know this bird is a female because the underside of her bill is glinted with orange, whereas that of the male is darker.
She waits patiently on the overhanging branch, scanning the water below carefully.
Then, down she plops into the water and just as quickly rises back again on to the branch.
If she has caught a minnow or stickleback, she beats it ferociously against the branch to stun or kill it.
The action is so vigorous that sometimes I can even hear the noise of the fish being pummelled.
The catch is then juggled so that it points head-first down her throat and is swallowed.
It is especially important to kill sticklebacks first in case their raised spines catch the gullet.
A minnow or stickleback is a nutritious catch and, even in winter, I imagine she wouldn’t need to snaffle many during the course of the day to sustain her.
I suspect one of the biggest survival problems for kingfishers in winter is when rivers turn to spate.
During such times, the muddy brown churn makes the water visibility so poor it is nigh-on impossible to hunt for fish, especially since they will have hunkered right down upon the riverbed for shelter.
But on warm, calm days in spring and summer, the fishing is rich and prolific. Indeed, the “halcyon” was the Greek kingfisher of ancient times, possessed with the power to keep the water calm while it built its nest.
Hopefully, the gods will smile kindly upon my little halcyon and nature’s calming influences will help see her through winter.
Info
In Courier Country, kingfishers often haunt estuaries in winter, including the Montrose Basin and the Eden near St Andrews.
Best-selling novelist Rosamunde Pilcher is renowned for her unsurpassed storytelling. Her rich, romantic tales and their beautiful settings are captured perfectly in these DVD collections.
12 DVDS.
Banking on Murder is the first of three new Parker Sister series novels by author, journalist and broadcaster, JD Whitelaw. After working on the frontline of Scottish politics for some time, Whitelaw moved into journalism where he’s covered various topics including breaking news, the arts, culture, sport and fashion. His critically acclaimed debut novel Morbid Relations came in 2015 and his latest series of novels follows on from the success of his popular Hellcorp series.
Martha, Helen and Geri make up the Parker sister trio. Based in Glasgow, they all collectively run a small private detective agency called Park ‘em up, cut ‘em loose Investigations and they specialise in catching cheating partners and those playing away from home.
The sisters receive their most curious case yet when the wife of a wealthy estate owner hands them £20,000 cash to find out about her husband’s affair that she claims he’s having. Helen is quick to lap up and get a good sniff of the crisp £50 bundles, but Martha, the head honcho of the trio, has her doubts.
Their client’s behaviour is erratic to say the least and they soon wonder whether they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. Yet, when the husband shows up murdered, everything changes.
What starts off as a curious case turns out to be the sisters’ most dangerous yet. It’s up to the three of them to cope under the pressure and prevail unscathed.
From the offset, it’s clear that this book will provide lots of laughs throughout. The Parker sisters’ authentically Glaswegian feel is portrayed brilliantly with tons of uniquely Scottish anecdotes and little quirks that make each of the sisters feel extremely relatable.
Whitelaw’s characterisation is the star feature of the book and his decision to make a series on the Parker sisters looks to be a wise one.
Coming in at just over 200 pages, the novel is a relatively short read but within that page count lies plenty of entertainment. The plot may have its darker moments throughout as the story unravels, but Whitelaw’s firm grasp of humour keeps the narrative from delving too deep into a more morose type of crime novel and the book retains a sense of lightness throughout. Banking on Murder is a great fit for those looking for a cosy winter read that offers drama and laughs in equal measure. We may not be able to get out and about so much right now, so let the Parker sisters provide the adventure.