A Young Kingfisher arrives in the Jungle

Heligan’s maintenance manager and talented wildlife photographer Andy Wilson captured her in a striking photograph, confirming that two Kingfishers were seen earlier in the week but that this young female has now won the territory.

Andy identified the bird as a juvenile female, noting her tell-tale pink feet and the pinkish tone on the lower mandible of her beak. These subtle details help distinguish her from the adult males and are clues to her age and sex. Although young, she is already displaying the classic hunting behaviour of her species, watching patiently from low perches and darting with astonishing speed to catch her prey.

The Second Pond in the Jungle offers perfect Kingfisher habitat, with overhanging branches for perching and an abundant supply of small fish such as rudd, stickleback, and minnow. 

Kingfishers always turn their catch head-first before swallowing to avoid fish spines, a behaviour that patient observers may be lucky enough to witness. The surrounding dense foliage and water channels give her ideal cover and fishing spots, making this pond an attractive winter refuge.

Kingfishers are regular autumn-to-spring visitors at The Lost Gardens of Heligan, usually arriving in September and staying until late February. Cornwall’s milder climate means that ponds here rarely freeze, offering feeding grounds when colder regions drive birds south. Winter is a particularly good time to look for them, as lower pond vegetation and fewer visitors increase the chances of a sighting.

Early morning or late afternoon are the best times to watch this beautiful bird as she hunts. Visit the Jungle’s Second Pond quietly and keep to paths to avoid disturbance. With luck and patience, you might see her plunging headlong into the water and emerging with a silvery fish flashing in her beak.