In January at least 400 people reported seeing a Kingfisher in the Netherlands. Reports came from all over the country, though fewer birds were sighted in the drier north central provinces, such as Drenthe.
January 2007 in the Netherlands was as one of the warmest on record. Successive gentle winters and minimal frost periods have led to an increase in the Kingfisher population in the Netherlands. In the 1990’s between 125 and 250 breeding pairs were thought to live in Holland. In recent years this has grown to more than 600 pairs.
Most Dutch Kingfishers choose to breed on the sandy grounds in eastern Noord Brabant, Limburg and vicinity, along dunes or riverbeds. However the birds have been spotted in more urban areas. Sightings in residential gardens have also been reported, with the Kingfishers showing interest in private goldfish ponds as hunting grounds!
