Fishing Dipper – Peak District Wildlife Photography
Fishing Dipper. I’d been watching this dipper fishing up and down the river for larvae, when all of a sudden it pulled this wriggling bullhead out of the cascades. After flinging it around a few times, it was down the hatch in one, poor bullhead! Derbyshire Dales. Peak District National Park.
About the Dipper:
Dippers, named after the way they dip up and down when perched, have evolved an incredible fishing technique allowing them to hunt underwater. Submerging themselves they can walk along the bottom of fast flowing rivers and streams using their outstretched wings to stabilise themselves against the strong currents. This unique ability makes it possible for them to hunt insects and small fish underwater for up to 30 seconds!
Although the dipper isn’t the most striking bird, taken out of context they could easily be mistaken as a garden bird, they are incredibly charismatic seen bobbing up and down the fast flowing rivers of the Derbyshire Dales.
Find more about the dipper here.