Possible Clues:

• Riverbank creature, female, shrieking horribly
• Flier featuring chess piece and chess player, we hear?
• *Bird known for its long, sharp bill
• Bird following one in college initially handled with hesitation
• Flyer’s angle accepted by two monarchs
• Bird: that female nesting in most important tree
• Bird in the royal family found in 26 across with the queen
• Colourful diving bird
• Big-headed river diver
• Bird top man and woman located in tree