Then it gets the fish.
While boating on Noxon Reservoir with our friends, Carmel and Sharon, we saw a pair of Belted Kingfishers. Not knowing any better, I assumed that the one with the rusty colored band was the male. However, the Belted Kingfisher is one of the few birds where the female is more colorful than the male.
(Is it my imagination or is that fish trying to talk? “Save me!”)
We thought the pair had a nest nearby but later I would read that their territory could cover more than half a mile. The nest could have been up the river where it was too shallow for the boat.
“Nest” is something of an understatement when it comes to the Belted Kingfisher. The pair will take turns digging a 3-6′ burrow into a bank. An unlined nesting chamber of 8-12″ in diameter and 6-7″ high can be found at the end of the chamber. It sounds like quite an extensive project.
The Kingfisher’s (seasonal) mate also successfully fished that morning.
We tried to be keep a respectful distance but these birds were skittish and quick to fly away.
I was only able to get a handful of photos of the Kingfisher pair, but we were excited just to see them at all.