After missing this bird on 8 November, news broke just after midday that the Belted Kingfisher was showing again. I jumped straight into the car and headed north, arriving at the River Ribble shortly after 1 p.m. A short walk, a careful scramble down a steep embankment, and I was at the river’s edge—where Austin Morley had already located the bird.
River Ribble
Perched confidently in an overhanging tree, the kingfisher was a picture of North American elegance, its striking blue-grey plumage and bold white belly immediately marking it out from the familiar UK species.
The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is widespread across North America, breeding from Alaska and Canada south to Central America, and wintering throughout the southern United States and Mexico. It favours rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways, hunting fish by plunging from low perches and often returning to the same vantage points. In Britain, it is an extremely rare vagrant. Only a handful of individuals have been recorded, mostly during autumn or winter, and almost all have arrived along the east coast of England, usually after storm-driven dispersal across the Atlantic. Each record attracts significant attention from twitchers, not only for its rarity but also for its distinctive behaviour and striking appearance.
A truly spectacular bird, and a reminder that sometimes transatlantic travellers do reach our shores—bringing a touch of North America to England’s rivers.
What a bird!
At last, I could admire one of these magnificent birds in person. I watched it for a good half hour, soaking in every detail, before leaving it to the growing crowd of eager birders arriving for a glimpse.
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