The Belted Kingfisher in Lancashire. 25/11/2021

   Back on the first of April 2005, whilst I was at work, news that a Belted Kingfisher had been found in inland Staffordshire near Shugborough. As it was April Fool`s Day a lot of doubt as to why a really rare American bird had been found in that area, was it a genuine sighting? It turned out to be correct, so we went the day after to have a look at it, we were disappointed. But with news that the bird had relocated to Eastrington Ponds N.R. near Goole/Howden in Yorkshire, a dash north reminiscent of a Keystone Cops film followed. Could there be more bad news about the bird? Upon arrival it had gone, so the disappointed invasion force just gave up! But that was not quite the end as the bird had been found on the river at Peterculter, Aberdeenshire a couple of days later. The bird stayed for 4 days but as we arrived promptly disappeared once more, think we were fated not to see this species!

   With no more twitchable birds being seen in the country for 16 years, you could say hope of ever seeing one had gone. On Monday the 8^th November this year a fisherman/birdwatcher on the River Ribble not far from Brockholes N.R. saw a Belted Kingfisher, whilst he was fishing and funnily enough, so was the bird! He took a few distant pictures of it with his phone, there was a lot of cynicism surrounding this sighting, and someone even said that it was Just a Great Tit, how wrong they were. No further sightings of the bird until Sunday the 14^th November when the Belted Kingfisher was seen again in the Tunbrook/Horseshoe bend, Brockholes N.R. area of the River Ribble. It was seen by another reputable birder, but vanished and was not seen again for a few days. We went across to search for it, again without any joy, but a nice walk.

   Yesterday the 25^th November turned out to be quite a remarkable day, as at 11-50am the Belted Kingfisher was reported on Rare Bird Alert after having been seen at 8-30am till 9-45am. It had been seen just down from Red Scar Wood almost in the same place that it had been located on the two previous occasions, then apart from it going missing for 15 minutes. It was reported as showing well time for a trip I thought, with Bob K & Kevin C being unavailable, I rung Craig B and he said yes lets go By 1-15pm we were heading towards Preston, a message to say the bird was still present helped. We arrived at Longridge/Preston Crematorium by 1-50pm and headed along the footpath and began the decent of the difficult, treacherous, slippy path to the river bed. A useful walking stick/branch was used, but I still managed a couple of mud slides what fun, all to see a bird! Craig beckoned me over as I landed and a look through a telescope soon had me watching a male Belted Kingfisher, 16 years waiting was over, what a bird! We watched this American Beauty for a good 40 minutes as it perched in a few different trees and flew about pursuing fish. The climb up the slope wasnt quite as memorable as the climb down, but a few others really toiled to get up the muddy path. Craig B has been with us on a few trips to see rare birds and has yet not failed to see them, his new name is Mr 100% We reached home before dark.

   What of Bob K & Kevin C, well they set off early this morning (26^th) and were rewarded with great views of the Belted Kingfisher. This species was Bob`s 500^th bird on the BOU list, well done pal. I am really glad that Bob has re-found his mojo for seeing rare birds. Kevin C has also had a quite remarkable year for seeing rare birds. Lots of happy faces were seen leaving the crematorium that in itself was a joy to behold.

Dave O

I decided on a change of scene this morning and went to Brockholes. I had just about completed a circuit of the reserve and was nearly back at my car when Ians Mega Alert text arrived confirming the Belted Kingfisher had been seen to the north east of the reserve. (Thanks Ian!). I promptly changed direction and headed to the top of Red Scar Woods. I could see no other birders and the way down to the river was not obvious. I just picked a less steep section of the bank in the middle of the bend in the river and headed down the slippery slope. A couple of other birders joined me on the descent and, after a bit of searching the bird was seen perched just upstream of our location. Excellent views of the bird were had, both perched and a during a couple of fishing trips over the river. After about half an hour two more birders came down the slope close to the perched bird and flushed it. It flew off upstream and that was my cue to leave.

For any other birders wanting to see the bird, it is a slightly tricky descent(and ascent) to the river, but not beyond anyone with a modicum of fitness and a degree of caution. 

Other birds noted, 2 Green Sandpiper, Common Kingfisher and 3 Goosander. 

An interesting trip out, North Wales & Lancashire. 14/11/

  Now as all you birders out there know a Belted Kingfisher (from the USA) had been seen along the River Ribble near Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston in Lancashire on the morning of the 8^th of November. It had not been seen since despite lots of local birders looking for it. You can imagine the shock that a few of us had at Talacre when news that the Belted Kingfisher had been once more seen in the same place as last Monday! Kevin C`s comment that he will get a Dusky Warbler eventually but a Belted Kingfisher maybe not, so are we going? Off we hurried to the car and onto the 50mph M6 to the news that the Kingfisher had not been seen since, typical. Despite this we got to Brockholes N.R. and thought that the car park seemed pretty busy. We met a few locals who told us that the bird had again disappeared as it did last week, I wonder where it goes was the thing on every ones mind. What followed was a long hike, up a steep bank trying to see any part of the river without actually descending the slippy, dangerous slope (People had fallen and injured themselves) We certainly gave it a go, but the Jackdaw sized Belted Kingfisher can now be put on my 4<sup>th</sup> county that I have Dipped the bird in Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Aberdeenshire and now Lancashire. We slowly made our way back to the carpark and met two of East Lancashire`s finest birdwatchers, John W and Dave B (freshly recovering from a recent visit to the NHS) who filled us in on this mornings single observer sighting. We departed for home after an interesting day out!

Dave O

John Watson wrote:

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The report is definite, there's a blurred-but-adequate photo..

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A Bittern flew across Meadow Lake on the 23rd of October - first I have seen here I believe.  At least 2 seem to winter here now every year.  

Late morning / early afternoon visit in relatively bright conditions. Highlights included :-

Female kestrel over car park. Male sparrowhawk whipped through the feeding station and later seen in Red Scar Woods. Buzzard perched in trees overlooking entrance road.

5 wigeon with the tufted duck, gadwall and mallard on the main water.

4 goosander on the Ribble.

Abundance of bullfinch throughout, also goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, nuthatch, blue, coal, great and long-tailed tits in Red Scar Woods. Tree sparrow on the feeding station.

Good numbers of redwing moving through Red Scar Woods.

Gloomy and soggy conditions late morning / early pm today. Highlights :-

2 x goldcrest in the bushes along the Ribble footpath. Flock of approx. 20 linnet flitting between the trees and the thistle patch where the footpath meets the entry road just before the bridge.

Mixture of coot, tufted duck, mallard and mute swan on the main water, also smaller numbers of gadwall and teal on the visitor centre lake. 6 x cormorant on the main water.

Bird feeder had 3 x pheasant, 5 x tree sparrow, 2 x robin, 2 x dunnock and good numbers of great tit, blue tit and chaffinch. Flocks of long-tailed tit present throughout the site.

Approx a dozen redwing in small groups flying over and foraging within the reserve.

Buzzard with an attendant flock of mobbing crows over the entrance road.

In Red Scar Wood enjoyable half hour watching a mixture of 2 x nuthatch, blue tit, coal tit, great tit, chaffinch and robin competing with 3 x bank voles for food amongst a pile of fallen logs next to one of the benches. The robin took a particular dislike to the voles and every time one emerged from out of cover it would dive down and frighten it off.