Day 7: Belted Kingfisher

Picture walking along one of Arizona's watersheds on an already hot spring day, lulled by the heat and beginning to tire of the monotonous browns and dull grays of shore birds all around, when all of a sudden you hear it: kak-kak-kak-kakkkkk! Yes! You perk up immediately, because you know it is one of these:



Every time I see a kingfisher, I feel like my bird watching day is one of the best. There is nothing like watching one kite above the water and dive down into it, emerging with a fish twisting around in its huge long beak. They are big blue crazy-haired hunters. Plus I love how the female on the Belted variety has more color than the male - for a change!