I have posted about this Belted Kingfisher before. Back in December she spent several weeks at our neighborhood suburban Beaver pond. I presumed she stayed only until she had completely fished out the little pond.
On this visit, I was lucky enough to get to see her at work.
The kingfisher was antsy when I arrived. She moved from tree to tree, changing location frequently as if trying to position herself advantageously.
Suddenly the kingfisher leapt from her perch and dove for the pond below. She hit the water hard before ricocheting back into the air and then zooming over to a nearby branch.
She held a thrashing Green Sunfish in her beak, which the kingfisher subdued by bashing it against the deadfall she was perched on. Once the struggling fish was stilled, the kingfisher tilted her head back and swallowed it whole.
