Samlesbury, Lancs 30/12/21

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We arrived just before dawn and parked near Roach Bridge at Samlesbury. Negotiating the path to view over the river Darwen was tricky due to extremely muddy conditions, but at least the weather then was dry and very mild.

The Belted Kingfisher had flown to a site to the south of Preston the previous day and it was not clear if the bird had returned to Samlesbury, where it had recently been present every morning. As the light improved there was no sign of it, but after approximately an hour and a half the distinctive rattling call of Belted Kingfisher was heard. However, it took another hour before the bird was seen, approximately 500 metres away. Despite the distance satisfactory 'scope views were obtained on and off in the same general area until midday when we called it a day as rain had started.

Other birds seen at the site included a number of Coal Tits, plus Nuthatch, all very vocal in the nearby trees, several Mistle Thrush, and most notable a Common Kingfisher, which was much closer than its North American relative.






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