Finders-in-the-field: Belted Kingfisher on Scilly
By Ashley Fisher
Arguably one of the few irksome things about finding a rare bird is that you don't get a choice in the matter. To quote my mother: you get what you're given. Rarely do you find something that you've dreamed of or fantasized about: I certainly wouldn't have chosen to find a second Great Blue Heron (yes, I'm an ingrate!). On Wednesday 18 April however; this changed for me - I did get to find one of my all-time dream birds…
I woke rather late; chronically fatigued by a recent trip away. I’d already decided to have what my girlfriend likes to call a ‘lazy day’. So, I left the house at 1030 am and set off on a predetermined route that would take me through Lower Moors, past the airfield turning circle and terminate at Porth Hellick Pool.
I arrived at Porth Hellick just after midday having seen very little of note en route, despite the slightly-promising south-southeasterlies. Entering the Sussex Hide, I opened the slat and stared out at nothing. I wasn’t particularly bothered; the day thus far had been most enjoyable and the weather very pleasant.
Suddenly, at 1218 pm, I heard a loud and very distinctive rattle call emanating from somewhere to the left of the hide: simultaneously, a gigantic blue and white kingfisher appeared flying across the pool!!! Before I raised my bins, I knew it was a Belted Kingfisher and things kind of went into slow motion as I watched it fly across the pool. It was the most electrifying feeling ever! I noted the white flashes in the primaries on the upperwing, and on the underparts, I could see a single bluish breast band - a male! It eventually disappeared behind some willow bushes on the opposite side, heading in the general direction of Carn Friars Farm. Only minutes earlier, I had seen, visiting birder, Mark Halliday and his girlfriend in Carn Friars, so I yelled out of the hide window (as loud as I possibly could; think Ken Shaw): Belted Kingfisher! Belted Kingfisher! Belted Kingfisher! And also just in case there were any birders in the vicinity that I hadn’t seen.
I was in a serious state of shock and euphoria: This was one of my most wanted WP birds ever, and to have found it, well, what can I say that's printable!!! Almost unable to organise my thoughts rationally, I fumbled with my phone and rang RBA, then Alan Hannington and Chris Langsdon (both masters at disseminating local birding information), and then went to find Mark Halliday.
When I finally caught up with Mark, I almost admonished him like a school boy - didn't you hear me shouting? As you can imagine, he and his girlfriend were looking gutted/shell-shocked.
I was starting to feel a little anxious myself as I was the only one to have seen the bird.
As the troops converged on Porth Hellick, it was Joe Pender who relocated it in the bay. Everyone legged-it in his direction, but cruelly, it had somehow flown off without being seen. Joe did manage to rattle off some photos though - I was relieved that at least someone else had seen it and that he'd got images. It was totally gripping for the others though.
Some time later (my mind is fuzzy on timings) [ about 15 mins?] I got a text from Will Wagstaff - he'd heard it at Porth Minnick. Needless to say, we all piled down there post haste. Despite much effort, the bird was nowhere to be seen. The obvious place to check was Lower Moors, which many did, including me. For one lucky soul it did fly through Lower Moors, but well after most had given up. See the crippling image by Martin Adams.
Martin said that the bird had flown NE, so it seemed logical to head to Porth Hellick and search there. We searched for what seemed like an eternity; many giving up and heading home. I sat on the bench in the bay with Martin Goodey - seemingly, the last two standing. Suddenly Martin said what's that, that's it! There, perched on rock at the far end of the bay was a crippling apparition: it was back!
Everyone finally got to see it and the atmosphere was amazing. The bird, although a little distant, put on a good show; even flying out to perch on Newfoundland Rocks.
Writing this days after the event, I still can't believe I found a Belted Kingfisher in Scilly. I shall NEVER forget those first views as it flew over Porth Hellick Pool… dreams can come true...
Ashley Fisher
25 April 2018
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