Strange Kingfisher behavior / Denver

[Dave Cameron]

In the vicinity of the Harvey Park neighborhood (in this case, just East of Sheridan Blvd, from around LakeRidge to around Evans), I heard a distinct and insistent rattling call that sounded quite familiar, but I couldn't place it.  I spotted the bird, way up high in the air, flying hard, in broad circles around this area.  It was just one at first, around 4:00pm, but from then until about 5:00, it was two birds, circling together.  I've seen and heard a million Belted Kingfishers, but it took me a minute to ID the call, as my brain didn't associate the sound with a bird flying so high.  I've never seen Kingfishers soar like that.  There are a couple of small lakes around here, but they didn't seem to be keyed on one, and they soared and circled for an hour without landing, chattering all the while.

I know that Kingfishers don't migrate, per se, but will move if they need to, when their food sources freeze over.  But even Canada has had such warm weather, the freeze line is way, way North of here right now.  Way North of the border, in fact.  And it's not the season for courting or claiming territory....

So what were these two up to....?

Dave Cameron

City & County of Denver