Belted Kingfisher

The busy season of nest building and raising young has passed for another year.  The summer is all but gone with astronomical fall in the northern hemisphere beginning on 22 September.  Signs of migration are slowly but surely starting.  The lull of this period gives the opportunity to study and observe the year round birds.

The Belted Kingfsher (Ceryle alcyon) was busy this morning diving for minnows,  always coming back to one particular tree as its observation point.  The tree is out in the middle of the wetlands area flooded by the beaver dam.  Most of the small trees left in that area including this one were girded by the beaver and have already begun losing leaves. 

Fun myth on the Belted Kingfisher.  In Greek mythology. Alcyone (vr. of Halcyone) was the daughter of Aeolus.  Aeolus was ruler of the wind.  Alcyone married Ceyx and were said to be very happy.  At times Alcyone and Ceyx referred to themselves as Zeus and Hera which angered Zeus.  While Ceyx was on a journey at sea to consult an oracle,  Zeus out of anger threw a thunderbolt at the ship.  Soon after, Morpheus (God of Dreams) disguised as Ceyx appreared to Alcyone told of his fate.  Stricken with grief, Alcyone threw herself into the sea.  Out of compassion, the gods changed both Alcyone and Ceyx into birds, and yes, they were Belted Kingfishers.