Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Length 16-17cm

Dazzlingly attractive bird but colours often appear muted when bird seen sitting in shade of vegetation. Has orange-red underparts and mainly blue upperparts; electric blue back seen to best effect when bird observed in low-level flight speeding along river. Invariably seen near water and uses overhanging branches to watch for fish. When feeding opportunity arises, plunges headlong into water, catching prey in bill; fish is swallowed whole, head first, and sometimes stunned by beating head on branch. Nests in holes excavated in river bank. Widespread and fairly common on fish-rich rivers, lakes and flooded gravel pits in much of Ireland and Britain, becoming scarce N of Scottish border. In winter, sometimes seen on sheltered rocky coasts, especially in cold weather.