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Kingfishers present for park opening
July 21st, 2009 | 
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Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)
I had an amazing morning watching two Belted Kingfishers (Ceryle alcyon) dash across the lake at a nearby park. This is the first time I have had a decent look at these husky birds, and it was a real treat.
Female Belted Kingfisher, in flight
This isn’t just any park…it is the Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve, only 5 minutes from my house. It officially opened recently, and there are many new trails to explore. The 17 acre lake was the big attraction for me on my first birding visit. I expected herons and egrets, but not Kingfishers!
Here is a map of the 800 acre park:
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve, Plano, TX
In what I think was a pretty neat idea, the park management established many of the trails with foot traffic only. They even posted a short video about it. The park was scheduled to open this fall, but they are ahead of schedule. Yay!
Belted Kingfisher in the morning light
I woke up at 5:30 am and was at the park an hour later. The morning was overcast, with the sun continuously peeking out from behind the clouds. On bicycles and on foot, a good number of people and families were out enjoying the early morning hours in the park.
Belted Kingfisher - mohawk hairdo
I watched two Kingfishers cross and circle the lake in chattering dashes. I think one of them may have been following the other…maybe a mom and youngster? I did not see either of them dive into the water for a fish, but I have no doubt they eventually caught their breakfast. I caught mine too…at Krispy Kreme. 
My time at Oak Point was a few short morning hours, and a great experience for my first trip back to my favorite nearby park.
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Love Kingfishers!!! (And Krispy Kremes!!!)
Nice captures of the Belted Kingfishers Amber! I have been trying to get some good shots of these quick and weary birds for some time. I was able to watch a pair chase each other over the Sacramento River for quite a while last year, chattering away just like the ones you saw. They are amazing fishers for sure.
I also found the nesting site of a pair of Belted Kingfishers along the Sacramento River. Unfortunately, it was on the other side of the river and I couldn’t get close enough to see much, other than watch as they flew in and out of the rather large hole in the bank.
Next spring I plan on taking my brothers canoe down the river to that spot. There were Northern Rough-winged Swallows nesting there, but the Belted Kingfisher burrow was a larger hole, easily spotted.
How cool to have a neighborhood nature preserve so close to your house! It looks like there would be many species of birds living there due to the varied habitats available to them. I am looking forward to many more posts on this park.
I love that first photo with its crest and tail up. Nice in flight shot too (I know how hard those are to capture)! Have fun out there.
Love the Kingfishers. You are so lucky to have a wonderful park so near you.
Great kingfisher picture!
I just went today to the new trails–what a great park. Lots of sidewalk for the sedate bike crowd, and great hike-only riparian woodland trails. I did not see any kingfishers, though cardinal and tufted titmouse abounded, but the butterflies and insects were amazing.