Belted Kingfisher
Slightly larger than a Blue Jay, the Belted Kingfisher is not a bird that is often seen at Salter Grove. Its occurrence at Salter Grove is somewhat unpredictable but is more likely when the water is high in South Cove.
More often than not, its presence is announced by its piercing rattle-like call along the Marsh Trail. Unlike most other dimorphic bird species, the female is the one with a fancier plumage, the addition of a rusty band below the grayish blue bib that is present in both sexes.
It prefers to nest in upward sloping tunnels excavated in banks of soil alongside bodies of water well supplied with fish 5" or smaller. It will also eat aquatic invertebrates like insects and crayfish. The impressive runs of predacious game fish and contingents of overwintering fish-eating ducks offshore suggest that Salter Grove provides a good supply of the fish in the size class required even if suitable nesting habitat is not available.