Kingfishers agonistes?

There are two Belted Kingfishers that have been hanging out by the pond and trilling non-stop for a couple of days now (I can hear them even as I write this on Sunday afternoon). When I approach they take off, executing a series of astonishing aerial maneuvers. Like bird bullets they shoot over the marsh and then high over the creek seemingly in concert but never really approaching each other. Eventually, they land -- usually on the dead cedar on the far side of the pond. One lands first and then, as the other comes in, flashes its wings showing its white underwing pattern. By now I can see that they are both males. This is not some kind of fall courtship but a duel, possibly for the ownership of the creek. They don't actually engage in physical contact; those kingfisher bills are potentially too lethal for an actual physical struggle.

Years ago, there was a pair -- male and female -- that 'owned' the creek for fishing rights and had its nest hole in the banks of the East Coast Mines north of East Quogue. East Coast Mines is no longer accessible but I suspect that the kingfisher bank was destroyed; in recent years, kingfisher presence has been spotty. Although these birds are partly migratory (they can often be seen moving along Dune Road in the spring and fall). But, if there is no ice, there are kingfishers here all winter long. Perhaps the cold winter of 2013-14 pushed out any birds that might have tried to stay and the creek is again up for grabs.

Did I say two male Kingfishers? There is possible a third -- of unknown sex -- in the area.

Other water birds still hanging out are the Green Heron (which bred this year on the property but will eventually migrate) and a flock of Black Duck (probably here for the winter). The population of Royal Terns has thinned out although there are occasional visits; all the other terns are long gone.  

Eric Salzman