A NATURE photographer from Colchester was left delighted after snapping a "handsome" bird which is notoriously tricky to spot on her daily walk in town.

Lynn Sampson could not believe her luck when she came across a kingfisher near the Riverside trail between Castle Park and East Street in the city. 

Eager to not let the moment pass, Lynn didn't hesitate in capturing photos of the bright blue and orange bird before sharing them on social media. 

Gazette: Snap - Lynn Sampson managed to take great pictures of her local kingfisher in Colchester

She said: “I made myself go out while it was sunny yesterday morning and I’m so glad I did because amongst other things I got to watch this beauty just a couple of minute's walk from home - my local, very handsome, kingfisher.” 

The bird, although common in the UK, is considered particularly difficult to spot, so much so it inspired the Irish saying “Only the righteous see the kingfisher”. 

It prefers slow-moving or still water and, as the name suggests, hunts fish from riverside perches. 

The kingfisher is amber-listed and a Schedule 1 species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, offering extra protection to the birds, which are roughly the size of house sparrows. 

As well as in Colchester, kingfishers have been spotted at Gunners Park and the Shoebury Ranges.