I’ve been after quality images of Belted Kingfishers for years with very little success. Until yesterday.
Given the situation it’s ironic that I was successful. After so many years of trying so hard with kingfishers my only goal yesterday was to test my lens after repair so when the sun finally peeked out of the fog for a while I visited an area near the Jordan River where the only opportunities are usually with domestic ducks and coots – all I needed was feathered test subjects. A short while after I started shooting ducks a chattering female Belted Kingfisher appeared in the trees across the water but at first she was too far away and too deeply buried in the branches for quality images.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I believe I owe my success with the kingfisher to a marauding Cooper’s Hawk. More than other raptors, accipiters are potential predators of kingfishers and when the Cooper’s swooped in twice through the trees where the kingfisher was she was very upset. As soon as the hawk left she moved across the water and did her fishing from trees very close to me. Thank you, Coop!
1/2500, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Her fishing technique was intense. She would stare down at the water for a long time before she spotted a small fish near the surface and then take off after it. Usually I clipped wings when she launched and this time was no exception.
In this shot I enjoy the good look at the conspicuous and ragged double-pointed crest and that white spot in front of the eye – characteristic features of both sexes. I know this bird to be a female because of the rufous band across the lower breast. At some angles the white spot in front of the eye can be visually confusing to the viewer because it often appears to be a misplaced catch light in the eye but with this close up view and head angle there is no confusion.
These two images are only the tip of the iceberg. I have many behavioral and flight shots of her, some of which I’ll be posting in the future, but at this point my culling and processing chores loom in front of me first.
Regular readers know that as a photographer I define a “nemesis species” as one I don’t have high quality images of and want very badly (rather than one I haven’t seen). For years my two primary nemesis birds have been the Golden Eagle and the Belted Kingfisher so I was ecstatic to cross the kingfisher off my list. It’s probably inappropriate to imply (in my title) that I have “conquered” the kingfisher but in my enthusiasm for my success I’m leaving it be.
Golden Eagle, here I come…
Ron
Love these little birds. I’m also grew up in Louisiana so “kingfisher” has other meaning as well. 🙂
CONGRATS!!HOORAY on your sensational shots!! Only a photographer can know the intense satisfaction! Well done! Your lens arrived at just the right time.
Charlotte
It certainly did, Charlotte. I wonder what happened to my patented bad timing…
Worth the wait Ron! Beautiful images!
Yes, it was, Nancy. Thank you.
How wonderful. I am looking forward to seeing more of this exotic (to me) charmer.
The wait shouldn’t be a long one, EC. Thanks.
Congratulations Ron… she’s a beauty! I’m always so thrilled when I see one…and I have yet to capture an image.
I hope you get one soon Steve, but as I’m sure you know they aren’t easy.
Talk about “Killing two birds with one stone”, what a lucky day. Beautiful photos. I like how irritated the birds stance looks in the first shot.
I like that pose too, April. I have quite a few shots of the bird on this perch but this is the only one I got with its tail up and that’s the reason I chose to post that particular image.
What fantastic shots!!! It is amazing that you were able to get these of a kingfisher! Keep posting them!
Thanks, Jane. There’ll likely be more kingfisher images posted in the next day or two.
Great photo of a favorite bird I see when canoeing my favorite Missouri river, the Bourbeuse
Thank you, Linda.
Aren’t these kingfishers the bees’ knees? I’ve only seen them three times, but enjoyed watching them hunt. Cool birds (and yes, I’m easily amused…LOL!)
Here’s hoping a few goldens will cross your path soon. When I lived in Wyoming and Colorado, the easiest way to see them was to head up into the mountains. I don’t think they like humans much–go figure. Smart birds!
Laura, I was VERY close to Wyoming this morning in my quest Goldens. Found a few too.
One of my HUGE joys while living in Wyoming was watching a pair of goldens, presumably a mated pair, work together to take down a pronghorn. Of course, I didn’t even have a camera anywhere near me, and even if I had, my little point-and-shoot wouldn’t have been the tool to get a photo, but the memory is spectacular. It took about 20 minutes start to finish. I hope you had similar luck since you’d be much better prepared.
Ah yes the Nemesis subjects of a photographer, I know them well!!
Congratulations Ron, these two pics are superb!
I see that your returned camera is functioning very well indeed!
I feel (not really) for all those folks that have hair, not missed from my head. VBG!
Thank you, Dick for your empathy re: hair…I’ve been told by more than one hsirdresser that I have “mean”hair…they were right and I appreciated their sympathy…..
Thank you, Dick. Between the two of us, including your beard/goatee, we might have enough hair to cover an entire head but it would be a stretch!
I don’t miss mine either – not any more.
One down, a Golden to go! I can”t wait!!! How I wish Goldens were seen here! Once in a while a stray bird is sighted, but rarely. Theses are wonderful shots of a fascinating bird I used to see when backpacking along mountain streams in the Adirondacks…it was always exciting to hear their distictive sound and then see their swoopy flight. I love both images, but especially the second. That’s how my hair looks in the morning. The comments were interesting, too. As I’ve said before, I learn something new and interesting from you and your followers every morning…glad your camera is functioning so well and that you were lucky enough to get these wonderful images….with more to come!
I worked on the Golden Eagle this morning, Patty. Got some interesting shots but I was just too far away…
That is also my premier nemesis bird. As soon as I point my camera at it, it leaves. And then I soon have another in my sights which does the same thing. Congratulations for being in the right place at the right time.
“As soon as I point my camera at it, it leaves”
Yup, that’s their typical M.O., Marilyn. We both know that frustration!
Great images of one of your nemesis birds. I was right there with you in the excitement you expressed as that bird is on my list also. And that it happened right after you got your lens back from being repaired and you simply wanted to test it…I get the feeling it landed you in a spot you would not have been in otherwise. It’s just a small example of good things coming from what seem to be not so good at the time. I certainly look forward to more images of this bird after you’ve culled and processed them.
“I get the feeling it landed you in a spot you would not have been in otherwise”
That’s exactly right, Dave. The ONLY reason I went to that spot yesterday was to test my lens.
Two of the best Kingfisher shots I’ve ever seen. Super tight…CPS did it’s part which now allows you to do yours…nice 🙂
Yup, I should have thanked CPS again in this post, Zaphir. Thanks.
Awesome and congrats!
Thank you, Steve.
Fantastic, Ron! You really captured her intensity and beauty! What a treat to (finally) be able to see such detail on one of my nemesis birds as well. You must be thrilled with this string of images; I certainly look forward to seeing more of them. That your nemesis would be the species to confirm your lens is performing ideally must just be the icing on the cake!
Congratulations on all counts; thanks for sharing these!
“That your nemesis would be the species to confirm your lens is performing ideally must just be the icing on the cake”
Well said, Kim. I wish I’d have thought to put it that way in my post.
Ron – what an over-the-moon way to test your lens out!! I love both captures with the 2nd being my favorite – mostly for a slightly comical look to her!! Her crest reminds me of how my hair can look after a restless night’s sleep!! I’m looking forward to future stories and photos of your nemesis bird capture!! I’m off to Green Cay for more photo captures as well as doing the Great Backyard Bird Count for the Cornell Lab of Ornathology(sp?) and Audubon. It’s my 1st year and I already did a backyard count of my own yesterday morning!! It makes for a terrific week-end!!
Thanks, Jo Ann. Good luck and have fun with your GBBC!
She’s beautiful! I think your sharpness woes are over! Congratulations.
“I think your sharpness woes are over!”
I’m thinking you’re right, Sharon. Most every image that should have been sharp, was. That makes me even happier than getting the kingfisher shots and that says a lot. I can’t even imagine how frustrated I’d be if my lens had still been having sharpness issues when I was shooting this bird!
Congrats on catching these shots! 🙂 They are tough – either buried in the trees or up on the power lines WAY above Belt Creek or flying VERY fast through the well treed yard talking loudly! 🙂 I’m looking forward to more shots.
I can tell you know how they are, Judy – boisterous, shy and very difficult to photograph.