Yesterday I had a good morning in the mountains. I documented interesting behaviors from several species and I was even able to get a few photos I like.
1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This male Belted Kingfisher taking off from a branch over a stream is one of them. For my tastes I couldn’t ask for a takeoff posture I like better. We have a great look at the kingfisher’s entire dorsal surface showing off all of his striking plumage patterns and colors, there’s light on his face and a catch light in his eye and as a bonus I even caught both of his alulae flared and separated from the rest of the wing each one is attached to. I also like the flared tail and the way it’s framed by the curved branch behind it.
That’s not to say everything’s perfect of course, it never is. I wish I’d been a little closer to the bird for slightly better detail (this photo is cropped to 40% of the original image) and there are a lot of busy branches and twigs in the background.
But I’m not complaining.
Ron
Note: It may look like this kingfisher is taking off to dive on a fish in the stream below but that’s not the case. He was being hounded by a hungry juvenile kingfisher for food and I believe he was simply trying to escape the pesky youngster. While they’re still in the nest the young birds are fed by their male parent at least twice as often as their mother feeds them so it seems logical that the recent fledglings would most often pester the male parent for food instead of the female.
I’ve only had the chance see one once… it landed, I saw and it was gone‼️
Typical…
Very nice!
Really fun posture to catch.
Great work Ron!
Poor Popster — just wants a few minutes peace from the kids! 😉
Always happy when you find a Kingfisher in your viewfinder and share it with us. This is a great shot (even with your nits). It’s like he knew you were there and was turning to make sure you had his “best side.” 😀
He certainly turned into the light nicely, didn’t he. Thanks, Marty.
Ooh, so beautiful! We don’t have these birds near where I live. I had no idea they have such a striking wing pattern!
Thank you, Pat.
SPECTACULAR.
And I am thrilled you had such a good day in the mountains.
Thank you, EC.
Those are some impressive primaries. Thanks for catching this perspective.
I’m listening to some young crows bleat/beg to be fed; I guess juveniles of many species can exasperate their parents.
“Those are some impressive primaries”
I noticed that too, Lyle. To me they look like big ol’ air scoops – perfect for accelerating downward after a fish and for frustrating photographers trying to be fast enough on the trigger to catch them taking off.
Wonderful pose. I too don’t have luck with photographing these birds. Not enough focal range. The few times I have been close enough they fly as soon as I lift my lens.
Thanks, April. They’re aggravating photo subjects for sure but I still love’em.
Gorgeous photo. I hear them at the golf course but seldom get to see them.
Thanks, Betty.
I agree that is a fantastic shot!! What a view of the alula feathers. Now that would be a fun image to carve, but I would have to have something to attach it to so that the Kingfisher looked like it had just left the branch. Sorry, just thinking out loud!
Great shot, thanks for sharing.
Dick, stubby as his legs are I think his feet or at least some of his toes might still be touching the perch. But that wouldn’t be much to support a carved bird.
Its amazing how one can make metal look like wood. It would only be a toe welded to the branch. The whole bird except for the toe would be wood! Its just a thought, I’ve only started planning it, so we’ll see how it goes. I’ll let you know if I really get serious!
Wonderful photo – a pleasure to look at! Kingfishers are only tiny dots in the few shots of them that I have managed to take. Kudos!
I have more than a few of those “dot” kingfisher photos, Joanne. That’s part of the reason why this one feels so sweet.
A decent kingfisher shot remains on my bucket list. Great shot here.
There’s no getting around it, Frank – they’re one of the toughest subjects out there. Thank you.
Stunning! Truly gorgeous image revealing spectacular plumage concealed otherwise.
Thanks, Gary. I’m pretty happy with it myself.
What a handsome dad! Thanks for brightening my morning. This is a beautiful image.
I’m glad you like it, Mary. Thanks.
That is an outstanding Kingfisher photo Ron. Hard to image a better shot than this one. Judy says, “The Kingfishers are a challenge to capture”, and that is so true. I have to get closer with my camera than you do, and I think they all wait till I am just in the focusing stage and then off they go with that shrill mocking scream laughing at me as they reposition themselves just a wee bit beyond my range. 🙂
Yeah, I thought that comment of Judy’s was an understatement. I’ve been seeing kingfishers at this spot for many weeks now and they simply refuse to come in close and always fly off when I try to approach them, scolding me all the way.
Great photo! The flared alulae are a very nice touch. Perhaps he’s an “old school” father, the kind that did better at providing for the family than putting up with the kids less attractive behaviors.
For the past week, I’ve had a pair of yellow-shafted flickers teaching their young ones how to feed from my suet feeder. The dad has been very patient with what seemed like a kid who struggled with skill development. The young one finally caught on and now comes alone sometimes. if I hadn’t seen them at the ant nest in the front yard, I might have worried that the babies weren’t getting the more natural skills. The parents seem pretty thorough, however.
I’m jealous of your time with the flickers, Nancy. Around here they’re hard to approach and spend most of their time high in the trees and out of range.
Stunning photo. I hope we get to see some juveniles too. 🙂
Thanks, Arwen. None of my photos of the juvenile from yesterday are very good but I hope to have some chances with it in the future.
Spectacular shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Excellent! 🙂 The kingfishers are a challenge to capture and you nailed it on this one…..:) Pretty, amusing birds they are! Interesting about who does most of the feeding while the young are in the nest. Perhaps “mom” had enough of a dark hole and tight quarters incubating? 😉 We have one around at the moment that I accidently disturbed in a bush the other day but have only heard it “talk” once so far. Perhaps less vocal earlier in the season?
“Perhaps “mom” had enough of a dark hole and tight quarters incubating?”
I suppose that’s possible, Judy. Cornell says “both sexes incubate but the male’s time investment is unclear”. So it’s possible she spends more time on the eggs than the male.
Perhaps it’s a “go ask you dad” thing and he’s a softer touch? 😉