![\"belted-kingfisher-3283-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/belted-kingfisher-3283-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHere’s some more action shots of the same Kingfisher I posted a few days ago. This male at Farmington has been showing off for photographers and birders for several weeks now. I know it’s the same bird because this individual has a very\u00a0small but distinctive white spot on the left side of the very tip of\u00a0his bill that can\u00a0be seen in the first two images below. That white spot is not found on the right side of\u00a0his bill.<\/p>\n
These shots were taken three days ago as the bird was fishing the creek below his favorite perch.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1\/3200, f\/7.1, ISO 1000, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in <\/strong><\/p>\n I quickly tired of photographing him resting on the post so my goal was to get takeoff and landing shots but these birds are unusually quick for their size so it wasn’t easy. Here he’s about to begin his powered dive down into the water after a fish. This time of morning he’s always side-lit so I was pleased that this pose allowed me to get light on almost the entire visible surface of the bird.<\/p>\n On most days\u00a0the old wooden post he likes to fish from is pretty bright but it had rained during the night so it was still wet and much darker than usual.\u00a0I like\u00a0the effect.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Several minutes later on a different dive I caught him with his wings still folded as he launched mostly by pushing off with his stubby little legs. This bullet-shape must be the profile that enters the water at speed so I imagine it would be quite effective at allowing the bird to reach its underwater prey.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/3200, f\/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in <\/strong><\/p>\n The dive was successful but when he returned to the post to enjoy his snack he had his back to me. At least we can see the fish and this view provides a pretty good look at\u00a0his dorsal plumage colors and patterns.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/4000, f\/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n In my experience when the fish is a fairly large one they usually beat it senseless against the perch to stun or kill it before gulping it down. But with these smaller fish they just shake them vigorously a few times before swallowing…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/3200, f\/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n so it didn’t take long for this little fish to disappear down the hatch.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/3200, f\/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in <\/strong><\/p>\n Then he gave every feather on his body a\u00a0very rambunctious ride as he shook (roused) enthusiastically. The membrane-covered eye can barely be seen – it’s the slanted gray-blue structure between the two white spots. Birds nearly always close their nictitating membranes while rousing in order to protect the eye.<\/p>\n It’ll be interesting to see how long this bird sticks around this winter. During mild winters some kingfishers are here year-round but if all the ponds and streams ice over they usually leave. We badly need a cold and snowy winter but if it doesn’t happen this bird may be the\u00a0consolation prize.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here’s some more action shots of the same Kingfisher I posted a few days ago.<\/p>\n![\"belted-kingfisher-3315b-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/belted-kingfisher-3315b-ron-dudley.jpg\")
1\/3200, f\/7.1, ISO 1000, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in <\/strong><\/p>\n![\"belted-kingfisher-3318-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/belted-kingfisher-3318-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"belted-kingfisher-3326-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/belted-kingfisher-3326-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"belted-kingfisher-3346-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/belted-kingfisher-3346-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"belted-kingfisher-3377-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/belted-kingfisher-3377-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\n