This kingfisher needs some practice with his fish-handling skills.
Yesterday morning I spent some time with the male Belted Kingfisher at Farmington. This bird is becoming quite well known among local photographers and birders but it was just after dawn and we had him to ourselves for about a half hour. That early in the morning the kingfisher is side-lit while it’s fishing from its favorite perch so shooting conditions were very difficult but the bird was actively fishing so I couldn’t resist firing away and hoping to get lucky.
None of my photos from this session were excellent technically but I think I got some interesting shots anyway.
1/4000, 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
Here the bird is about to land on its preferred perch after catching a small fish in the creek below the post. I love his landing posture with his body in a perfectly vertical position and the wings and tail flared in order to quickly reduce his air speed and reduce the impact of landing – after all, those stiff and stubby little legs won’t be able to cushion much of that impact. Kingfishers have extremely short legs and this photo illustrates that fact very well. Those legs are extended as far as they will go.
Even though it’s less than perfect technically this is still one of my favorite kingfisher images. Ever.
1/5000, 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 shot was taken soon after he landed with the fish.
1/6400, 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
Typical of kingfishers this bird tossed the fish up into the air before gulping it down. At least that was his plan… (I was very disappointed to lose sharp focus on this shot but in bird photography “stuff” happens).
1/6400, 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
But as the fish came down it glanced off the side of his bill…
1/6400, 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
and bounced far off to the side.
I love the kingfisher’s look of consternation! He then flew down to try to retrieve the fish but I don’t know if it fell onto the ground or into the water so the outcome for the fish is unknown.
But if it fell into the water that had to be the luckiest fish in the world.
Ron
what wonderful shots showing the process of trying to eat. The first shot is phenomenal. I can’t stop examining it. Thanks so much
I really like your Kingfisher shots! I wish you would be “kinder” on yourself on your “imperfect” pictures. Most of us would be more than delighted to capture even your “worse” shots. I too captured Belted Kingfisher shots a couple of days ago and I was tickled pink. Mine are
not as good as yours. Now, I think they must be terrible. Put on that happy face and thank your lucky stars on all of your WONDERFUL pics you share with us! Linda in AZ.
Ron, you know how much I love Kingfishers and these are simply the best I’ve ever seen. !!!
The landing position resembles the take off position from November 4th.
These photos are a lot of fun.
That landing shot is phenomenal, Ron! The last 3 remind me of an outfielder: I got it! I got it! I don’t got it.
As far as mishaps while showing off, nothing good ever happens after someone says, “Hold my beer…” 😉
Late to the party, Ron, but really love this series! Don’t know that I’ve ever seen a profile view of a Kingfisher coming in for a landing. Well done!
I’m glad you appreciate that shot, Diane. It’s my favorite, despite its faults.
Wow, some of the best bird behavior shots I can remember seeing. Ever. Great Thanksgiving kickoff. Thanks for all your photos and info this past year.
Thanks for the kind words about these images, Kent. Not everyone appreciates behavior shots…
I love the fish in med-air. Oh I feel your pain, it irks me to no end when I have a great shot and the focus readjust at the last minute before the shutter clicks. I have lost so many great action shots. I have tried locking in the focus but sometimes the subject shifts just enough to pull out of sharp focus too. I guess that’s what makes us keep returning for more.
The trials and tribulations of bird photographers – we know them well, don’t we, April.
These are great Ron. They are almost comical watching the kingfishers behavior. I wonder if he was showing off for the camera? Very nice sequence and behavior captured! Put a big smile on my face. Thanks!
It was fun to watch too, Ed. But it all happened so fast at the time I didn’t even know the kingfisher had tossed the fish. All I knew was that he lost it and then went after it again.
What great shots Ron. However, if there were no evidence to record the story, this would be “the one that got away” and the tale would record it as much much larger.
Thanks, Ron. I guess “fish stories” have no limits regardless of the species of the fisherman…
OMG, Ron – these are SO FUN!!! I saw my 1st Belted Kingfisher onand fell in love with them!! To me this behavioral series is very special. It makes me feel like I’m right there watching all it’s movements!! The 3rd capture was my favorite for it made me laugh out loud!! Thanks for a very enjoyable blog!!
I’m glad you enjoyed them so much, Jo Ann. Thanks.
Ron – I should have proofed my response! I was trying to type “on your blog” right after my 1st Kingfisher!! Duh!!
Wonderful story and images
Thank you, Carlotta.
Technically, schmectically! Those are SPECTACULAR shots! And oh what a lucky day for that fish! As I was explaining to a friend of mine (a Jimmy Johnson fan) during the final NASCAR race, it ain’t over until the fat lady takes the checkered flag (to mix metaphors a bit!). In this case, it ain’t over until you actually go down the hatch! What a wonderful series of shots!
And yes, boys do like to show off in the context of “Watch this!” It’s why women live longer. 😉
Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving!
“And yes, boys do like to show off in the context of “Watch this!” It’s why women live longer”
I knew there had to be a logical and well documented reason for that phenomenon, Laura. Thanks for providing it!
Laura – LOVED your whole response but especially the reason we women live longer!! Right on, Girl!!
Jo Ann, I love it that so many male/female behaviors and norms cross species. We’re far more alike than we are different and that often makes me giggle and/or guffaw!
What a wonderful series! Kingfishers are always fun to see, and this one is no exception. In the landing shot it is amazing to me that he would even be able to land: it looks to me like he’s coming in too low. As for what happened with the fish, when he tossed it up, it reminded me of watching people work with pizza dough. I’m glad he wasn’t making my dinner pizza… 🙂 I do hope his skills improve, for his sake and for the sake of those of us who enjoy seeing photographs of him.
“it looks to me like he’s coming in too low”
Susan, that’s because the post is elevated high above the creek where the kingfisher is coming from so the bird’s trajectory was at a fairly steep upward angle.
Once again a wonderful series to enjoy along with my coffee. As I have said before, Kingfishers are on my bucket list to photography successfully and you have done a great job here.
But lets talk technical stuff for a moment if you don’t mind. It seems you are shooting “shutter priority” here and if you shoot that way all the time, guess I have not noticed it before. If I am correct, can you share why you chose that method of exposure as compared to manual. The light in this scene is relatively constant so I am not sure there is any benefit of having the shutter speed moving around as in the first two images. I am just curious because I am pretty much stuck on manual, but perhaps I can learn something here to alter my way of thinking.
Again, love your stuff with my coffee in the AM.
Frank, I was shooting in aperture priority. I ALWAYS do. I choose that method mostly because I’m just more comfortable with it. I have no experience shooting manual.
And actually the light was constantly changing while I was with this bird because at first the background was shaded but then it gradually became more strongly lit as the sun slowly lit it up back there. Because I was shooting in aperture priority my shutter speed bounced around a lot in those conditions.
I think this male, as typical of many males, was trying to show off for his audience! And, also typical of many males, the show off stunt goes wrong or malfunctions, or is just plain embarrassing.
Anthropomorphizing or not these are great shots, some of the best I’ve seen.
Thanks for sharing and you and Mia have a great Thanksgiving!!
“typical of many males, the show off stunt goes wrong or malfunctions, or is just plain embarrassing”
Ha, you hit that nail on the head, Dick. Brings back a few embarrassing memories from my own teenage years…
Ron and Dick, My teenage stunt that I will remember FOREVER had to do with an attempted vault over a split rail fence. There were 4 young ladies watching as I made it “halfway”. Two of them ran toward me and, as it turns out, one of them was a nursing student; however, neither she (nor I) felt comfortable with her attending to my injuries, which were painful AND “strategically located”. I was in the US Navy at the time, and a buddy drove me back to the ship where the corpsman, although helpful, couldn’t stop laughing. I think the young ladies definitely remembered me. Perhaps they still do…
Cheers,
Dick
I haven’t laughed that hard in some time, Dick!!!
I had a similar result when I tried to jump a very high fence in public (no girls in the audience) and my foot caught on the top rail. But I landed on my face so thankfully no family jewels were involved…
😀😀😀😀
Such a fun series…thank you Ron.
Thanks, Zaphir.
Love, love, love this series! Beautiful and fun photos of such an elusive species. I’ve never seen anything like these poses.
Thanks very much, Sharon. Despite their elusiveness I’ve had better luck with kingfishers this year than in all previous years combined.
I needed that!!!
I hope it helped…
Spectacular behavioral shots Ron! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte. The same to you!
Geez!!!! I’m going back to my pond today. My pictures are nothing like yours unfortunately. The kingfisher I photoed caught a pretty big fish . and she was slapping it against tree branches very vigorously for quite a while. It was obvious she was going to kill it before eating it. .
Marina, I was surprised this bird didn’t pound the fish on the post (that I noticed). All it did was shake it around a bit before tossing it into the air.
Just love them birds!!!!! What would we do without them!!! Photography wouldn’t be near as fun….
WONDERFUL photo sequence, Ron! :):) 🙂 Practice is apparently still needed. 🙂 All are great, but the first one is extra special for sure. I know they always seem to be squatting on the power lines near the house, but didn’t realize their legs were so short! Wonder if that’s to do with their burrowing into the banks to nest? We still have one around here as of a day ago – VERY unusual for this time of year!
“Wonder if that’s to do with their burrowing into the banks to nest?”
From what I’ve read that’s it exactly, Judy. Good observation!