Revisiting an old friend.
This past summer I photographed an unusually cooperative male Belted Kingfisher in the Wasatch Mountains on several different mornings. This fallen dead tree was his favorite fishing perch and readers will likely recognize it because I’ve posted other photos of him perched there. But this photo and this preening pose are new to my blog.
I like it because it amuses me.
1/3200, f/6.3, 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
Just prior to this shot he had reached back to the base of his tail to his preen gland to get preen oil on his bill which he subsequently smeared along the length of the two terminal flight feathers on his left wing. In this photo I caught him beginning to fold his wing back into place and returning his head to a normal position.
The unusual pose, the wing position especially, amuses me and this morning in particular I needed some entertainment – thus this post.
Ron
Note to photographers:
- The entire series I took of this bird while he was preening is unusually sharp. Virtually all photos taken in RAW need at least some sharpening but when I apply my ‘normal’ amount of sharpening to these shots during processing they’re noticeably over-sharpened so I have to reduce my sharpening by at least 50%. I have no idea why that happens sometimes. One of the vagaries of digital photography I guess.
Are you positive he isn’t practicing “The Carlton” dance from Fresh Prince? I’m just sayin’….
Nope, not positive of anything since I’ve never watched Fresh Prince.
LOL You should look up the Carlton for a view. It’s a silly thing but it brings me joy!
I never thought I’d see the words cooperative and Kingfisher in the same sentence ❗️Love this little guy 😁
For years I didn’t either, Diana. Kingfishers were a nemesis species for me.
Thanks for a much-needed chuckle. I’m so grateful for these daily peeks into the natural world.
I appreciate that. Thanks, Marty.
My Dad used to call me Sneaky Pete…That was my first thought. He looks sneaky.
Ha, both of my parents called me that name when I was a little kid. I took it as a challenge… 🙂
Me too. Also. 😈
The diversity in birds always amazes me.
Me too.
Brilliant.
This photo certainly lifted my morning – and I hope it did the same for you.
EC, it certainly didn’t hurt.
Ha, thanks, Ron! I laughed out loud. My immediate take on the photo: It’s Halloween, he needs a costume, he decides to be… JAWS! Duh dum…
Nina, I have other photos of him that are even more appropriate for Jaws.
The others must be something. This one still makes me smile when i look at it.
Belted kingfishers are now one of my favorites, thanks entirely to your photos. This one has a lovely mischievous quality, as they often do, and I like the shadows his wing feathers make on the branches below. 😊
I’m glad you’ve been transformed into a kingfisher fan, Cathy.
Thank you, again, for a burst of sanity this morning! I could watch birds preen for hours…and bathe and well, just breathe! And like you, I NEED the stability of birds and critters right now. Without them, I’d have lost my sanity a long time ago. Crazy doesn’t even come close to describing our world now!
You’ve sold me on kingfishers. I’ve always loved them, but they’re now up in my Top Ten of favorite birds 😉 They’re so darned pretty in a goofy kind of way that makes me smile with a smile that exceeds the width of my face!
Forecasting? That’s akin to reading tea leaves in most areas. I know I couldn’t do it. My ability to predict the future is dismal at best. LOL
Thanks, Laura. I hope you’re still progressing nicely with your recovery.
Throwing his wings up saying “I can’t do a thing with this crest”. Just so vain. He probably thinks this song is about him. Payback for the Cormorant post ear worm.
Payback accomplished, Lyle.
I’ve always wondered what Warren Beatty thought of that song… 🙂
Bird preening photos from eagles and herons and egrets down to warblers and finches are always amusing and fun to watch. This is a really good photo and even has that tiny little catch light in the eye. I don’t really know much about taking photos in RAW. Thanks for posting.
Everett, in a shot like this I’d almost expect to get two catch lights because the water was only a couple of feet below the bird. Often in this situation I’d get another catch light, a reflection of the sun off of the water. Didn’t happen this time.
Ah, a good time for amusement! Thanks for this, your generous sharing of fine bird photos, and above all your being in this crazy world!
Mary
Crazy world says it perfectly doesn’t it, Mary. Birds are one of the few stabilizing factors in my life right now and I know I’m not alone.
“What are you looking at?!” Great capture, Ron…..😀 Funny how “sharp” varies even you don’t think you’ve done anything different camera/computer wise.
23 and light snow – looks like it isn’t going anywhere soon…….hope it’s not here to stay for the winter…….😳
Thanks, Judy. Your storm is brushing us down here and it wasn’t supposed to. Forecasters got it wrong, again!
Don’t know about your area but ours is a forecasters nightmare…..frustrating for sure….
He’s gorgeous, the pose amuses me too, thank you.
Thank you, Floria.