Kingfisher UK.

[philc123]

Hi all, hope everyones well.
Managed to get a couple of hours off work today. Nice light for a change so made the most of it :)

Thanks for viewing.

1
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/1542007495_39712ac507_o.jpg
2
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2058/1542007043_67a6dcccda_o.jpg

[Travisj]

Beautiful bird, nice shots. Thanks for sharing.

[aligater]

Nice pics Phil,
taken anywhere i might Know ! this Kingfisher is fast becoming one the most photographed birds in Staffordshire !......i blanked, he sat in the tree around the corner and would`nt come any closer.
Nice to put a face to a name as well.


Link to the hide site


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=1HB0U2DCOJDQXLAQBBICCNNMCAEFCI WE?id=0037656417282a&type=product&cmCat=perf&rid=0180101070502&xpid=k51652&cm_ven=Performics&cm_cat=Affiliate&cm_pla=Idaho%20on%20the%20Net&cm_ite=DDI%20Link&_requestid=33877

[canonloader]

Very nice Phil. Is this the male or female?

[Gary Fairhead]

What a great looking bird and very nice shots here with the first being my favourite. My only suggestion would be to clone/patch out that oof stick in the bottom left of the images..Beautiful captures!!

[philc123]

TravisjBeautiful bird, nice shots. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the comment Travisj, I appreciate it. :)

[philc123]

aligater Nice pics Phil,
taken anywhere i might Know ! this Kingfisher is fast becoming one the most photographed birds in Staffordshire !......i blanked, he sat in the tree around the corner and would`nt come any closer.
Nice to put a face to a name as well.


Thanks Carlton,
Sorry you did'nt get a shot of him, maybe next time. :)

Thanks for the hide link much appreciated.
Great to meet you today. Take care.

[Stephen Stephen]

Nice captures of a beautiful Kingfisher Phil. Your species is much more colourful than ours. Gary suggested cloning out the OOF stick which I support.

You might also consider a portrait format crop as well since the bird is sitting so upright.

[philc123]

canonloader Very nice Phil. Is this the male or female?

Thanks Mitch, Its a male.

[philc123]

Gary FairheadWhat a great looking bird and very nice shots here with the first being my favourite. My only suggestion would be to clone/patch out that oof stick in the bottom left of the images..Beautiful captures!!

Thanks Gary,
I'll have a play with that later, it was just nice to get the camera down to ISO 100 for a rare change.

[philc123]

Stephen Stephen Nice captures of a beautiful Kingfisher Phil. Your species is much more colourful than ours. Gary suggested cloning out the OOF stick which I support.

You might also consider a portrait format crop as well since the bird is sitting so upright.

Thanks Stephen, I appreciate your comment and advice, They're pretty big crops from the original so i'll have another mess around later.

Thanks again. :)

[philc123]

Just had a quick play with the 1st shot, portrait crop which gets rid of the bright reed that was sticking up and better composition.

Let me know what you think :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/1544605516_6bd2bb8f55_o.jpg

[eccles]

Kingfishers around my patch are very shy. A blue flash as they break cover is the best I usually get so I'm jealous of captures like this. Despite the cropping they're great pics.

[philc123]

eccles Kingfishers around my patch are very shy. A blue flash as they break cover is the best I usually get so I'm jealous of captures like this. Despite the cropping they're great pics.

Thanks eccles, I appreciate your comments. :)

As for them being shy, these shots took several visits to find a regular perch of his then an hour cramped in a bush on the pool edge. When he landed on his perch which was about 10m away i had about 5 seconds to get him. 3 shots taken 2 in burst, then he was gone. needless to say i'm well pleased with the results. :)

[LindaB]

Wonderful shots and lovely to see them.

Linda

[philc123]

LindaB Wonderful shots and lovely to see them.


Thanks Linda, they sure are a joy to watch. So pleased i got a decent shot, glad you liked them. :)

[LindaB]

Thanks Linda, they sure are a joy to watch. So pleased i got a decent shot, glad you liked them. :)


They certtainly are. My husband and I have been lucky with viewings this year but because of the awful weather there has been no chance to photograph them. We have usually been sitting in a hide with it raining or walking inbetween showers and usually seen two on most occasions, so I think its been a good year for them.

Its a thrill to see them let alone get such fantastic shots as you have done, and I know you must be thrilled with them.

Linda

[Sindri Skulason]

Very nice shots indeed. :-)

[philc123]

Thats for the comment Sindri, it meens a lot to me. :)

[downywp]

Very nice shots of this lovely kingfisher... I especially like the very last crop that you just posted!:)

[philc123]

downywp Very nice shots of this lovely kingfisher... I especially like the very last crop that you just posted!:smile:
Thanks downywp, I appreciate your comment thanks. :)

I agree the last crop does work well.

[mick johnson]

Hi Phil, nice shot's of my favourite bird.

I see you just sat in a bush for an hour, bet that was comfy.

Do you not have a 'hide' or some sort of 'smock'

I went in Yeomans in Macclesfield the other day and in the 'ex army' section they had a few showerproof camoflauge smocks. You just slip them over your head and they have a hood as well.

Just the job for what you were doing.

[philc123]

mick johnson Hi Phil, nice shot's of my favourite bird.

I see you just sat in a bush for an hour, bet that was comfy.

Do you not have a 'hide' or some sort of 'smock'

I went in Yeomans in Macclesfield the other day and in the 'ex army' section they had a few showerproof camoflauge smocks. You just slip them over your head and they have a hood as well.

Just the job for what you were doing.

Hi Mick,
Nice to hear from you.
I,ve got a waterproof army jacket now, plus i like roughing it a bit. You fell at one with nature when scrambling in the undergrowth with mozzy's biting you. :)
Been thinking of getting a hide or smock but that will take funds from my piggy bank for my next lens.

Thanks for the comment Mick I appreciate it. Take care mate. :)