Common Kingfisher

[yason]

This is a very difficult bird to shoot, because it is very very shy...

http://madcat2.clubsnap.org/gallery/albums/SR/Common_Kingfisher_4.jpg

http://madcat2.clubsnap.org/gallery/albums/SR/Common_Kingfisher_7.jpg

http://madcat2.clubsnap.org/gallery/albums/SR/Common_Kingfisher_8.jpg

[DoveKeeper]

I was a bit shocked when the pic loaded and a colorfull little bird apeared. I forget about the global divestity of this site. I was expecting to see a blue and white bird of larger proportions. Where is it from?

[HJMinard]

What a beautiful bird ... although he has quite the weapon protruding from his face. Outstanding work, as always, yason.

[robertwgross]

I was a bit shocked when the pic loaded and a colorfull little bird apeared. I forget about the global divestity of this site. I was expecting to see a blue and white bird of larger proportions. Where is it from?

In North America, the typical kingfisher is the blue and white belted kingfisher. They are not exactly shy, but they can be difficult to photograph. They twitch around a lot while they are waiting to make their hunting dive.

It would be a great photograph if we could get the bird above to pose with the belted kingfisher!

---Bob Gross---

[CyberDyneSystems]

Beautifull Yason,. beautifull :)

[JZaun]

Lovely pics Yason...

JZ

[BoySpot]

Kingfishers like these live in the UK (as I used to). You have to be careful taking pictures of them there. They are protected and getting close enough to shoot one can involve being too close for the protection orders. Not sure of the details but worth checking out before anyone else plans a trip in that country.

[sparker1]

Very, very nice shots.

[yason]

Hi DoveKeeper,

this is shot in Singapore. This bird is a migrant from the Northern regions like China, Russia etc. They are here for the winter & will be flying home soon.

I was a bit shocked when the pic loaded and a colorfull little bird apeared. I forget about the global divestity of this site. I was expecting to see a blue and white bird of larger proportions. Where is it from?

[yason]

thanks to all for your viewing & comments ;)

[yason]

Ha ha, it is very difficult to get close, my pics are highly cropped... I have to stay in a hide for several hours before the bird comes close enough... need a longer lens for a full frame shot :P

Kingfishers like these live in the UK (as I used to). You have to be careful taking pictures of them there. They are protected and getting close enough to shoot one can involve being too close for the protection orders. Not sure of the details but worth checking out before anyone else plans a trip in that country.

[iwatkins]

Nice shots Yason. :)

In the UK, if you specifically go after them, and that usually means to their nesting site, you need to apply for a licence. Only a small number of licences are granted each year. I applied last year, as I'm local to a nesting site, and had my licence granted (I've applied every year for six years).

So last year I spent close to 140 hours in a hide at the site and only saw the bird once :(

Ian

[Nascar Nut]

Those are great shots.

[RichardtheSane]

Great shots, you are indeed lucky to get so close to the Kingfisher

After todays trip I am thinking of applying for a license as I saw one this morning - but well out of camera range!

[dewmuw]

Great pics.

Ian is right about the licence - I know a pro who applied for 4 years before he got his. Then he spent weeks and weeks sitting and waiting before he got his chance.

I've never seen one but it is on my wish list.

[yason]

thanks for the info, I can recommend it to the local authorities here... we do have a code amongst nature photographer here regarding getting too close to the subject... sadly not everybody uses a hide or adhere to the code... good thing that these don't nest here, but we also don't want them to be stressed and thus not return next winter.

Nice shots Yason. :)

In the UK, if you specifically go after them, and that usually means to their nesting site, you need to apply for a licence. Only a small number of licences are granted each year. I applied last year, as I'm local to a nesting site, and had my licence granted (I've applied every year for six years).

So last year I spent close to 140 hours in a hide at the site and only saw the bird once :(

Ian