Kingfisher (first one for me)

Yesterday I spent 3 hours at the well-known 'kingfisher spot' waiting for one to appear but to no avail. Today, I was just admiring the beautiful sunset and as I was walking past the pond this handsome man appeared on a branch just few metres from me...(good job I had a camera with me). I don't need to mention that he made my day (I've never come across one before):

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/uqGP​Hy

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/tw17​t9

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/usB3​NC

Hell of a good job capitalizing on an unplanned appearance!

Beautiful shots. Love the Kingfishers you have over there "across the pond". Such beautiful colors!

Wonderful shots. When I get such great shooting opportunities in the field it's pretty much a given my camera will be at home...

Very nice captures of a juvenile, doesn't look like it's been out the nest long, were the adults about?

Good job on the exposures - it can be tough to hold those white patches on the neck and chin.

Thanks for sharing

Kev

Most excellent Mag!
Your 1st 2 images are especially nice with beautiful color and crisp focus. Wonderful that chance favors the prepared isn't it!

Wow congrats Mag. These are excellent.

Thank you all for the nice comments. I felt truly privileged by this encounter. In fact, if it wasn't for yesterday, I would have probably soon settled on what I've already started to suspect - that this whole Kingfisher is a made up thing and most probably never even existed. Otherwise, how come everybody else has seen one but me?...

Kev, I have not seen any other birds nearby. Having said that, this one got totally carried away with fishing right in front of me. And I wasn't even hiding. I guess the parents would have been more reserved.

Mag-1981 wrote in post #17593139
Kev, I have not seen any other birds nearby. Having said that, this one got totally carried away with fishing right in front of me. And I wasn't even hiding. I guess the parents would have been more reserved.

OK so out long enough to fish on its own and thus be independent.
Juveniles are often more confiding, Once in a canoe on a channel off the Zambezi River I was so close to a Juve Malachite Kingfisher I had to back off as I'd drifted too close to focus, (300 f2.8, so 2.5m).

If you are interested, the following indicate juvenile in Common Kingfishers - muted browny/muddy cast on the chest plummage. Brown or pale orange legs/feet, shorter bill, white tip on the bill.

Cheers

Kev

That is one of the best first time shots of a KF i've seen.
Great job.

Wow, shots to be very proud of, without a doubt!

Congrats and wonderful shots.

Congrats for having those moment you were allowed, lol. You sure put your time in. Also for some real nice light. Looked at large size at Flic, they looked real nice. Some nice light and shadows: grand set indeed,,,,

nice shots, great for your first kingfisher

well done 1981- you never forget your first