kingfisher!

squirl033squirl033 Registered Users Posts: 1,230 Major grins
edited June 29, 2007 in Wildlife
so, i'd been trying for a year or so to finally get decent shot of a belted kingfisher, but the li'l stinkers are so skittish they usually don't let people within 50 yards. the closest i'd been able to get was about 30. well, i was at a local park one day a couple of months ago, and saw one fly across a pond. there's a path that goes around the pond, so i figured i'd see if i could get anywhere close to the little fella. i got around the pond, and came around a slight bend in the trail, and wham! there he was, sitting on a branch about 10 feet above a little stream, not more than about 15 feet off the side of the path. i stopped when he saw me, figuring he'd take off, but he didn't, so i moved a little closer. finally got withing about 25 feet and took about a dozen shots before another park visitor with her pooch in tow came along and scared him off...

IMG_2999sm.jpg
~ Rocky
"Out where the rivers like to run, I stand alone, and take back something worth remembering..."
Three Dog Night

www.northwestnaturalimagery.com

Comments

  • JohnDCJohnDC Registered Users Posts: 379 Major grins
    edited June 24, 2007
    Very nice shot!
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited June 24, 2007
    Absolutely fantastic shot. I love the composition, the BG, the detail, everything! I have only seen a kingfisher once, but he flew the coop almost immediately.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited June 24, 2007
    Super shot thumb.gif

    What lens did you use?
    Birds
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  • emmalouemmalou Registered Users Posts: 412 Major grins
    edited June 24, 2007
    You captured his personality! There a alot of KF here, but as you mentioned, getting them to "pose" proves to be daunting.
  • squirl033squirl033 Registered Users Posts: 1,230 Major grins
    edited June 24, 2007
    BigAl wrote:
    Super shot thumb.gif

    What lens did you use?

    for this i used my Sigma EX 80-400 at 400mm...
    ~ Rocky
    "Out where the rivers like to run, I stand alone, and take back something worth remembering..."
    Three Dog Night

    www.northwestnaturalimagery.com
  • ShepsMomShepsMom Registered Users Posts: 4,319 Major grins
    edited June 24, 2007
    Beautiful catch!! Your efforts paid off! clap.gif
    Marina
    www.intruecolors.com
    Nikon D700 x2/D300
    Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited June 24, 2007
    Superb! Very beautiful!

    Thanks for sharing,

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2007
    Nice capture! thumb.gif These guys are difficult to keep up with!
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • SkywatchSkywatch Registered Users Posts: 78 Big grins
    edited June 25, 2007
    Nice
    Awesome shot.....Im on the same quest to get a shot of this guy.....they take extra work.
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2007
    aww... now this is a sweet shot...wings.gif
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • bigpixbigpix Registered Users Posts: 371 Major grins
    edited June 25, 2007
    great capture...... clap.gif
    Cheers...... Big Pix
    Lake Macquarie NSW Australia
    www.bigpix.smugmug.com
    Please do not EDIT
    my Images
  • RadleyRadley Registered Users Posts: 77 Big grins
    edited June 27, 2007
    Outstanding! One of my nemesis birds.
    Claude
  • Image MakerImage Maker Registered Users Posts: 70 Big grins
    edited June 27, 2007
    Great shot and wonderful detail!!!!clap.gif
    Deb
  • HarvHarv Registered Users Posts: 1,105 Major grins
    edited June 27, 2007
    Wow! Awesome shot. This one is over the top. Great catch and beautifully photographed.
    Harv
    Cobourg, Ontario, Canada

    http://www.highpointvizslas.com
    http://harveyg.smugmug.com
    http://www.pixel-shooter.com

     Some Canon stuff :D
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited June 28, 2007
    Excellent! thumb.gif

    I've been unable to get a decent one yet.:cry
  • Louis ChampanLouis Champan Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited June 28, 2007
    Any shot of a Kingfisher is great, but this one is exceptional.

    Louie
  • traunerktraunerk Registered Users Posts: 513 Major grins
    edited June 29, 2007
    great shot!
    easily one of the best kingfishers i've seen - and I know their tough, having attempted a stalk once or twice:D

    Regards..Keith
    Beam me outta here!:winkKT
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited June 29, 2007
    Excellent capture of a very difficult subject. thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Dennis KaczorDennis Kaczor Registered Users Posts: 2,413 Major grins
    edited June 29, 2007
    Just excellent! These are one of the hardest birds to capture and many times I have seen them, but unable to get the type of image that you have captured here. Good Shot!wings.gif
    Regards - Dennis

    Dennis Kaczor Photography
  • ~Jan~~Jan~ Registered Users Posts: 966 Major grins
    edited June 29, 2007
    Wow--that looks like something out of an Audobon book! Gorgeous bird & great capture!
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