Kingfisher w/ catch

Gallery: AvianPosted August 12, 2010242 views16 comments

Here's another Belted Kingfisher image from a couple of weeks ago. There were 4 in the area, parents and 2 youngsters and they were very active. It's slowed down quite a bit now. The fish is a Pacific Staghorn Sculpin. This is cropped to about 55% of FF.

MkIII 500F4 1/3200 F5.6, iso 640, manual exposure metered +1 off of bright blue sky, handheld, AI Servo

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on August 12, 2010 at 9:11 PM

Great job Nate. Hard enough to get this quality of a KF in flight and the Sculpin puts it over the top.

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on August 12, 2010 at 9:14 PM

Great capture, Nate. I can't get near these guys when they are perched and my reaction time isn't near enough to capture them in flight! Fine detail, even in the fish. I like that the wings are nicely spread too.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on August 12, 2010 at 9:29 PM

This is great! Food makes it even better!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Bobby Perkins on August 12, 2010 at 9:53 PM

Two Great catches! Yours & His. Is this a parent or one of the youngsters? Great shot of such a quick bird Nate.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 2 Posts, 9 Comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on August 12, 2010 at 9:55 PM

Wow!! In flight kf's are always amazing but you've put this over the top with the sculpin.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on August 12, 2010 at 10:07 PM

Nice one Nate - like the prey and the sharpness. Is this in an estuarine or marine habitat (going by the fish's name)?

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 12, 2010 at 10:15 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone!

Bobby, I think this is a juvie but I'm not sure.

Rob, it's a lake that has an outlet to Puget Sound which is saltwater and a creek flowing into it - so it's estuarine.

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on August 12, 2010 at 11:02 PM

The top flight + prey shot of this species I've seen. Extra nice that it's a sculpin

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 12, 2010 at 11:40 PM

Excellent, Nate. Nice detail, and it's good to see one with a fish.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on August 13, 2010 at 6:44 AM

Looks very good Nate - sharp, good light and wing position and of course getting it with the sculpin is a huge plus.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 13, 2010 at 1:37 PM

sweet sharp flight shot, Nate. of course the prey is a great bonus.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on August 13, 2010 at 1:58 PM

Nice shot Nate. The wing position is perfect and the blue BG really sets this guy off well. The fish is a big bonus.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by denise ippolito on August 13, 2010 at 2:19 PM

Nate, Very nice down stroke and details. Good eye contact and the fish is a bonus!

Registered on December 17, 2009, 202 Posts, 1529 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on August 13, 2010 at 8:08 PM

Another sweet flight photo Nate, with a fishy bonus

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on August 14, 2010 at 12:50 PM

Great catch Nate.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on August 15, 2010 at 12:22 AM

Great capture, Nate! A wonderful flight shot of quick subject.

Registered on October 5, 2007, 58 Posts, 2039 Comments