Sacred Kingfisher

Gallery: AvianPosted October 24, 2010154 views15 comments

This species is a Spring/Summer migrant to our part of the world and I've always found them very skittish. I was lucky enough to find a pair inspecting a couple likely nest holes on the side of the steep hill which allowed me to get almost at their level.

1d2n 500/f4 1.4X
ISO 400 f8 1/320 exp comp -1/3 cropped from horizontal

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 24, 2010 at 6:40 AM

Excellent work Rob, perfect comp and great natural looking COLOR.
Some of the best exposed wildlife shots are under overcast/diffuse light as seen here.
The one thing I've noticed is that colors can seem flat if one's not careful.
Well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Ákos Lumnitzer on October 24, 2010 at 7:14 AM

Wonderful look in soft light. You did very well mate. From the buff breast it appears to be a male bird. Quite skittish in my neck of the woods too. Best to find a nest and set up near the landing perch in a hide me thinks. It worked for me before.

Registered on April 24, 2004, 25 Posts, 510 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on October 24, 2010 at 8:05 AM

Really nice, Rob. Excellent detail and very nice color. A wonderful shot.

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on October 24, 2010 at 9:21 AM

Really nice. The color is excellent and the bird is sharp. I like the perch and the crop you have chosen. And....it's a kingfisher. Tough to get. Well done all around.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on October 24, 2010 at 11:45 AM

We've had a bunch of great kingfisher shots recently. This one is certainly no exception. Your composition looks great to me. Wonderful soft light and a beautiful background top it off. Very nice.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 24, 2010 at 11:59 AM

Beautiful capture, Rob! Love your composition, too. I managed to find them "wintering" in Bali. They were skittish (as you've said) also, but then all the Kingfishers that I've seen seem to be that way. You will have some wonderful opportunities if they decide to nest there!

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

Comment posted by Michal Jonczyk on October 24, 2010 at 12:43 PM

Very nice Rob. Good exposure, nice detail and a nice perch make this image very appealing.

Registered on September 7, 2005, 25 Posts, 196 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Diller on October 24, 2010 at 6:26 PM

Stunning capture!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 24, 2010 at 6:32 PM

This is lovely Rob - the low light did you a favor. No nits. All kingfishers are and will forever be "sacred" to me, at least until I get a decent image of one.

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

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on October 24, 2010 at 6:56 PM

Really a very beautiful and appealing Kingfisher image Rob, I would be delighted to have this in my portfolio. Every Kingfisher I have ever been around seems skittish so I would also be thrilled to have one sit still long enough to fire off about 10 shots.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 24, 2010 at 10:45 PM

Very nice indeed - pose, perch, background, diffuse light - all good.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Ross on October 25, 2010 at 6:47 AM

Excellent Rob, I know just how skittish these birds can be.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 403 Posts, 2729 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on October 25, 2010 at 12:48 PM

Excellent shot Rob, perch, background and good detail on the bird, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on October 25, 2010 at 11:08 PM

Very nice soft lighting on this Kingfisher Rob. Great perch and nice background. An all around beautiful image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on October 26, 2010 at 1:03 AM

I like the soft light and colors of this one Rob. NIce job of detail in that dark eye while still retaining a natural look.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments