Belted Kingfisher

Gallery: AvianPosted November 16, 20101,667 views37 comments

Belted Kingfisher-female

South Texas

D3, 600, ISO 1600, f7, 1/5000, -0.3EV.

It's looking like this Lady is back again to spend the winter on the pond where I do my South Texas workshops.

Check out that little foot!

Comments

37 comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on November 16, 2010 at 7:55 PM

What a regal pose. I've never seen a kingfisher showing off quite like this... the tufted head helps complete the look. Fantastic detail and color too. Nice one, Alan.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on November 16, 2010 at 8:25 PM

Wow!, what a stunning capture, I love it

Well done.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Diller on November 16, 2010 at 8:45 PM

Has to be one of the best Kingfisher shots I have ever seen!!!

Even with a 600....how does one get so close to a skittish bird?

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

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on November 16, 2010 at 9:03 PM

Very Nice Alan, love the 'look at me' pose and the beautiful BG. Well done.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on November 16, 2010 at 9:45 PM

Marvelous! Love the wing position. Great bokeh too.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Tomalty on November 16, 2010 at 10:25 PM

Great crisp shot. Were you in a blind?
I can never get to close to a kingfisher.
Cheers
RickT

Registered on October 11, 2006, 212 Posts, 1610 Comments

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on November 16, 2010 at 10:29 PM

This is just all around great. Excellent colors and details. The exposure is perfect with no overly hot areas in the white feathers.
I think that foot makes the shot!

Well done.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Pete Bengeyfield on November 16, 2010 at 10:50 PM

Wow! I've never been able to get one of these just perched, let alone this. Excellent.

Registered on December 2, 2003, 1247 Posts, 3439 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on November 16, 2010 at 11:21 PM

What a capture, Alan.......and at ISO 1600, too! Gorgeous in every way!

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Loomis on November 16, 2010 at 11:32 PM

Wow, great detail and the perch and pose all came together perfectly. Don't know how you get close to these, but thanks for sharing. Excellent.

Registered on January 26, 2010, 68 Posts, 719 Comments

Comment posted by Robbie Knight on November 17, 2010 at 1:28 AM

This is one of the best kingfisher pictures I have ever seen. All going on: one foot, hair cut

, belly-band, wings spread, clear eye, and clear view of flight feathers.... I don't see how you could ask for more.... How much did you pay this little guy to pose ? Great capture !

Registered on April 10, 2010, 30 Posts, 135 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Scott on November 17, 2010 at 5:09 AM

Superb, stunning bird

Registered on September 19, 2010, 13 Posts, 34 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on November 17, 2010 at 5:44 AM

Great shot Alan - love the layers in the background. Is it in the act of landing or is it doing a wing opening display? Our Sacred Kingfisher does a similar thing.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Alan Murphy on November 17, 2010 at 6:04 AM

RickT: Yes, I was in a blind.

Rob: The bird was landing.

Registered on December 3, 2003, 192 Posts, 739 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on November 17, 2010 at 8:10 AM

wow--awesome pose, Alan. I love the spread wings, great head position, and raised foot. this looks great.

bought a copy of your setup guide recently and am glad I did. lots of great tips in there.

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

Comment posted by Sally King on November 17, 2010 at 10:07 AM

Wow. Love it. Especially that little raised foot. Icing on very good cake.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Laredo on November 17, 2010 at 11:18 AM

Stunning pose Alan. Love the detail and light.

Registered on March 18, 2008, 71 Posts, 332 Comments

Comment posted by Andy Shepherd on November 17, 2010 at 11:56 AM

Superb capture, Alan. The wing position is fantastic as is the BG. Top shot IMO.

Andy...

Registered on September 24, 2006, 123 Posts, 1254 Comments

Comment posted by Julia Flanagan on November 18, 2010 at 1:09 PM

Impressive image with the ISO at 1600 and the great stop action at 1/5000. Love everything about this and am immensely jealous as like many others, I haven't gotten anything decent on these shy birds. Excellent work.

Registered on November 13, 2003, 59 Posts, 986 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 18, 2010 at 6:57 PM

The pose is spectacular Alan and the look at that tiny left foot is great.

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

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on November 19, 2010 at 5:52 PM

Best shot I have seen of this species. Any other species you would have a great shot but the fact that it is the almost unapproachable belted kingfish sends this over the top!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on November 21, 2010 at 9:29 AM

Doesn't get much better than this Alan.
May

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on November 24, 2010 at 2:31 AM

Awesome catch Andy!!! Congrats on the well deserved EP!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Bill Maile on November 24, 2010 at 4:44 AM

Oh Wow, not sure I how missed this one--amazing Kingfisher Alan!! Congrats.

Registered on March 2, 2009, 984 Posts, 2518 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 24, 2010 at 11:59 AM

Alan - I missed this since I've been away this week -
Congrats on a great EP! superb!!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on November 24, 2010 at 1:46 PM

Congrats Alan, spectacular shot!

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

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on November 24, 2010 at 9:38 PM

Congrats on the well deserved weekly pick. A spectacular image indeed.

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on November 24, 2010 at 10:52 PM

Great image. The pose, the foot, the perch. And my favorite bird-or as I call him-the one that got away.

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

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on November 26, 2010 at 8:34 PM

She has that look at me attitude, great shot and pose. Ron

Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on November 27, 2010 at 2:24 AM

Wonderfully captured, Alan. Congrats on the EP!

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

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on November 28, 2010 at 6:57 PM

Splendid! Congrats on the well deserved EP!

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Ingrid Vekemans on December 5, 2010 at 10:05 AM

This is just fantastic - a photo to cherish forever.

Registered on August 2, 2010, 138 Posts, 780 Comments

Comment posted by Derrick Lipinski on December 7, 2010 at 8:02 PM

Supreme, Alan. Congrats on your EP!

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on December 8, 2010 at 8:41 PM

Brilliant capture of one of my personal favorites in the Avian world. Love it. Congrats on the EP, too.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 23, 2010 at 8:25 PM

One of your best, for sure.

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

Comment posted by Mark Deibert on February 7, 2012 at 2:08 AM

All your photos in your gallery are wonderfully done, but ones like this when the bird is in action, are my favorite.

Registered on September 30, 2011, 48 Posts, 125 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on February 7, 2012 at 6:03 AM

Best of the best! Just amazing.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments