Malachite Kingfisher

Gallery: AvianPosted December 7, 2013128 views13 comments

Another of Africa's iconic birds, this one was taken on the Lake Manze channel, Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania, where they are in allmost plague like concentrations.
Taken from a drifting boat.
EOS 1D MkIII
70-200mm F2.8 MkII at 70mm
F3.5
ISO 400
1/500

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on December 7, 2013 at 1:41 AM

What a gorgeous, brightly colored bird! You have captured him perfectly...great focus, comp and lovely BG

Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments

Comment posted by keith mitchell on December 7, 2013 at 4:05 AM

Ken these a cracking little birds ,I like the wet breast feathers and the bird as posed nicely for you if I am going to be really picky the dark patch to the left does draw my eye a bit but like I say that is being picky on what is a very good looking image.
Keith.

Registered on July 12, 2008, 127 Posts, 1735 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on December 7, 2013 at 11:37 AM

Great picture. Nice to see a little detail in the backgound, avoiding that clinical look. The top leaf makes a world of difference too.
Not bad at 70 mm!!!

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on December 7, 2013 at 12:02 PM

Very nice, Ken.
Amazing how close to it you were, since you made this one at 70mm.

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by David Bogener on December 7, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Beautiful image, well composed. 70mm!! Were you handholding the perch? Dave

Registered on October 30, 2013, 417 Posts, 1255 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on December 7, 2013 at 3:07 PM

Excellent ! I like the fragile branch, which fits this small Kingfisher perfect ! Congrats, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 7, 2013 at 5:35 PM

Gorgeous, Ken. Excellent detail in the plumage and water drops and the colors jump off the screen. I don't know that I'd want a plague of Kingfishers, but I wouldn't mind a few more around here.

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on December 8, 2013 at 12:04 AM

Thanks everybody for your comments, they are much appreciated

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 8, 2013 at 10:37 AM

Very nice, Ken, and perfectly framed. I wish my area was plagued by such colorful birds.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Oakley on December 9, 2013 at 12:38 AM

Awesome image Ken!

Registered on June 12, 2012, 115 Posts, 266 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on December 10, 2013 at 8:27 PM

Wonderful image Ken. I agree that the fragile branch suits the kingfisher perfectly.
May

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

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on December 11, 2013 at 12:14 AM

Bill,
Greg and May,

Thanks very much

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on December 11, 2013 at 7:08 AM

Lovely shot of a gorgeous bird Ken.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments