Kingfisher

[ctrollen]

Finally, after 18 months of membership here, I can post a couple of shots of a Kingfisher! Out & about today, looking for nothing in particular, I managed to stumble upon a place where he seems to like to fish, so somewhere I can return to.


Kingfisher by Chris Trollen, on Flickr


Kingfisher by Chris Trollen, on Flickr

[Trev B]

Re: Kingfisher

CONGRATULATIONS! Two nice shots

[colin C]

Re: Kingfisher

Very well done Chris. Most people never see one, let alone take a very fine picture of one.

I believe he is actually a she and if this is an area she generally fishes from, you may consider fitting a more suitable perch into the river, or river bank.

Once again, congratulations.

[pelliott1954]

Re: Kingfisher

Well done Chris, you must keep going back and as Colin says stick some long twigs/branches into the bank overhanging the water if you can

Paul

[ctrollen]

Re: Kingfisher

Thanks everyone.

I believe he is actually a she and if this is an area she generally fishes from, you may consider fitting a more suitable perch into the river, or river bank.

I looked at the beak, looked again and couldn't decide whether there was enough colour on the lower half to warrant a "she" but I will bow to your better judgement. She seemed to like the far side of the canal and I'm not sure I can get over there to plant some better perches. And anyway, she seemed to really like these railings and kept coming back to them.

[Stan]

Re: Kingfisher

the first is excellent and the "perch" a bit different

The background to the second is a bit busy and the broken perch is not ideal but for first shots and that close I would be pleased

Stan

[colin C]

Re: Kingfisher

I recall that my first Kingfisher shot was taken with a 500mm F4L, with a coupled 2x extender and a 1.4x extender. The Kingfisher was the other side of a lake and even with all that hardware, the final shot was still an orange pinprick in the middle of the shot.

[ctrollen]

Re: Kingfisher

Thanks Stan. I did tone down the background a bit for the second one but I agree that in an ideal world it would be less busy. When I first saw him/her well enough to get some shots he/she was in a tree so that second one is an improvement

[the black fox]

Re: Kingfisher

Well done ,if you can get to the other side some bark wrapped / tied around that rail will do

[ctrollen]

Re: Kingfisher

Thanks Jeff. I think I can probably get to the other side of the canal (whilst keeping a sharp lookout for any oncoming London Waterloo to Alton service!) but there's no real access and getting to where the railing is will be a tad tricky. I'll revisit the spot as soon as I can and check a few things out. Today was a bonus, really. I was about to turn back having seen very little, when I saw a flash of blue and decided to hang around for a while!

[DeeGee]

Re: Kingfisher

Never had the chance to photograph one so I'd be tickled pink. Probably the lack of people being able to get near is the reason they are about. If you can't do anything about the perch then you have to cope with what you have. What about finding a branch taking some photos and over laying it in the image?

Photoshop lesson any one?

Di.

[ctrollen]

Re: Kingfisher

Bizarrely this was on the canal tow-path, but right by a railway station & car park!

[AlexR!]

Re: Kingfisher

Well found and spotted, Chris. Looks like you've found a great spot to return to throughout the year. 2018 is going to be a good kingfisher year for you!

[TonyT]

Re: Kingfisher

Well done and some excellent shots, as said add some branches to vary her perch, so glad another of us can add a Kingfisher to their portfolio. A lovely couple of shots. The location sounds great, she obviously is used to footfall so you should be ok and she will not be disturbed, the car parking is another bonus.

[ctrollen]

Re: Kingfisher

Thanks for looking, Alex & Tony. I'll have to see if there's anything I can do to persuade her to perch somewhere more natural but she seemed to love the railing! There are plenty of other branches around that she also used but unfortunately, they were a fair bit further away and made for a more messy shot that I had to crop more tightly. I do have one that might work with a bit of cloning out, I'll give it a go...