[eeyore]

while i fully agree with jeff about the importance of nest protection, and the laws surrounding endangered species , i do feel that we may be being a little harsh to a new member (tho obviously i am not privy to the contents of the pm - and this is not meant as a critisicm of jeff in anyway)

If NE are fine withit , it suggests that nicky's "pair" are probably well away from their nest if they are in fact nesting. It is fine to photograph a kingfisher in these circumstances - particularly if you are on a well used riverside towpath for example where the probability of their being a nest is extremly low. (i would suggest that if there are loads of people present this may well be the case - i know one location where you can sit in a pub beer garden and photograph k/fishers going to their nest on the other river bank - given the ammount of people in the beer garden anyway it is v. unlikely that any more disturbance is caused by the presence of a photographer.)

what is not fine is to go tronking about in the bushes on an otherwise undisturbed bank looking for a nest or a nesting pair as this gives an unduly high risk of disturbance and contravenes the law.

Assuming that nicki is infact not breaking any laws - the answer to her original question is that kingfishers feed more or less throughout the day so you can photograph them at any time (tho it is best to avoid the middle of the day when the light is too harsh for decent pics) - the best way to get a decent pic is to locate a perch they use then wait for them to land

be sure however that you are not too near the perch as this will disturb them - and finally remember that as jeff said the welfare of the target is paramount - if there is any suspicion at all that you are disturbing them (if for example they stop using a perch after you set up your gear) then back off and go photo something else.