Patience is rewarded

Ollie · #1 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 08:46 PM

Hi all.

For the past week I have been trying to get some images of a kingfisher at one of my local patches.

After a total of more than fifteen hours sat in the hide over a three day period I was finally rewarded.

The kingfisher showed and performed admirably for me yesterday, catching three fish and returning to the same perch to eat them.

I also managed some photographs of it regurgitating a pellet. I believe these pellets consist of mainly indigestible fish bones but maybe some one with more experience of these birds could confirm this.

As a bonus as well I also managed to photograph a Water Rail and a Bearded Tit although the Bearded Tit is pretty small in the frame due to the distance I was from it. Oh for that 500mm prime and 1.4 tc. I was using a 400mm prime with a 1.4 tc fitted for these and was using manual focus so the photos aren't as good as I would have liked.

Hope you enjoy them anyway.

The fish freshly caught. the bird had bashed it on the branch to kill it before starting to swallow it. unfortunately the photos of him bashing it on the branch came out blurred.

Here he has turned the fish around in his mouth to start swallowing it

These photos show him regurgitating the pellet

The bonus birds the Water Rail and Bearded Tit

pammosley · #2 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 08:51 PM

Wow, fantastic photos

I`m really jealous, I`ve never seen a water rail or a Bearded tit.......something to aim for

pressld2 · #3 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 09:02 PM

Great stuff Roger! I particularly like the pellet regurgitation sequence as I've never seen images of that before. I didn't even know they did that.

Dave P.

Hedera · #4 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 09:08 PM

What a great day's haul! It's marvellous how they can turn a slippery fish round the right way without dropping it. I've never seen a water rail either.

ron1863 · #5 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 09:20 PM

Cracking series of beautiful photographs Roger and well worth the long wait.

Ollie · #6 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 09:50 PM

Thanks for looking and the comments everyone

PMG · #7 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedera

What a great day's haul! It's marvellous how they can turn a slippery fish round the right way without dropping it. I've never seen a water rail either.

They do sometimes - and earned the name 'butterbeak' on here a few weeks ago - had me in tucks for a while that

Nice one Roger - a lovely haul - well done - and sunshine too I see - wow (from the dark warm quiet northwest

)

Pauline

Tormentil · #8 (**permalink**) 27-09-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ollie

After a total of more than fifteen hours sat in the hide over a three day period I was finally rewarded.

Bet you had a good cushion !!

Great pics mate. Patience is always rewarded.

FUDGEY · #9 (**permalink**) 28-09-2009, 05:58 AM

Fantastic Ollie, brilliant shots! 15 hours? Took me 40 to get my first pic, but moved to different area and get them every time now. Sure is worth he wait though once you get that shot. What a bonus getting a Water Rail and a Bearded Tit, a superb hat trick, well done.