A Kingfisher first

[Raffman]

Just before Chrismas I was driving home after taking the dogs out. Looking into the stream that runs adjacent to the road as I always do I could see up ahead the unmistakable colourings of a kingfisher. I had my camera with me and although I realised that as soon as I would stop and get out the bird would go I thought I'd still have to give it a go. Well as expected the kingfisher left his/her perch....but only moved on a few yards, I quickly made sure that my camera was set and started to fire away and slowly pushing my luck by creeping closer and closer. Each time I got within the birds comfort zone it would just move on a little and then wait for me to catch up, this was all new to me as the only sightings I've had before are the ones where that electric blue darts out of nowhere and and makes for a speedy escape. Eventually I had to give up as my car was about 100 yards away in the middle of the road...oops.

Out of about twenty shots only a couple were keepers but I'm so happy. I can remember as a child my parents having a thin paperback bird book and on the front cover was a kingfisher, this is my earliest memory of being facinated by birds and I have always wanted to capture a photo of the kingfisher myself.....I hope to be able to capture a closer and better composed shot now but I shant hold my breath.




note: I hope I posted this okay and within forum rules..let me know if not.

Thank you
Raff

[Mandy]

Great photo!! I hadnt seen one close up until last Sept when I was lucky enough to see on hanging around the hide where I was and it stayed around for over an hour, I was buzzing for days, they are such stunning birds to see a close hand.

Mandy

[matt_xyz]

well done Raff, that's a nice shot. You did very well, I've never managed to get so close to one.

We do prefer shots to be uploaded to either the moderated gallery or the unmoderated forum images gallery. They can then be included in threads, rather than using externally hosted images.

If you wish to upload this shot to the moderated Birds gallery please ensure that it is at least 800 pixels in its longest dimension (height in this case).

Matt

[nightshade]

A very striking bird,not as common here as they once were well spotted Raff

[Amber]

Great shot. Two years we've been watching our residents, and still no keepers!

[Ollie]

A nice shot, you did very well to get close enough. Usually it's the flash of blue as they go past unless you are fortunate to be able to observe from a hide. Well done
Roger

[Raffman]

Thank you for the replys all, its great to share a story and a pic.

Matt - would you like me to put this image in the 'unidentified' gallery and edit the post?
For the forum pics can they be under 800 on the longest?

Raff

[matt_xyz]

you can upload it to Forum Images in the size that it is. You will then need to PM a mod to amend the thread (I can't do it I'm afraid). Glsammy is always very helpful and efficient (sorry Graham )

Failing that you could upload an 800 pixel sized image to the moderated bird gallery. Assuming it's accepted (which may take a few hours) you can then PM a mod and ask for that image to be inserted into the thread.

Matt

[glsammy]

Nice shot Raff! I'm ready and waiting to alter the thread!

[aeshna5]

Good shot, Raff- like the way the bird seems to be sitting on a pyramid of Typha stems!

[jennyb]

What a lovely shot. I've never even seen one in the flesh.

Jenny

[buzfuz8149]

Hi Raff,

great shot, I am still waiting for the local ones to pose, I live in hope.

Carol.

[JeffH]

That's a lovely contextual shot Raff and a nice account of your first sighting to go with it. Well spotted and very well captured.

I know just how thrilled you must be. I'm lucky enough to have had one as a regular visitor to my garden ponds for 8 or 9 months now and it was here most days during the Christmas break giving me the opportunity to take literally hundreds of shots (some in gallery). However, no matter how often I see one it's still such a thrill each time.

Good Luck in your efforts to get more shots.

Jeff

[colincurry]

Well done, lovely shot.

I have just discovered one spot where there are two regulars - having asked a local angler. They are magical and I have managed a couple of reasonable shots. Still looking for the ultimate.

I took Peduk with me the last time. He had never seen a kingfisher until then and he was thrilled to say the least - as I am every time I see one.

Colin

PS Jeff - having one in your garden is cheating but you must have some marvellous shots

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by colincurry

PS Jeff - having one in your garden is cheating but you must have some marvellous shots

Yeah I know Colin - I'm feeling really guilty about it

Truth is I was a bit of a twitcher many years ago and travelled far and wide to see birds - Wales for the Red Kites, Solway Firth for Barnacle Geese, Leighton Moss for the Bitterns, Morecambe Bay and The Wash for winter waders, Norfolk coast for all sorts of rarities on a regular basis, etc. However, a few years ago I decided to devote my time and energy (and some cash) to making my garden a haven for wildlife, especially birds, by planting a small copse, putting up nestboxes, installing various feeders, building a couple of ponds with adjoining stream, etc.

I'm delighted to say it's really paid dividends and I'm now able to do some real birdwatching, as opposed to spotting from home. The Kingfisher, however, is really the icing on the cake

Jeff

PS thanks again for your kind words about my gallery shots.