My First Kingfisher!

[KentYeti]

Yes. The first one I've ever seen, and I sort of photographed it.

It was a looooooooooooong way away from me, (I was in the Carter Hide), at the Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve two days ago, (6th April).

As the photo caption says, photographically I can only get better. Or, more realistically, a lot closer to this lovely bird.

The attached is a rubbish shot. Although it says something for the Nikon 300mm f4 lens and TC-14IIE converter. I've had to crop it down to the actual pixels to even get it half recognisable as a bird.

So. The clock has started. It took me over 60 hours of waiting and learning, (about bird photography), to get a half decent photo of a Short Eared Owl.

How long before I get a half decent shot of a Kingfisher?

Well, it was three hours on Wednesday this week. And at least I saw one.

And seven hours today and I didn't see one! Although twice today, someone in the same hide as me saw one flying away. They pointed in the direction but it had gone before I could locate it.

Ten hours so far, and I have a horrible feeling that the 60 hours waiting for my Short Eared Owl shot is nothing compared with what is going to happen now.

I might go out ar dawn tomorrow, but which hide to wait in? I suppose Carter Hide as there seem to be no fish at all in the very shallow water in front of the Willow Hide on the Reserve.

[Farplace]

Thats a great shot Yeti. You should be proud of it!!

[sunnydale]

Bryan, I'm sooooo pleased you've seen a Kingfisher - at last!!!

Does this mean you'll stop nagging me to make one 'appear' when your walking in the Dales with me??

It's not a bad shot, so don't be too hard on yourself. At least you can tell what it is!

Tracey

[KentYeti]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

Bryan, I'm sooooo pleased you've seen a Kingfisher - at last!!!

Does this mean you'll stop nagging me to make one 'appear' when your walking in the Dales with me??

It's not a bad shot, so don't be too hard on yourself. At least you can tell what it is!

Tracey

Nnnoooooo. The nagging will continue! LOL! But only very nicely of course.

Only because with your animal magic that I see every time we walk those lovely Derbyshire Dales together, one will just appear and start fishing so close I'll have to put away my telephoto and use a standard lens.

[htcdude]

Originally Posted by KentYeti

Yes. The first one I've ever seen, and I sort of photographed it.

Well done!

I might go out ar dawn tomorrow, but which hide to wait in? I suppose Carter Hide as there seem to be no fish at all in the very shallow water in front of the Willow Hide on the Reserve.

They usually have favourites branches to perch upon, if you can find a way with getting closer to that branch it's on without disturbing it, do that Look forward to more shots!

Nige

[Raine3]

Congrats to you, they are stunning little birds ... you should take up early morning fishing

[JeffH]

Nice work KY and welcome to the world of Kingfisher addiction - life will
never be the same again

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[gazzer]

nice pic , many years ago i used to fish at a small lake near northwich and it wasnt uncommon to have a kingfisher land on your fishing rod tip . bit of a shame when the float went under though .
gazzer

[pammosley]

They`re beautiful Yeti aren`t they I`m still waiting for a photo of mine to be half as good as yours, but I`m a "snap it as you go" merchant
Hope you get to see one again soon

[KentYeti]

Got there just after 6 this morning, but nothing. Very little of anything there in fact.

Waited almost 3 hours in the Carter Hide. During a very short break met one of the founders of the Reserve! She reckoned I'd do a lot better in a months time when they are feeding young. Sounded sensible to me, although I may pop back from time to time before then just in case.

The addiction is growing. LOL!