I have been going to the same pond repeatedly for a week, attempting to capture a close up of a male Belted Kingfisher. I finally succeeded today. I hid in the bushes, with the camera on a tripod prefocused on, one of the many perched, the Kingfishers hunt from. This bird landed on the perch. I had three minutes to shoot pictures every time he moved. I shot about thirty good picture. Note the breast-band: when this male is facing the sun, it is a slate-blue color.
Note the breast-band color, when the same bird, turned away from the direct sun light. In the shade the breast-band is a dark charcoal gray. I believe the reason I was successful today, was because there were two pairs (2 males + 2 females) all hunting on the same two acre pond. They were moving around more than other days. Stokes F.G. states they defend individual feeding territory during non-breeding season. I observed two male perched withing ten feet of each other several times.
The Kingfisher on the stick is a male. He has a dark breast-band, and a white belly. The female is below on the rock. She has a dark breast-band, and a reddish-brown belly band.
This is a picture of a female Kingfisher from a few days ago. Most of the time this is about as close as I get. A shot from across the pond. The pond is just a wide spot in Chester Creek. The low land near the creek is park land, with a paved bike & hiking trail for many miles along the creek. Less than 200 feet beyond the shore line, there are hundreds of condominiums. A small island of wilderness in the center of the city.
Very nice, Gary! Bet you were excited.
I told my DH that I want a portable blind to use down at the creek.
Very nice shots Gary!! Thanks for posting them!
Gary-
Great pictures. Thanks for sharing. The bird looks very content.
Jenny
Very nice! Thank you for posting. He is beautiful.
I am in awe. These guys are out front fishing all the time. I thought it was impossible to get pictures of them.
Great pictures. Great bird. I love them.
Nice pics. I love Kingfishers. I remember them living in the dirt banks by my home when I was a kid, and their fearless diving tactics.
Yeah, they can sure spray the water when they hit the surface! Bam!
Really neat bird and great photos!!
