Getting closer to the Kingfisher.

[Messiah Khan]

Best shot I have of a Kingfisher so far. Still nowhere as close or as good as I want, but im slowly getting there;

Can see me having to sit in the middle of a river for hours to get the shot I want though. Should be fun.

 

[Mr Jones]

630mm not close enough? You should move forward abit

I love those 2 pictures, shame the bird's face isn't as sharp as the brunch... and for some reason, I have captions for the 2 images:
1 - This river is infested with scums, this river needs a hero... this river needs...
2 - ... Bird-King!

 

[ScarySquirrel]

Great shot!

The second one made me laugh, as if he is saying "OH HAI MESSIAH KHAN!!"

 

[Hodders]

Did you see Simon King's program about getting close to wildlife ?

He has some great suggestions about kingfishers. If you didn't let me know and I will try to summarise.

 

[Gaffer]

Best shot I have of a Kingfisher so far.

Or at least the best shot where you don't have someone holding the bird

The stick is intriguing. I would assume that it was either a stick that you had observed to be a regular perch used by the bird or possibly even a stick that you had provided

Does the fact that the stick comes to an abrupt end mean that the bird will always sit in the same place? Can you pre-focus an inch from the end of the stick, then wait in comfort and warmth, beer in one hand, shutter release in the other and take the winning shot by remote when it lands as predicted, with a fish in it's mouth and a glint in it's eye?

Andrew

 

[Hodders]

One of the things Simnon King suggested was finding an L shaped stick and making it so that the short part of the L is horizontal and overhangs a shallow pool with fish in it.

Go away and come back 2 days later and a Kingfisher should have noticed the ideal hunting perch and be using it. Then just find a hide and be vewy vewy quiet.

 

[Messiah Khan]

630mm not close enough? You should move forward abit

I love those 2 pictures, shame the bird's face isn't as sharp as the brunch... and for some reason, I have captions for the 2 images:
1 - This river is infested with scums, this river needs a hero... this river needs...
2 - ... Bird-King!

Nope, it's never long enough. you would be suprised at how smaller Kingfishers are, and how close you have to be to fill the frame. This is a fairly hefty crop. Yeah, it could be sharper, but as said it is a fair crop, and he stood there for about 1/2 second (Got 4 frames with him in at 8 FPS). Will get it sharper next time though.

Great shot!

The second one made me laugh, as if he is saying "OH HAI MESSIAH KHAN!!"

Hehe.

Did you see Simon King's program about getting close to wildlife ?

He has some great suggestions about kingfishers. If you didn't let me know and I will try to summarise.

Yeah I saw that. Good program, really enjoyed it. This one was taken from a hide, but I intend to find my own spot by scowering the river, setting up a perch, making my own hide and waiting for a few days.

Or at least the best shot where you don't have someone holding the bird

The stick is intriguing. I would assume that it was either a stick that you had observed to be a regular perch used by the bird or possibly even a stick that you had provided

Does the fact that the stick comes to an abrupt end mean that the bird will always sit in the same place? Can you pre-focus an inch from the end of the stick, then wait in comfort and warmth, beer in one hand, shutter release in the other and take the winning shot by remote when it lands as predicted, with a fish in it's mouth and a glint in it's eye?

Andrew

Lol, fair comment.

The stick was pre-provided. It was taken from a hide, with the stick already in place. Slight shame about the stick as it isn't very photogenic. Im not sure about it always landing in the same place, as it only landed there twice in 2 weeks, so not a great success rate. As mentioned though, I intend to improve my chances of getting the perfect shot by providing my own stick somwhere with a better background etc.