Supermodels! Simply the best!

[Peter Connan]

And so, it has come to this: The Kingfishers.

Shall we start with the non-fishing Kingfishers?

The Brown-hooded:

 

 

 

 

[Dave Williams]

The Striped Kingfisher

Seen in The Gambia at Tendaba

Striped Kingfisher   The Gambia 2016 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Peter Connan]

Stunning shot @Dave Williams

 

Woodlands Kingfisher from Marakele:

 

 

[Peter Connan]

And so the time has come for me to play out my hand.

 

I actually think the Pygmy Kingfisher is the prettiest of the Southern African Kingfishers, but I have yet to capture one suitably. The Half-collared is about just as pretty, but again, I don't have any good photos of it. And so I leave you with Malachite Kingfisher Overload...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strangely enough, all these photos were taken at just one venue, over a period of 4 years. I have seen them elsewhere, but not close enough for good photography.

[Soukous]

gorgeous @Peter Connan

[TonyQ]

Beautiful Peter!

[Peter Connan]

Thank you very much @Soukousand @TonyQ.

[offshorebirder]

@Peter Connan - I see your Malachite Kingfisher (great pix by the way), and raise you a Pygmy Kingfisher.   Photographed at Tumbili Cliff Lodge, Lake Baringo, Kenya.

 

 

 

[Peter Connan]

You definately win Nathan! Stunning shots of a magnificent little bird!

[Dave Williams]

I think the Common Kingfisher, Alcedo Atthis  is as handsome as any. This one was seen in Sri Lanka and is one of 7 sub species.

 

 

Common Kingfisher     Sri Lanka by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

The one found in Europe tends to be a more greenish blue 

Common Kingfisher by Dave Williams, on Flickr 

 

[Dave Williams]

When it comes to action though I think the Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle Rudis is the best supermodel as they are usually very active, tend to hover a lot and often hunt in pairs, sometimes more, so twice the number of photo opportunities!

Sometimes though things aren't quite as harmonious as usual.

This one about to launch an attack?

Pied Kingfishers in flight by Dave Williams, on Flickr

No! It's about to be attacked!

Pied Kingfishers by Dave Williams, on Flickr

And quite literally knocked off it's perch!

Pied Kingfishers by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

Here's one from 6 years ago, again in The Gambia.

Pied Kingfisher by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Peter Connan]

What an incredible series @Dave Williams

[Dave Williams]

The last of my Kingfishers

Blue-breasted

Blue-breasted Kingfisher   Gambia 2016 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

An African Kingfisher  seen by me at Tendaba,The Gambia on my last visit.

Blue-breasted Kingfisher   Gambia 2016 by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

and the largest Kingfisher of them all, the Giant Kingfisher.

Again, seen by me at Kotu,The Gambia

Giant Kingfisher by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Geoff]

1 hour ago, Dave Williams said:

and the largest Kingfisher of them all, the Giant Kingfisher.

 

Second largest @Dave Williams  I'll let you guess which is larger.

[Dave Williams]

You're right of course Geoff. Apologies to Australia!

[Peter Connan]

6 hours ago, Geoff said:

 

Second largest @Dave Williams  I'll let you guess which is larger.

 

After a comment like that, you have to show us a picture @Geoff!

 

[Geoff]

58 minutes ago, Peter Connan said:

 

After a comment like that, you have to show us a picture @Geoff!

 

 

I haven't got any images handy at the moment. I'll have to search some external hard drives. Until then here's 3 views of a Sacred Kingfisher.

[Peter Connan]

A very good interim solution @Geoff. Stunning photos!

[Dave Williams]

I guess Geoff must be asleep right now so here's another Kingfisher I have found, the White-throated Kingfisher as seen in Sri Lanka, it's quite common across Southern Asia

White-throated Kingfisher  Sri Lanka by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

A change in direction for this one.

When I first travelled to Goa in India, one of the must see birds on most peoples list was the Indian Pitta. Unfortunately this particular bird was to be found in an area of bushes regularly used as a toilet and was referred to as the "Pitta in the .....' , yes, you can guess. Well, although I wanted to see what the fuss was about, I didn't want to see it that badly. Public latrine areas can be quite disgusting!

So it remained near the top of my wish list for nearly 10 years until there, in Yala NP I spotted one up a tree but unfortunately in deep shade. Still, a bit of PP put some life into it although I have to settle for one leg!

Indian Pitta    Sri Lanka by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

From a modelling point of view , the more confiding the bird the better and some seem totally oblivious to the presence of a photographer. Why I'm not sure but some believe that these birds might never have seen a human being before as they are juveniles migrating south from the Artic wilderness for the first time.

Whatever the reason the Dotterel allows approach within feet and the only time I have flushed one was when I almost trod on one hidden in longer grass.

Dotterel by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

Possibly the most confiding of all the species I have ever photographed are the Phalaropes. Red Phalarope is called Grey Phalarope by the time they reach the UK as they have changed appearance completely from their breeding plumage. Although not that rare, like the Dotterel,they do cause a stir when one is spotted with bird watchers and photographers coming to take a look.

Grey Phalarope by Dave Williams, on Flickr

This one was seen at a local site and on a tiny pond. I could lie down close to the water to get the point of view to get this shot from just a few feet away. 

Fascinating watching it pick off the insects that were coming out of an outflow pipe.

Grey Phalarope by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

Another Phalarope species, this one the Red-necked, seen in Iceland in May time and thus  in breeding plumage. Again on a tiny pond and paying scant regard to my presence.

Red-necked Phalarope     Iceland by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful photos @Dave Williams