Excited Pied Kingfisher

[Stu Bowie]

I havent posted a Kingfisher for a while. Here is one from my last trip to my favourite location, the Pilanesberg National Park. This is typical behaviour when another Pied Kingfisher is in the area - excited pose with the open beak. The BG is distant grasslands, taken early morning.

Settings were for a take off shot.

Canon 1D Mark IV
Canon 300mm F/2.8 +2X TC = 600mm
1/4000
F/6.3
ISO 1000

Hand held

[Don Railton]

Sweet image Stu.. Like the beak open and the visable tounge, all set against a nice BG...

[keith mitchell]

Stuart a real beauty of a shot, excellent clarity and detail on the bird and the perch,Bg is a killer.

Keith.

[John Robinson]

Nice one Stu. I wold hae liked a little of something in the BGbut no big deal.
Smart looking bird.
John

[Norm Dulak]

Beautiful bird, perch, background and composition.

[Lorant Voros]

Nice settings with the light, parallel perch and sseet BG. Open beak and the interesting pose work well. I'd go a little tighter here.

[Steve Kaluski]

Hi Stu, these KF's will soon be charging 'Royalties' I think!!!

I think I agree with Lorant on going a bit tighter above and to the LHS. Nice open beak and another killer BKG, really sets the subject off well.

TFS
Steve

[Jim Crosswell]

I like the open beak, visible tongue, sweet BG and perch. I could see a tighter crop as well. Very well done Stu!

[Stu Bowie]

Thanks a stack for all the feedback. More space is showing off more of that awesome Pilanesberg BG.

[Rachel Hollander]

Stu - Great pose and expertly handled exposure. Love those bgs that you get at Pilanesburg. Beautiful light too. Well done.

TFS,
Rachel

[Bill Dix]

Glad to see another KF from you, with that lovely background. Great open beak pose and nice perch.

[Daniel Cadieux]

I agree with the comp suggestion, but I love the pose, perch, BG. Really pleasing image overall.

[Karl Egressy]

Lovely image, Stu. Love the perch, pose and background but mostly the pose makes it for me.