Striped Kingfisher?

[Ken Watkins]

Not to sure about this identification

Taken in Mapula Concession, Northern Botswana, 18th March 20

EOS 1D MkIII

500mm F4 IS hand-held

F5, 1/5000, ISO 1600

[Tony Whitehead]

I agree with your ID here, Ken. Dark eye stripe and bill dark above and red below are the fieldmarks visible that confirm it for me. Nice pose and head pose but the angle is a bit steep. I might crop to a vertical removing the trunk that the twig is coming from and removing some from the left. Seems to be a bit of eye detail that could be revealed with a selective adjustment too. Some NR on the BG may be an option too (not sure the ISO 1600 was needed in the bright light). I've never got this close to one of these kingfishers - well done.

[Ken Watkins]

Hi Tony,

Yes it was a long way up, yes the ISO was too high I was attempting to get a fast shutterspeed to counteract the shake from hand-holding, but I think I could have dropped to 800. My first close sighting as well, I have a better one that I meant to post, I will put it up next.

[Lance Peters]

Hi Ken - Good HA and eye contact with nice detail in the eye, angle of capture mentioned.
Agree with Tony on the crop and techs.
Keep them coming :)

[Stu Bowie]

One guy I still need to get. Lovely pose, with a glint in the eye. Well captured Ken.

[Simon Bennett]

I like the pose, eye contact, good detail too.