Stork-billed kingfisher

[Ajit Huilgol]

The stork-billed kingfisher, unlike its smaller cousin, the white-throated kingfisher, is a confirmed fish eater, and so, is to be found near streams, lakes and rivers, throughout India, except for the northwest.
Species: Stork-billed kingfisher (Halcyon capensis)
Location: Kabini, Karnataka, India
Date: May 2007
Camera: Canon 20D
Lens: Canon 500 f4 with 1.4 TC
Specs: ISO 200, f 5.6, 1/500s, hand-held, from a small boat
Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/ critiques.

[Stu Bowie]

I like the angle of pose here, and you achieved good DOF with both the tip of the beak and tail in perfect focus. Super clean BG. The light looks a bit harsh, and I would tone down the chest area. I would remove the lower catchlight too. Thanks for sharing yet another KF species I havent seen.

[Ken Watkins]

I think I may have seen one of these through binoculars from a boat in Panna NP, is this possible.
What a remarkably large beak, I agree with Stuart's comments about toning down.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

HI Ajit ;) :)

Lovely bird, a little harsh light though. Stuart's critique's nailed it. A bit tight below for me. :)
THanks for sharing mate.

[Rohan Kamath]

A beautiful shot of a kingfisher not usually seen perched in the open... Stuart has critiqued the image perfectly... nothing more to add...

I think I may have seen one of these through binoculars from a boat in Panna NP, is this possible.

Yeah Ken thats surely possible....it's found in that part of India near small, moderately forested streams.

[Austin Thomas]

Thanks for showing this species Ajit.

I think you have recorded this very well given the harsh light.

Austin

[David Fletcher]

Lovely shot Ajit. Stuart's assessment pretty well nailed it. This is definitely good to see and thank you for that. Considering shot from a boat, I think you have nailed the sharpness with that combo. TFS.

[Doug Brown]

Very cool bird on a nice clean perch. Agree with Stuart's excellent critique. Nice sharpness for a hand held shot from a boat at 700mm and only 1/500; I might have bumped to ISO 400 here for more shutter speed. Also it looks like your metering left the bird substantially overexposed; again an opportunity for more shutter speed by employing some negative EC.

[Keith Bauer]

Cool looking kingfisher. Handheld from a boat you've done an excellent job of keeping this image sharp. A little PS work can help tone down some of the harsher areas on the bird's chest.

[Connie Mier]

Wow, what an interesting bird! Great capture for you. Ajit, what kind of small boat do you use?

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

A bit bigger would not hurt.
Nice looking KF, the beak really resembles that one of a stork.

[Ajit Huilgol]

Well Connie, it's pretty much a canoe with an outboard motor!