Almost There...

 I have sat many hours trying to get a decent shot of a Kingfisher. They're small and very fast so I have often seen them dart past or even fishing in the distance but it is not often that I have had one sit close enough to get a clear shot and when I have there has been little time to get the best shot possible. Many attempts have resulted in under exposed or blurry images and my aim is to get a crystal clear detailed photo of one of our most spectacular birds.

I had been watching this male bird fishing a little way across the mere, darting back and forth low across the water and even hovering high up before diving in to catch a fish. I had stopped off on my way home from work and it was so relaxing. I was thrilled when he came to perch on the post nearest to the hide and managed to get a couple of shots before he moved slightly further away. These don't have quite the clarity I am after but  I think I am getting there and I know that with a little more time, a lot of patience and a bit more practice I will get the shot I crave.

Even without the perfect shot though just the experience of sitting quietly by the water after a busy day taking in the scenery and enjoying the sight of this beautiful bird was priceless. I also got to watch a gorgeous Little Grebe fishing close by and more surprisingly a bat (possibly a Horseshoe Bat) out hunting in daylight, unforgettable  moments.

Little Beauty

So following on from yesterday's post here are a few more shots of the stunningly beautiful kingfisher that made my day.  

As I said yesterday conditions weren't perfect and so I have had to compromise slightly with the settings to get the shot. 

When you consider that this bird is only about 16cm in length (that's the size of a sparrow) you will appreciate how difficult it is to photograph. That, it's incredible speed and the fact that despite its electric blue plumage it is actually very hard to spot means I was absolutely thrilled to get these shots at all. All that beauty tied up in such a tiny little bundle...

Holy Grail

For so long I have wanted to photograph a Kingfisher, I got a few shots in this location a couple of years ago but they were not really very good as the bird was  much further away and only stayed put for a few seconds. It has become a been a bit like the search for the holy grail.

I cant say how many times I have gone back and how many hours I have sat patiently waiting without even the slightest glimpse. This Saturday I went back, after a long and stressful week in work I was happy just to sit quietly to clear my head and unwind even though it was really cold (just above freezing) and with heavy rain on its way. I was so thrilled when this beautiful bird flew in and perched nearby and sat scanning the water for its next meal. He moved to a different perch and then onto another (I am saving a couple of shots for tomorrow) again patiently searching for a tasty snack. He stayed around for almost 15 minutes giving me plenty of time to get several shots and basically making my day.

I really am pleased with these pictures although I know they could be better, the light and weather conditions meant that I needed to use a wide aperture and very high ISO which gives the images a grainy quality and trying to compensate for that I have lost some of the finer detail. So in the search for the perfect shot I am sure to go back. Who knows how long I might have to wait but I am up for the challenge. 

In the meantime I am pleased to be able to share these shots and if you like them please look out for more tomorrow. And feel free to leave a comment below...

Kingfisher

Over the next few days I will be sharing some random shots from past photo expeditions.

Today's offering is this beautiful kingfisher spotted at Mere Sands. It came after several hours waiting but stayed for less than 10 seconds so this was a super lucky shot.

Rare Beauty

I have been on a bit of a mission recently; to get a good shot of a Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis).

I was lucky to see one at Burton Mere earlier this week but it was too far away to get a shot so today I went to Mere Sands Nature Reserve where this little chap is often spotted. I have seen it a couple of times but I have only been able to photograph it once before.

Today it settled for less than 10 seconds on this small branch. As you can see from the first image it was quite a way off and hard to spot between the reeds so getting a clear shot was out of the question. Nevertheless I was thrilled to get any sort of image and happy to share it here. I will keep on trying and one day I am sure I will get the perfect shot.

There is something really special about these birds and it is always a thrill to see them. They are quite rare in the UK with between 3,800 and 4,400 breeding pairs spread throughout the whole of the UK (source RSPB) so any sighting however brief is definitely a treat.

A Fleeting Visitor

So for today here are two more shots of the beautiful Kingfisher that I had waited so long to see. I love the poses but wish a) he had stayed still and b) that I had had a more steady hold of my camera. Nonetheless it was a real treat to capture these images and a joy to be able to share them with you...

Rail Strike Bonus

No one likes a rail strike, however much you might sympathise  with the cause the disruption is always a little too much to bear.

Today's strike on Merseyside was no different and it meant that I had to make an unplanned trip taking my daughter to university. I had a few hours to kill so decided to head over to Mere Sands Wood, for a photo session.

I had been there last Friday and in the hope of seeing a kingfisher I'd sat for three hours in a hide with a couple of other photographers having been told one was a regular visitor. Sadly on that occasion I was unlucky.

I have seen kingfishers before but I have never been able to photograph one.

Until today...

I had been waiting for a while with very little to see and was almost at the point of giving up when I saw this little gem fly across in front of me and then settle on this perch. He was only there for about 30 seconds so I had to act quickly to get this shot. I managed to get a few pictures but I am going to save the others for some point in the future.

Last summer I got to photograph hummingbirds for the first time and today I got to photograph the iconic kingfisher. Hopefully I will have more opportunities in the future but I am sure I will never forget this fantastic first.