Kingfishers!

We had a lovely afternoon yesterday watching kingfishers and chatting with like-minded bird and photography enthusiasts (hello Julie, very nice meeting you!). :)

I love kingfishers - they're such beautiful, colourful birds and a joy to watch.

I also got a few nice shots. When I looked at my photos this morning, I decided to edit the background- something I don't usually do. I like to show a bird in its typical habitat, so I feel the background should be left alone...I only clone out the odd twig or leaf that might distract from the bird. This time however, I wanted to bring out the kingfishers' beauty and specifically emphasize their amazing colours by contrasting them with the background. I used the colours that were already there in the original shots (almost black, green and brown) and basically softened them. I quite like the result - a bit like a photo session with kingfishers in a photo studio. I hope you like my shots too!



Kingfisher with fish



Male Kingfisher



Male Kingfisher preening

Female Kingfisher

Once bittern....

When I entered the bird hide at Warnham NR this afternoon, I was slightly worried. A bittern had been spotted yesterday and, according to the warden and a few other birders, it was still there. So while I was looking forward to a potential 'lifer', I also remembered Blashford Lakes where I was THE ONLY PERSON in the hide who failed to catch a glimpse of the bittern. I was determined not to leave the Heron Hide before I had seen it as well, and without bins!!

Guess what, I did see it! My first ever bittern. It was hiding, pretending to be a reed, far away on the other side of the lake but hey, it was there! I can even prove it. Trust me, there is a bittern in there somewhere!

No? Can't see it? OK, let me help you:

Not the worst record shot of all time either! Quite pleased actually that although it was so far away you can still see what it is.

I have finally seen a bittern! :)