The Chatty Little Kingfisher
I heard the little chatterbox before I saw him. I usually always do. As soon as I heard that squeaky, chattering call I immediately knew a kingfisher was flying into the area.
Kingfishers are amazing and cute little guys, but they also annoy the heck out of me. They are small, extremely fast and erratic flyers and I always have a tough time trying to catch flight shots of them.
But it’s that cute chatty voice that really gets me. It’s almost as if the bird is mocking me and daring me to try to get a photo of him as he is zooming across the marsh as if he had a jet engine installed.
But Thursday afternoon I at least managed to get a few photos as it blasted through, chattering all the way. Then it did one loop around a tree and headed back out across the reeds astonishing me by managing to keep his little yap shut for a few seconds.
I will continue to go out and attempt to get more photos of these mighty marvels, and I’m sure they will continue to use their voices to make fun of me as they blow by before I can even get the camera up.
Phil Lanoue Photography 
Phil
What are you shooting with to get these close ups. What is your lens of choice. I enjoy following your journey.
Bob Miracle
I was using a Canon 300 f4 with a Canon 1.4 extender on a 7D.
Thanks for checking in on my photos from the marsh!
I actually caught one last week on my trip, but it wasn’t nearly as close or as clear as yours. They sure do streak around, but you definitely hear them. Frustrating, but fun to watch.
These guys are my nemesis. I swear they mock me with those chatty little voices. Plus that sound travels too. You hear one and think it’s close but it’s not close and not even in the direction you thought it was coming from.
Occasionally we will see a pair start chasing each other around. It’s like watching flying chipmunks. 🙂
Beautifully done Phil. The English Kimg Fisher is very highly coloured as you probably know and they are just streaks of blue when they fly. These are so impressive!
I always have the feeling that these belted kingfishers we have here enjoy making fun of me because they seem to know how difficult they can make life as a bird photographer trying to get halfway decent shots of them.
Thanks very much for looking and commenting Adrian!
Phil, these pictures are fantastic! We watched a kingfisher flying along the rive Wye this afternoon and the speed!
They are fun to watch for sure Maggie but can be a pain to photograph. They are fast and sneaky too! 🙂
What great close ups — and with a tough subject. I see his little bill barking away in a couple of these! He is very cute thought.
Oh he was barking all right! That little yap of his was going full speed.
Splendidi primi piani mentre è in volo, wowww quanto sei bravo!!
Ciao, Pat
Grazie Pat! 😀
Amazing shots, these birds are the fastest I have ever seen.
Yes there are quite fast, plus they like to fly around in all different directions. Thanks for checking these out.
Wow! These are great! You did a fantastic job catching this little fellow.
Thanks I appreciate the kind words and glad you liked seeing the kingfisher!
Great details! Those guys are so hard to get.
Thanks, and yes they can be a real pain.
There has to be at least one bird that’s a challenge for you!
Challenging I can live with, but do they have to make fun of me? That’s just plain rude, and possibly even cruel.
I agree with earlier comments – these are very hard to capture in flight… is that where sports photography know-how helps? RH
I suspect that experience capturing sports action does help in getting shots of these small fast flyers. I’ll take all the help I can get when it comes to photographing these sneaky guys. 🙂
You were very quick on the draw, Phil. Great shots of this cheeky guy. 🙂
They don’t give me a lot of time to react so I’m happy to get anything on these zippy little guys.
Thanks for checking these out Sylvia!