Male Belted Kingfisher Surveying His Mountain Canyon Home

Male Belted Kingfisher in a mountain canyon – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Back in early June I had the opportunity to photograph a male Belted Kingfisher up close high in the Wasatch Mountains but due to circumstances beyond my control I missed those shots.

It was early in the morning and when I drove near a creek I could see the male kingfisher perched on a dead tree close to the road so I focused on driving up to him very slowly hoping that I wouldn’t cause him to take flight. When I stopped my Jeep and turned off the engine the kingfisher held steady on his perch and I reached for my camera, raised it and started to lock my focus on the bird sitting out in the beautiful morning light. I’d been so focused on the bird that I didn’t notice another vehicle coming up the road behind me which promptly flushed the kingfisher as it passed my Jeep before I could fire a shot. A few curse words were said.

The male Belted Kingfisher moved further away from me in my Jeep but I was still able to take a few images of him on the perch he landed on with emerald green shrubbery in the background. I wish I’d been able to have a few more seconds with the kingfisher before that vehicle came by and flushed it because I know those photos would have been beautiful but I do accept that there will be frustrations when it comes to bird photography because it is part of the territory.

Today, more than a month later, I can still see this male Belted Kingfisher lit up and gorgeous on that first closer perch in my mind’s eye and I wish I could share images of him on it surveying his mountain canyon home.

Life is good even when it is frustrating.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Belted Kingfisher photos plus facts and information about this species.