Female Belted Kingfisher calling from a branch – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 250, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I photographed this female Belted Kingfisher calling from a branch in March of 2017 close to the Jordan River not far from where I live. March is a month when I know I can consistently find male and female Belted Kingfishers in the area because they can fish in the open water of the river. The kingfishers are also starting to feel the urges to mate and nest during this time of the year and the riverbanks are an excellent nesting location.
Because I live within a few blocks of the Jordan River that there are times that I can hear the Belted Kingfishers calling as they fly by from my living room. If I could find the nest of the kingfishers I see close to home on the banks of the Jordan River this spring I would be one happy woman. Years ago I did find a kingfisher nesting burrow on the banks of the river but unfortunately for me that burrow was in a location where it was especially hard to photograph because the riverbank wasn’t stable. It was dangerous for me and my gear to stand at the edge of the riverbank.
Last year I was able to photograph a Belted Kingfisher family through the spring and summer high in the Wasatch Mountains and I had a blast doing that. Seeing, photographing, and observing the kingfisher family was both entertaining and educational. I learned a lot about this species by watching them interact with each other and as the young kingfishers learned to catch prey on their own.
Belted Kingfishers are year round residents in northern Utah. During the most frigid months of the year they will seek out locations where the water is open and not iced over. The Jordan River usually has some open water where they can find food even during the coldest period of winter.
Finding these striking blue-gray, crested birds usually isn’t hard since they can be extremely vocal. Photographing them is a different challenge altogether because they can be terribly skittish. Just ask anyone who has ever tried to photograph them!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Belted Kingfisher photos plus facts and information about this species.
They are again a fantastic bird to watch. So fast when they dive!
Perhaps this will be the year when you can photograph them close to your home and around their nest. Fingers crossed.
My nemesis. I love that the female of the Belted Kingfisher is more colourful than the male. I photograph them whenever I can which, unfortunately, isn’t very often.
Love the Kingfisher, Mia.
Excellent shot… these are such elusive birds, so glad you have excellent habitat so close to home!