Immature Belted Kingfisher and a spider web close up – Nikon D500, f71.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Last year I followed and photographed a Belted Kingfisher family from April until the end of July and shared a post of the progress the family made throughout their nesting season. That post had a large number of photos of the adults and their young. Editing the 50 plus photos took a a lot of my time and I guess that after a bit my eyes got tired because I missed seeing something in a series of photos that I took of an immature Belted Kingfisher on the last day that I saw the young kingfishers which coincidentally was exactly one year ago today.
What I missed seeing was that the immature Belted Kingfisher had spider webs stuck to its face in a long series of photos that I took of it next to a creek in the Wasatch Mountains. This close up photo shows the spider web attached to the branch and the head, bill, and crest of the young kingfisher.
Immature Belted Kingfisher with a spider web on its face – Nikon D500, f71.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I took hundreds of Belted Kingfisher photos that morning of the adult male and the young kingfishers that flew in. Adding to the action were swallows that kept dive bombing all the the Belted Kingfishers in front of me.
It might be a little hard to see the spider webs in this photo of the immature kingfisher.
Immature Belted Kingfisher with a spider web on its face – With inset – Nikon D500, f71.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I added an inset of a larger view of the spider webs attached to the bill, head, and crest of the young bird to this frame.
I haven’t had as many opportunities with the Belted Kingfisher family this year because the creek was running so much lower this season due to our ongoing drought.
Speaking of our drought, last night it poured rain where I live in the Salt Lake Valley for about 40 minutes. It was a real gully washer and it felt marvelous to stand just inside the open garage door to watch and smell the rain. We got almost an inch and a half of moisture where I live! I felt so much joy because of that rain. One neighbor was even out dancing in it. I would have joined him but the lightning crashing around us made me think more than twice about that. The rain last night won’t end our drought but I sure have missed seeing and hearing a good rain storm roll through.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Belted Kingfisher photos plus facts and information about this species.
Fascinating narrative and equally interesting series of shots. Thanks Mia.
BTW – What’s rain? Those of us on the west coast haven’t seen any wet stuff in about 8 billion years. Glad you got some. If we did, I’d be dancing in it too!
Great detail – I agree that seeing the juvenile plumage of the kingfisher was extra special. Yay rain!
So glad to hear you got some rain! As for glazing over when processing a large batch of photos – well, just chalk it up to being human and enjoy the 2nd look. As usual, great shots which add so much to my day.
Wonderful, wonderful news about your rain. I hope some follow up rain is on the horizon.
And thank you for this complete charmer – and the web.
Love the detail in your photos! Never knew the immature sported “polka dots.” So glad you r3ceived ☔️☔️☔️
I’m guessing that the young Belted Kingfisher got nosy about what was in or around the spider web and stuck its beak into it. Cute!