Many people photograph Common Kingfishers (Alcedo atthis) when they gather in small ponds, lakes and canals in winter to find food. I am particularly fascinated by the colours and movement of the birds. Common Kingfishers are truly incredible subjects, because their colours can change from dark blue to blue-green to turquoise depending on the angle and light. They are also super interesting because of their social behaviour and of course their hunting style. This combination of long periods of immobility and lightning-fast precision when diving is always fascinating. Just watching them is impressive, but photographing them is something completely different.
Between February and March, the Common Kingfisher begins to look for a partner. Before mating can take place, the female must first be put in the mood. I wanted to photograph this from a hide at the so-called Hechtsee in the Feldberg lake district in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. During courtship, the male courts his chosen female and brings her small fish. Courtship feeding is obviously a very important contribution to pair bonding. At the end of April I was able to photograph a pair of Common Kingfishers from the photo hide. At dawn, one mating and at least three courtship feedings were observed and photographed during the morning. Fortunately for photographers, courtship feeding is not just limited to the time before mating.
The shimmering plumage of Common Kingfishers should be photographed using a high-resolution sensor such as the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III. Even the smallest detail of each feather is clearly visible. But of course all these pixels are of no use at all if the bird is blurred or too small in the picture. It is important to select the right AF mode and suitable lenses. This ensures that the subject fills the picture. The image composition is really convincing when a subject is photographed at eye level and stands out against a monochrome, defocused background.
In order to meet the growing demand for top images of the rarer species of Palaearctic Bird-lens.com has specifically made trips to remote places. Additionally every chance is used, if a rare bird is around the homeground. This to do everything to ensure excellent photos of the Birds of the Western Palearctic. The yield of pictures also of rare Western Palaearctic birds is very good. There are other nice images of birds, that you will find behind the tab “Picture Shop“. Just give a notice if you need a picture of a bird which is not online.