Kingfisher photography is the ultimate test of patience and persistence. These feisty birds are small, yet breathtakingly beautiful and talented hunters – one reason they’re such popular subjects for wildlife photographers. Most of us only glimpse their iconic blue plumage streaking across the water, leaving us wondering if we saw anything at all. This is exactly what happened to me at a local pond. Recently, I was wandering along the bank looking for Dragonflies when a flash of blue caught my eye across the water. My first thought was that it was a blue dragonfly, like an Emperor. However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was something more elusive that I had wanted to see for a long, long time – the Common Kingfisher.
Returning at a similar time the next day, I sat quietly behind some yellow irises at the side of the bank and listened. After about a quarter of an hour, I heard a very distinct ‘sploosh’ sound. I knew for a fact it wasn’t the sound of a jumping fish. No, this was something else. Moments later, a call echoed around the pond. “Peep, peep, peep”. Turning to face the source of the noise, there he was, a male Common Kingfisher, darting across the surface of the pond with a catch in his mouth. From that moment on, I knew I wanted more.
Heavily cropped and soft-focused due to low light and a failed panning attempt, this is the photograph that fueled my drive to photograph the Common Kingfisher in all its glory.
Welcome to my journey of photographing the elusive Common Kingfisher.
Observations and Understanding the Habits of the Common Kingfisher
One of the most important aspects of wildlife photography is to understand your subject. Only when you truly understand your subject’s behaviour will you increase your chances of capturing that dream photograph.
As I began my journey into Kingfisher photography, I knew very little about their unique behaviours and habits. I had done an amount of research beforehand, but nothing compares to hands-on experience out in the field. With this in mind, I got stuck into observations. I spent countless hours by the side of the pond dressed head to toe in camouflage, watching and listening for any signs of the Common Kingfisher. The more I observed, the more I began to notice a series of patterns.
Frequently visited perches
The Common Kingfishers (I say Kingfishers as it turned out there was a male and a female residing on the pond) appeared to have an established flight path along the far side of the pond to access a handful of perches, which they used to hunt small fry. Most of the perches they frequented were concealed within densely covered low-hanging trees, which hung about 1 metre or so over the water. There were a few exceptions, and it was these exceptions that piqued my interest. There were a couple of Silver Birch trees overhanging the pond; at some point, branches had either broken off or been cut, leaving behind a ledge. Initially, I thought that these ledges might have been too high, but on multiple occasions, I witnessed one of the Kingfishers leap off into the pond. Incredible to witness! I documented one of the perches and returned to observations. As the days went by, I was left in awe at the Kingfishers’ acrobatic prowess. On multiple occasions, I witnessed them dive from heights of around 4 metres with pinpoint accuracy.
The best time of day to see the Kingfishers
Initially, my first impressions were that the time of day didn’t have much of an impact on sightings. However, the more time I invested in watching the Kingfishers, the more I realised that mornings were by far their most active window. Between 7 AM and 9 AM seemed to be the golden window. This was a welcome find; the light during this time of the morning was perfect, not too harsh as the sun rose behind a cluster of trees to the east. However, I noted that during the earlier stages of the window, obtaining action shots might be ambitious, as I would have to crank the ISO up to way beyond 12,800 to achieve a meaningful shutter speed to freeze any action.
Happy with my findings, it was time to break out the camera!
Planning for Success
After spending countless hours observing over the course of a week, it was time to put my new knowledge into practice. I put together a list of considerations before getting stuck into my kingfisher photography journey:
- Early morning was key; I had to be in position and ready for 6 AM
- Camouflage and absolute silence would be vital to achieving close-up encounters without disturbing the beautiful birds in any way
- I would begin by positioning myself near one of their observed perches, the overhanging Silver Birch tree
- I would utilise manual mode on my camera to maintain full control over the exposure. Knowing the exposure would change throughout the morning, I would have to pay close attention to increasing light availability
- Any movements I needed to make would be slow and steady to avoid being seen and potentially disturbing the Kingfishers
- Finally, I would continue to observe their behaviours for any changes in what I had seen over the past week
Camera Equipment and Camouflage for Kingfisher Photography
It was finally time to put everything I had learned into practice. Before I went out into the field, I took the time to carefully pull together the equipment I would need to photograph the Kingfishers. Careful consideration was made of camera equipment as well as necessary concealment to allow me to remain hidden and avoid disturbing the Kingfishers in any way. Here is a comprehensive list of the equipment I utilised:
- Canon R5 camera body
- Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L II USM lens
- Tripod with panoramic ball head
- Realtree camouflage netting 1500 x 4000 mm (The netting was primarily to cover my camera and tripod. The excess was used to create a bit of a hide and further conceal myself).
- small spring clamps to pin the camouflage netting in place and prevent it from moving
- 3D woodland camouflage poncho
- 3D woodland camouflage full face mask
- Realtree waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
For my specific location, the use of a dedicated pop-up photography hide wasn’t necessary. There was sufficient foliage surrounding my location, allowing me to blend in and remain concealed with the help of the camouflage listed above.
Beginning My Kingfisher Photography Journey
I could honestly talk for hours about the experiences I encountered during my Kingfisher photography journey. However, I thought I would save you the pain of my blabbering on and keep my recollection fairly brief.
N.B. The days listed below were not consecutive; they were spread out over the course of two weeks.
Day 1 – Realisation kicks in
To kickstart my Kingfisher photography journey, I set an early alarm the night before, aiming to be at the pond and in location for 6 AM. Upon arrival, conditions were perfect; there was next to no wind, and it was slightly overcast but noticeably warm for the time of day. Whilst quietly walking to my position dressed like a tree (I hope the neighbours didn’t see me!), I heard the distinct call of the Kingfishers, which immediately put me on a high. I was optimistic and ready to capture the beautiful birds on camera. How wrong I was. For the three hours I was there, I sat and watched as the Kingfishers hunted and darted across the pond, everywhere except for where I wanted them. It was almost as if they knew I was there. I would say I was disappointed, but honestly, just being around them as they did what they do best was a phenomenal experience.
So, my first day of Kingfisher photography didn’t quite go to plan, but I was by no means ready to give up. I was just getting started.
Day 2 – The aftermath of Storm Eunice
I returned for redemption a couple of days later. I had to give the pond a wide berth for a few days as Storm Eunice had landed, and I begrudgingly thought it was probably best to avoid anywhere with trees!
Luckily, the trees around the pond had escaped the storm without any damage. As I walked the usual path to my photography location, I noticed that the wind was still quite gusty. I stayed for just over an hour before calling it a day. The camouflage netting over my camera was flailing about too much, and I couldn’t hear anything over the noise of the wind. On top of this, I hadn’t seen any activity, so I decided it wasn’t worth sticking around. A shame, but it was the right call in my eyes.
Day 3 – Persistence pays off
Day three saw a dramatic improvement in the weather conditions compared to Day two. It was a pleasantly warm morning. The water was perfectly calm, and the surrounding grass was delicately jewelled by early morning dew. Things just felt right, I can’t explain…you know what I mean, right?
I went through my usual setup process, covering my camera and tripod in camouflage netting and sitting perfectly still in anticipation. No more than 15 minutes in, two Kingfishers flew across the pond whilst calling out in tandem. My heart started racing, “this was it”, I thought. They disappeared from sight, and everything went quiet. Suddenly, movement in front of me! One of the Kingfishers had landed on the perch in front of my camera. All of the hard work had paid off. My heart was in my mouth as I delicately angled my camera to the right to frame up the beautiful Common Kingfisher.
I managed to capture a few photographs before he flew off to the other side of the pond to another of his perches. I don’t think he saw me, but I’d be very surprised if he didn’t hear my heart racing!
At long last, here are the initial portraits I managed to capture. This, for me, marked a huge accomplishment and took the pressure off for the remainder of the project.
The above photographs were captured at ISO 1600, F/5.6, 1/1000th during the later stages of the morning.
My attention would now be focused on capturing action shots and a back view of the Kingfishers, illustrating the iconic lightning blue stripe for which they are so famously known.
Day 4 – A tricky morning on the pond
Day four was a tricky one from the off. I hadn’t had much sleep the night before due to the heat. I don’t know about you, but I really struggle during the warmer summer nights. Needless to say, I was tired and slightly irritable due to the heat and humidity. As usual, I arrived at my location at 6 AM. Upon arrival, I set up and started my observations.
It has to be said that even fatigue can’t dampen my love for being out in nature during the early hours. There’s something about sitting down and taking the time to appreciate your surroundings. The calls of the surrounding birds and the rustling of various wildlife moving through the foliage around you are truly nectar for the soul. Anyway, from what I could tell, at around 7 AM, the male Kingfisher had made an appearance. After completing a circuit around the pond, he perched near the top of a bush on the opposite side of the pond for a preening session. For the next hour or so, he remained perched in the bush. A bit of a lazy morning I figured, which I completely understand! As the morning progressed the heat became more and more intense at which point the Kingfisher retreated further down the pond to a more shaded area. I took this time to call it a day and quickly and quietly pack up my equipment without disturbing him.
A slow day overall, but understandable given the uncomfortable heat and humidity throughout the morning.
Day 5 – An unforgettable morning of Kingfisher photography
I began the fifth day with the strict routine of waking up early and getting into position for 6 AM. It was a beautifully calm morning with a hint of mist rising from the surface of the pond. Humidity was high, and taking this into account, I chose to wear lighter clothing under my camouflage to make the morning more comfortable. For the first half an hour, I sat silently, blending into the environment, ears primed, eagerly anticipating the call of the Kingfishers. Nothing came. Before long, an hour had passed without so much as a peep. Conditions seemed perfect, but as of yet, I hadn’t noticed any signs of activity. In the lull, I took the opportunity to adjust my camera settings to the changing light and to double-check that my camouflage was properly applied. After making a few subtle adjustments to the ISO and shutter speed, I heard a single subtle “peep”. My heart jumped as I quickly sharpened up, scanning for the source of the call. Moments later, the silence was broken, “peep, peep, peep”. There they were!
In perfect harmony, the two Kingfishers tailed each other in close formation following their usual path around the pond. From the direction of their calls, I figured they were just around the corner to my right-hand side. I sat bolt upright and primed myself, ready to get to work. All of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the perch I was established at was wobbling. The male Kingfisher had come to visit! Delicately, I panned my camera from right to left millimetre by millimetre until the Kingfisher was within my composition. I fired off a few shots and instantly felt the pressure lift. I’d bagged my first few shots and I could relax and enjoy the morning to its fullest.
After a quick preen, the male decided to move on to one of his highest perches on the pond, roughly 5 metres to my left. Seconds later, “sploosh”, after a mindblowing show of acrobatics, he’d landed his first catch of the morning.
The first capture of the morning, a rear portrait highlighting the breathtaking colours of the male Kingfisher. What a beauty. This photograph was taken with the following settings: ISO 3200, F/5.6, 1/400th
Little did I know the morning would turn out to be the most successful morning of Kingfisher photography by far. Both the male and the female were incredibly active all morning until the moment I decided to retreat quietly and leave them in peace. I honestly could have watched them all day long. It was a phenomenal display of their tenacity, raw natural beauty and unrivalled hunting prowess. I lost count of how many times the Kingfishers landed on the perch I was based at. It was a true hard work pays off moment, and I was on cloud nine. Without waffling on too much, I’ll leave you with a handful of my favourites from day five. I didn’t quite manage to capture any action shots; however, there was no shortage of portrait photographs.
A small series of Kingfisher portraits taken throughout the morning during multiple visits to one of their favourite perches. The images were captured at ISO 1600, F/5.6 to F/8, and between 1/400 and 1/1000th. Please consider visiting my Nature and Landscape photography gallery to view these photographs full screen.
Ending the Kingfisher Photography Journey…For Now
I’ve loved every second of reliving my Kingfisher photography journey, and what a journey it has been. Over the past two weeks or so, I have become obsessed with these beautiful and iconic birds. Kingfishers will always hold a special place in my heart when it comes to wildlife photography. They’re one of the more difficult birds to photograph, but they’re worth every single ounce of effort.
My plans now are to give them a wide berth for a week or so whilst I enjoy a week of landscape photography in the Lake District, as “Heather Season” has arrived. In the long run, my dream is to continue to observe the Kingfishers and capture a series of action shots that highlight the essence of their beauty and natural talents.
Top tips for Kingfisher Photography
With that said, I hope you have enjoyed reading and, if, like me, you’re eager to capture the beauty of the elusive Kingfishers, here are some of my top tips for Kingfisher photography:
- Visit your local canals, rivers, or ponds. Kingfishers love slow-moving freshwater habitats.
- Kingfishers are more active during the early morning and late afternoon.
- Look for any possible perches which overhang the water. These can be branches, posts, reeds, wooden fences, bridges, or even barges along canals.
- Learn to recognise the unique call of the Kingfisher.
- Observe, observe and observe some more. You can never do too many observations; the more you do, the more you will start to discover behavioural patterns which will help to guide your Kingfisher photography.
- Wear camouflage! Kingfishers are incredibly elusive birds. If you go in unprepared, be prepared to fail. Camouflage clothing and netting will break up your appearance, allowing you to blend in with your surrounding environment. You can also utilise pop-up hides.
- A long telephoto lens of 400mm and beyond is necessary to capture the beauty of the Kingfishers from a safe distance and to avoid disturbing them.
- Use appropriate shutter speeds. For perched Kingfishers with little movement, you can get away with slower shutter speeds of 1/250th~. For moving Kingfishers, you will need a much faster shutter speed of 1/2000 or higher. Kingfishers are astonishingly fast-moving birds, and a fast shutter is essential to freezing any movement.
- Try to pick a clean composition free from any distractions and where the background is roughly 30 metres away, this will help to create a clean photograph with a dreamy soft-focused background.
- Manual mode is your friend. In manual mode, set your desired aperture and shutter speed values, and set your ISO to auto. This way, there are no surprises.
- Be patient! For most of the year, Kingfishers are solitary birds and unquestionably territorial birds. Kingfishers can have territories ranging several kilometres, so don’t be disappointed if you struggle to spot them consistently.
- Enjoy the process and above all, please be respectful of the Kingfishers’ well-being. Kingfishers are truly breathtaking birds, but remember, they are a Schedule 1 protected species. Let’s protect these beautiful birds so that we can continue to admire their true natural beauty.
Useful links for Kingfisher Photography
A concise introduction to the Common Kingfisher and their unique call by the RSPB – https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/kingfisher