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Giant Kingfisher


Giant Kingfisher
Photo Information
Copyright: Robin Du Bois (robindb) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 96 W: 0 N: 274] (965)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Cannon EOS 350D, Sigma 170-500mm APO
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-08-22 14:27
Viewed: 446
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I Found this kingfisher on the bridge over the Sabie river near Skukuza diving from the bridge to catch fish. When he caught fish it would not sit near me but after swollowing it would come close to me for another try.

Giant Kingfisher
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Giant Kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima, is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest.
There are two subspecies, M. m. maxima, found in open country, and M. m. gigantea in the rainforest. The forest race is darker, less spotted above, and more barred below than maxima, but the two forms intergrade along the forest edge zone.
Breeding is from August to January, 3-5 eggs being laid in a riverbank tunnel.
Giant Kingfisher is 42-48 cm long, with a large crest and finely spotted white on black upperparts. The male has a chestnut breast band and otherwise white underparts with dark flank barring, and the female has a white-spotted black breast band and chestnut belly.
The call is a loud wak wak wak.
This large species feeds on crabs, fish, and frogs, caught in the typical kingfisher way by a dive from a perch. The number of these birds appears to have declined, possibly as a result of pesticides.
vanderschelden, jaycee, jusninasirun, Argus, siggi, Amadeo, tuslaw, Miss_Piggy, soccer has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Robin,
Very hungry fellow apparently.
I guess he's been busy in his plumage as well.
Wonderful close up. I'm surprised you could get so close.
I hardly spotted a Kingfisher let alone captured one.
Beautiful bird indeed with these blacks and whites and that brownish breast. Still don't know whether this is a male?
These bridges are good perches for fishing purposes, I guess.
Well done
TFS
Annick

I like your sharp portrait of this kingfisher against that lovely soft green background. The details are wonderful. It sounds like he was obliging to his photographer.

FS
Evelynn : )

Wow amazing shot. We have only small kingfishers here in NZ and they are very hard to get close enough to get a good shot. They flit off the moment you get to close. So a lovely sharp closeup

Nicki

  • Great 
  • GaryT Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 85 W: 4 N: 180] (946)
  • [2008-08-22 15:25]

Very good portrait -- excellent detail and contrast. Gary

Hallo Robin,

Ek is saam met jou jammer jy kon hom nie kry met 'n vissie in die bek nie. 'n Baie mooi skoot, goed belig, mooi in fokus, goed geisoleer van die agtergrond.

Jan-Hendrik

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1865 W: 8 N: 4848] (15703)
  • [2008-08-22 16:41]

Hi Robin,

A magnificent portrait of this Kingfisher. He must have liked you if he kept coming back. The colors and details of the face and feathers are wonderful. I love the feathers on his beak. Looks like he was doing more than eating fish!

Jane

Hello Robin. Excellent mugshot in vivid detail. The image is well isolated against the muted background. Best regards. Jusni

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809] (24333)
  • [2008-08-22 23:25]

Hello Robin,
You must have been close to get such a fine sharp portrait of this impressive bird, the Giant Kingfisher. Excellent BG and composition.
The feathers stuck to his bill make one wonder if small birds are included in his diet.
TFS this beauty,
Have a good weekend,
Ivan

Hola Robin, excelente captura, un retrato magnífico de una de las aves que más me gustan:)
saludos
Roberto

wow, this is a striking close up, TFS Ori

Hello Robin,

What a great portrait of this Kingfisher. Excellent sharpness and splendid colours. Very good background also.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 409 W: 9 N: 1186] (4154)
  • [2008-08-23 11:50]

Hello Robin,
Beuatifull capture of that bird.Very sharp with nice DOF.
TFS Siggi

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer [C: 211 W: 0 N: 755] (3323)
  • [2008-08-23 12:31]

Hola Robin, excelente primer plano, una toma bien expuesta, buen detalle y tonos de color naturales.
Un saludo

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 253 W: 8 N: 684] (2229)
  • [2008-08-24 18:52]

Spectacular image Robin,
You can't get any sharper or detailed then this. You must have been right next to him in order to obtain such a fine shot. love the colors in it's plumage and the great eye contact. Very useful notes. TFS.
Ron

Hallo Robin
Absolutely beautiful!. An awesome portrait and fantastic close-up of this kingfisher. A clear picture with perfect point of view. That beak is sooo big, it looks like it should tip the bird over. The black and white combo is a beautiful display and you handled it well. The flash back in the eye is super. These images of the Kruger is really making me jealous. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your day.
Kind regards
Anna

Hello Robin,
From the last weeks I had a lot of photos to work off. This one I enjoy very well. What a beautiful portrait in an excellent exposure and details.
Kind regards,
Peter

Robin,

Very good Close up of the Kingfisher. The Composition is good, even though it is tight. The POV, DOF resulting in the blurred background, the lighting, detail and sharpness are all excellent. A very good pic. I posted one of a Malachite that I got near Lower Sabie. Have a look and let me know what you think.

TFS,
Sheriff

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