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Ceryle rudis in-fligth


Ceryle rudis in-fligth
Photo Information
Copyright: Ferran J Lloret (ferranjlloret) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 499 W: 57 N: 1348] (4742)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 100-400 mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/1000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Birds of Africa I, CeltickRanger's favorite bird in-flight photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-01-17 16:06
Viewed: 1326
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) is a kingfisher in the near passerine bird family Cerylidae, the water kingfishers. It is the only member of the genus Ceryle.

It is common throughout sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia from Turkey to India to China. It is resident, and most birds do not migrate, other than seasonal movements.

The Pied Kingfisher is estimated to be the world's third commonest kingfisher, and is a noisy bird, unmissable within its range.
It is mainly a specialist fish-eater, although it will take crustaceans and large aquatic insects. It usually hunts by hovering stationarily over the water and dives down bill first directly below to catch fish.
It has evolved two unique strategies, shared by no other kingfishers. The Pied Kingfisher can hunt in both salt and freshwater. It can also deal with prey without returning to a perch, and can, for example, catch a second fish, or eat small prey in flight. These adaptations mean that this kingfisher can hunt over the sea or in estuaries that lack the perches required by other kingfishers.
This approachable largish (25cm) bird is unmistakable, with its exclusively black-and-white plumage. Unlike some kingfishers, it is quite gregarious, and forms large roosts at night. It can be easily tamed.
Its nest is a hole in a bank, on its own or in a colony, where it lays 3-6 white eggs. The pied kingfisher sometimes reproduces co-operatively, with young non-breeding birds assisting the breeding pair. As with all kingfishers, the nest of a Pied soon becomes unsanitary.
This species was initially believed to be descended from an ancestral American green kingfisher which crossed the Atlantic Ocean about 1 million years ago (Fry & Fry, 2000). However, more recently, Moyle (2006) considered it more likely that the Pied Kingfisher and the American green kingfishers are derived from an Old World species, with the Pied Kingfisher or its ancestor losing the metallic coloration afterwards.

Information source

Range Description: This species has a large range, with an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 10,000,000 km². It has a large global population, including an estimated 200-400 individuals in Europe (BirdLife International in prep.). Global population trends have not been quantified, but populations appear to be stable (del Hoyo et al. 2001) so the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List (i.e. declining more than 30% in ten years or three generations). For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern.


BirdLife International 2008. Ceryle rudis. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. . Downloaded on 29 December 2008.

Other Pied Kingfisher

This photo is taken in the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese district, Uganda. Cropped format.

Personal Wev

Tv (Velocidad de obturación) 1/1000
Av (Valor de abertura) 6.3
Velocidad ISO 200
Distancia focal 210.0 mm
boreocypriensis, CeltickRanger, valy67, Gert-Paassen, samandi, Noisette, Morigann, albert, jusninasirun, peter_stoeckl, jaycee, Adanac, uleko, mrlins, oscarromulus has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Noisette: Merci beaucoupferranjlloret 3 01-19 08:40
To peter_stoeckl: Thanks Peterferranjlloret 1 01-18 10:16
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1985 W: 6 N: 5555] (19763)
  • [2009-01-17 16:20]

Hi Ferran,it's another fantastic pic,i like a lot the wings,give at the pic the really sense of mouvement...fantastic work,my best compliments for the top quality,have a nice Sunday,Luciano

Ferran,
Thanks! This is a little crop I guess.
Were you on a boat or so here?
I saw these Kingfisher specie in Kruger but they were too far away above the river.
TFS
Annick

An excellent in-flight capture Ferran.
Great light and fanstastic detail underneath.
Very nicely composed too.
Good work.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Ferran, an excellent capture of this beauty in-flight. The pose is very impressive MF!
TFS and have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

hello Ferran

a superb in-flight photo of the Pied Kingfisher
with a very fine POV and framing, excellent sharpness
and details, i love the blur of the wings showing
the motion of the image, wonderful eye-contact, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1347 W: 0 N: 2588] (9129)
  • [2009-01-17 18:33]

Hi Ferran,
your African shot are really outatnding and impressive.This shot depicts the beauty of theb bird in excellent sharpness, what more to expect in flying mode.
The action is so real, especially the head looking for something.
Well composed with pleasant presentation.

Regards,
Foozi

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 511 W: 20 N: 1394] (4865)
  • [2009-01-17 21:02]

Wonderful inflight capture Ferran,
Beautiful colors and patterns in those out-streatched wings.
Love the sharpness and detail in this well composed image!! TFS.
Ron

Hola Ferran !
Excelenta foto de este parajo ! Le has capturad en une posa maravillosa, con las alas abiertas y mirando en el suelo. Me gusta tambien el ciele azul, en el fondo, y los colores muy naturals y lindos de esta foto.
Agradecidos y saludos,
Valerie.

Hi Feran,

another great picture from this inflight bird.
Exellent sharpness and lots of details, you managedthe colours very well.

Gert

hello ferran
very good in-flight shot of this kingfisher, I like the way he turned his head and also the wings position
amazing blue sky
have a nice sunday
Jacqueline

Hello Ferran,
This is an amazing in-flight capture! Well composed with fine details.
Excellent POV and DOF
Very well done
Regards
Pierre

Hello Ferran,
Superb in-flight capture with perfect focus
Well done
Albert

Hi Ferran,

Excellent camera handling for an academician. The framing is brilliant and the shot was timely exposing the wings detail and good plumage exposure. Lovely shot and TFS.

Regards,
Jusni

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2422 W: 94 N: 5616] (17852)
  • [2009-01-18 8:47]

Hello Ferran,
What a wonderful shot. Fantastic colours in great sharpness against a very beautiful blue sky. Excellent pose and timing.
Very good POV and composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Ferran,
eye-catching, aesthetically pleasing capture of motion, well detailed, reduced to the essence. I like that kingfisher's clear markings, and the transparency of wings in the backlight.
Thank you!
With best regards
Peter

P.S.: A pleasure to go through your very rich portfolio.
And I really like your words in your intro about the nature photographer's dilemma: "well done" or "rare".
Unlike steak eaters who seem to have the same dilemma, photographers are able to have both in one - if we are lucky.
I personally would always go for the rare, particularly here on TN. Practicing the "well done" in between in less rare occasions will always add to the quality of our future rare ones.
An honour and a pleasure for me to find myself added to your list of favorites. Thank you!

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-01-18 10:18]

Hi Ferran,

One spectacular shot after the other!! This Pied Kingfisher is breathtaking with the spread wings and tail feathers. The black and white markings are striking. I love the position of his head showing off his long beak. A magnificent in-flight shot of this bird. You did him full justice with the marvelous colors and sharp details. You are a master.

Jane

  • Great 
  • bedri Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 66 W: 0 N: 96] (568)
  • [2009-01-18 12:42]

Hi Ferran,
Fine POV, Very good composition.
Regards, TFS
Bedri..

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5209] (17609)
  • [2009-01-18 13:33]

Hello Ferran,
A superb in flight of this kingfisher hoovering over the water, looking for his next meal. This image is very sharply focused and the exposure is spot on, thank you Ferran.
Rick

Hi Ferran

Wow, great in-flight capture of this kingfisher hovering overhead. A unique POV. Great composition and sharpness.

Chris

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3014 W: 162 N: 1031] (3021)
  • [2009-01-19 9:03]

Hello Ferran,
A very beautiful in-flight capture of the Pied Kingfisher with wide open wings. Excellent details and colours in beautiful light.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Good one, birds flying allways hard to catch, you did well, the sky is perfect and the POV as well. How come Uganda?

Best regards

Murilo

wonderful capture Ferran !
perfect blue sky , great contrast and beautiful colours ,
TFS,
septimiu

Ferran,
P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N.
Am hoping to do similar work someday.... ????
Great notes too.
Mario from Calgary, Alberta, Canada with friendly greetings.

excellent in-flight capture Ferran.

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