An email invitation that arrived early this morning had me pulling on plenty of warm layers. Then I headed out into a 2°C frost to one of my favourite kingfisher photography locations in Pauatahanui.
The conditions couldn’t have been better. The tide was just right, the water was almost perfectly still. Moreover, several kingfishers were perched high in a large tree, patiently watching before diving into the inlet to catch breakfast.
It had been many years since I’d spent dedicated time photographing kingfishers. Sitting quietly beside the inlet brought back plenty of memories from those earlier mornings spent observing these remarkable birds. Sharing the experience with a couple of fellow photographers made it even more enjoyable. We all tried to capture sharp images of these incredibly fast-moving hunters.
Over the course of the morning, we watched around nine kingfishers repeatedly diving into the shallow water in search of crabs. Like any skilled hunter, they didn’t succeed every time. Consequently, many dives ended with empty beaks before they returned to their favourite perches to patiently wait for another opportunity.
The Resulting Images
Wildlife photography is rarely perfect, and today’s session was no exception. I returned home with plenty of out-of-focus images, a reminder of just how quick these birds really are. Thankfully, hidden amongst the misses were several photographs that captured the beauty, speed, and character of these stunning birds. These are images I’m proud to share in this post.
For me, mornings like this are a reminder that success in wildlife photography isn’t measured by the number of perfect photographs you bring home. Instead, it’s about spending time in nature, enjoying the company of fellow photographers, and appreciating moments that can’t be planned or repeated.
All the images in this post were taken using my Lumix G9II. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact me through my website, or follow along on Facebook or Instagram.