Unlike the pygmy kingfisher, I didn’t have any success capturing the brown hooded kingfisher in the water. Next time! He did however provide me with lots of lovely photo opportunities. My favourite will probably be a surprise to most, but there is just something about it that makes me smile.
Enjoy!
A beautiful pose to show off his lovely turquoise feathers. The male brown hooded kingfisher has black shoulder feathers, while the female has brown (Thanks to my handy Roberts Bird guide app for that information). 1/2500 sec, f7.1, ISO 4000A bit of post splash bath preening. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000The is how a bird deals with an itch on the top of its head. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000Take off! 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000A nice smooth landing. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000Striking a bit of a model pose, glancing over a raised wing, 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000Trying out the crested feather look. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000A little shake from behind. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000Believe it or not, my favourite of all my brown hooded kingfisher photos. It just makes me smile 🙂 And it reminds me of the photos of dogs caught mid shake – they just look so goofy. 1/2500 sec, f9.0, ISO 2000
I’ve finally worked my way through all the photos that I took of the pygmy kingfisher at the Mkombe hide at Zimanga. Some of the action shots I’ve included are not as crisp as I would like, but I’ve posted them anyways as they do show a nice representation of what the pygmy kingfisher looks like in flight and when coming out of the water. The sole crisp water shot that I managed to capture was done by pre-focusing on the spot I thought it would fly to (an ounce of technique and a pound of luck).
A pygmy kingfisher perches after a splash bath. 1/640sec, f5.6, ISO6400Once the clouds parted and the sun came out, the pygmy kingfishers colouring looked even more spectacular. 1/2000sec, f8.0, ISO25001/2000sec, f8.0, ISO2500Striking the perfect model pose. 1/2000sec, f8., ISO 2500Peering downwards the water, planning for the next spot to take a bath. 1/200sec, f8.0, ISO2500The kingfisher breaks back through the water while a laughing dove watches in the background. 1/1250sec, f14, ISO 2500Heading for the water. 1/1250sec, f11. ISO 1250A blue waxbill comes into land at the waterhole, as the kingfisher takes her (or his) leave. 1/1250 sec, f11. ISO 5600Getting closer in my attempt to pre-focus, but still not quite there. 1/1250 sec, f11, ISO 1250Success!!! 1/1250 sec, f11, ISO 1250A pygmy kingfisher flies past while a laughing dove stops by for a drink. 1/1250 sec, f11, ISO 4000
Like the giant kingfisher I posted a couple days ago, this is the token photo that I have of a striped kingfisher. And actually, I didn’t even realize I had it until I started going through all my kingfisher photos and rating them; going back and forth between a couple photos, I finally spotted the difference between this and the brown hooded kingfisher (photos to follow on the weekend). I don’t mind admitting a bit of a “duh” moment, and that it took me ages to spot the different species amongst my photos. Honestly, I am just grateful I came home with so many photos, as at the start of my trip, it seemed the only kingfisher sightings I was going to have was as they flew away from me down a drainage line or up into the trees beyond the reach of my camera.
A striped kingfisher pauses long enough on a bare branch for me to snap a photo. 1/400sec, f5.6, ISO160
I spent some time going through my kingfisher photos today, and am very happy that I will have lots of shots of both the brown hooded kingfisher and the pygmy kingfisher to come in the following days and weeks. Unfortunately, I only managed a single photo of the giant kingfisher, and while it isn’t a fantastic shot, I thought I would post it anyways, as I think the variety in size and colouration of the kingfishers is phenomenal, and it seemed wrong to leave this one out.
We spotted this kingfisher when we were crossing from the north to the south side of the river. We briefly parked on the bridge to take some photos, but the kingfisher was at a fair distance to begin with, and after I managed only two photos, flew away.
A giant kingfisher perches in a tree above the Mkhuze River. 1/250sec, f5.6, ISO 1800
I had a wonderful time watching the lesser striped swallows while staying at the Zimanga volunteer house. There really wasn’t a time at home when they weren’t keeping us company, as they had established two nests inside the house, and one on the front porch where we typically had our meals.
I got used to them calling and chattering from the window when I checked my email (I wish I could find a link to post of their calls; they make such wonderful sounds) or swooping above my head while I had lunch or dinner outside. My vantage point was usually not great to take photos of the swallows (lots of shadows), but spending the time watching them build their nests and interacting with each other was such a treat.
Since I don’t have a lot of variety in my swallow photos, I decided to take my favourites, and edit each of them in different ways. Adding things like a vintage film effect isn’t part of my normal editing process; this has been a fun post to get ready.
It was lovely to capture one of the swallows on a bright, sunny day. 1/640 sec, f8.0, ISO 720Eyeing each other up. 1/1600sec, f5.6, ISO 400Mid call or asking for some food? I’m really not sure. 1/1600sec, f5.6, ISO 400Coming in to land on the window frame. Edited with my normal, minimal adjustments. 1/1600sec, f6.3, ISO 400
I decided to work through the last of the sunbird photos I had flagged off, so that I could start on something new in the coming week. Hopefully 4 posts in a row dedicated to just one bird type isn’t too boring. I had hoped that I could include the white fronted sunbird I captured as well, but those photos were taken from the hide and the bird was in a tree quite far away. Sadly, they are completely lacking.
1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 140It looks like this sunbird has a streak of pollen on his chest. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 180I include this photo only because I absolutely love the shape her wings have created. It looks like she is drawing a cloak around herself. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 500After all that editing of sunbirds in aloe plants, I wanted to try something a bit different. This photo was taken with the house in the background, giving a stark white backdrop. I quite like the black and white treatment. Thoughts? 1/1600sec, f5.6, ISO 400A male scarlet chested sunbird caught with an open mouth, and covered in pollen. 1/100sec, f5.6, ISO 800A male scarlet chested sunbird stretches for an aloe flower. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 8001/800 sec, f5.6, ISO 800
While at Zimanga Game Reserve with Wildlife Act, our group was fortunate enough to have two sessions in their fantastic bird hides. The first was an afternoon session in the Bhejane birdbath hide, and the second, where these photos were taken, were from a morning session at the Mkhombe birdbath hide. The morning session provided over 900 photos, and not just of birds; warthogs and the vervet monkeys came from a drink as well.
While the vervet monkeys can be incredibly cheeky around a lodge or camp, snatching food and wrecking havoc should they decide to go inside, I find them fascinating to watch and love seeing their antics. Around the birdbath, they were more concerned with each member getting a drink than getting into any mischief (although there was one snacking on the scattered birdseed). I especially loved to see the moms with the tiny babies clinging to their stomachs, and I believe there were either two or three babies in the troop.
Mom inspects the water while the baby peeks out between her arms. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1600The little one on the right was close to falling into his drink! 1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600Careful Mom! The baby’s head is dangerously close to the rocks as she leans in to drink. 1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600Everyone likes to make silly faces at babies! 1/1600sec, f9.0, ISO1600A vervet monkey leans in for a drink at the Mkhombe birdbath hide. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250It’s always nice to have a drink with a friend. 1/1600sec, f7.1, ISO1250
