European Kingfisher, Tagus River Estuary Reserve, Lisbon Portugal

Kingfishers of all kinds are my favorite family of birds, and European Kingfisher was my most wanted bird on my first trip to Germany when ZEISS was in the process of recruiting me. Though I was told it was against the odds by my German hosts, I did see a Kingfisher on that first trip. This morning, on my second morning in the Tagus River Estuary Reserve across the River fro Lisbon, Portugal, we chanced (if you believe in chance, and I don’t) upon this beauty sitting half asleep on the lip of a culvert when we stepped out to try for a Squacco Heron. No heron, but I did not mind at all! Sony RX10iv at 600mm equivalent. ISO 320 @f4 @ 1/250th. Processed in Photoshop Express.