Belted Kingfisher. Mousam River at Roger’s Pond, Kennebunk ME

The members of the Kingfisher family are among my favorite birds. I like all the American branch of the family…from the big Ringed to the tiny Pygmy of Central America, and I have had a chance to photograph all but one. It is, of course, a world wide family. In Europe I have seen the Common Kingfisher, but I have not seen any of the Asian or African species. One day!

Our only Kingfisher in the most of North America is the Belted, and that is pretty much everywhere there is fresh water…ponds, rivers, and streams. The Belted Kingfisher has a reputation for being difficult to photograph. They are hyper-aware, and are generally off their perch and moving well before anyone gets in photographic range. I have found them to be somewhat easier in Florida, where I have had them perch withing 40 feet for moments at a time, and even easier in Texas, where they have two fellow Kingfishers, Ringed and Green, to bolster their courage (or so I suppose :).

I find it interesting that Kingfishers are no respecter of city boundaries. I have found them hunting likely waters in residential San Diego in the shadows of apartment buildings and on the river Lahn where it separates the old Wetzlar Germany from the new, and this image is from a park along the Mousam River where it passes through downtown Kennebunk Maine. Wherever I see them, it always makes my day.

Nikon P900 at 4000mm equivalent field of view (the bird was across the river). 1/400th @ ISO 400 @ f6.5. Processed in Topaz Denoise and Lightroom.