Malachite Kingfisher

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you Andrew

[HiltonP]

I have been fortunate enough to see these photographs personally. They were taken in an extremely challenging conditions and I am most impressed with the camera & lens combination's ability to capture the images. Number 2 is my favourite, but Number 3 is the most impressive because the D800 really managed to thread the proverbial needle and focus on the kingfisher through an absolute tangle of waterside branches.

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you H - it was nice to have you both here for a change

[Anthony]

I like §2.  Makes me glad I am not a fish.

[elsa hoffmann]

I like §2.  Makes me glad I am not a fish.

 

[Fanie]

They make great subjects, but let you work for results. I prefer the head angle in #1over #2, and even though #3 is busy I like the photo as it gives a bit of environmental relation to the bird, if only it's beak was not "touching" the branch.

[elsa hoffmann]

Dankie Fanie
I appreciate the comments. I have been chasing them again the whole day (why I don't know of course)
but haven't managed a single shot today
and the weather is menopausal again - 4 seasons in one day today. At least we are not frying like you lot  

[John Geerts]

All are beautiful Elsa.

I personally adore the first one.

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you John. Much appreciated. They are special. I havent managed to get a single one today - even though they were about the whole day - so I also enjoy the ones I have

[Akira]

Love #1 and 2.  The "backdrop" of #1 is beautiful!

[elsa hoffmann]

Thank you Akira

[Bernard Delley]

congrats ! These cute birds are so hard to picture !  Front bokeh is nice on #3.

[elsid]

Dear Elsa, please stop posting pictures like these. You will make me want to buy the 200-500 and, for the foreseeable future, cannot afford it.

[elsa hoffmann]

Thanks again Bernard
Elsid - besides buying the 200-500 - you will have to come visit me

[David H. Hartman]

David Hartman - a cockatoo is usually such a loving creature. I hope you are carrying it around all over the house wherever you go.

This particular cockatoo is a sweetheart. She gets human back rides and hour long head scratches. She points to her head where she wants a scratch. Once she pointed and said, "scratch, scratch scratch" moving her foot in the same rhythm as her speech.  She has an "aviary" not really big enough for much flying but it's 16x9' (5x3m). Around the edge are eucalyptus sapling trunks as perches. Janni, the birds mother made me brave the Railroad Police and Highway Patrol to cut them down. There is a play tray at one end. Often when I'm bird sitting it's the aviary there. The bird who's name is Jezabelle mostly does her own thing but sometimes comes over and says, "Hi David." Sometimes she is "frisky" and climbs down for dirty pebbles under potted plants. She breaks them up in her beak if she gets one. I have to intervene over and over. I'm trying to teach her to say "Pistachio" but so far it hasn't happened. She is quite good at trimming bottle palms (Beaucarnea Recurvata).  Unfortunately my friend won't let me post photographs of her bird or I'd have several up for viewing.

Best,

Dave