Atherton & District Amateur Photographic Society

So wish I could have made this trip. Its been on my list for ages! ....and I have never seen a kingfisher!! Probably because I was looking for a big bird!! Some nice images appearing on FB page.

Janice

Janice Freeman wrote: I was looking for a big bird!!

here is my photograph of the Kingfisher

Well, bit last minute, but I managed to go to Martin Mere with a friend yesterday. We went straight to the Ron Barker hide with no expectations whatsoever in seeing a Kingfisher but after only being there for 20 minutes my friend spotted it!

Then the big problem. Even on a crop body with a 500mm lens I only managed to get it as a tiny spec in frame.

So, what you see here, as well as it only being a boring shot, is so cropped down that it's only 2.7mp! I won't be entering it in any comp, but it shows how good my Nikon 200-500 VR is!

End of the day - what a thrill to finally see one!! Bitten by the bug now and wanna see more!

Big thanks to Martyn for the info on where to go.

P.S. got the chance to tell someone that they'd missed it by 10 minutes!!

Andy.

Good effort Alasdair. But cropping too much can affect the quality.

Nice one Andy. Maybe a bit too much wooden post? I'd be tempted to crop some off the bottom.

Definitely should crop it more Paul, I agree there's too much post etc, but I've already cropped 22 mega pixels away!

It's not a shot I'm proud of aesthetically, artistically or whatever, it's just a 'nice to have seen it' type shot. The fact that the quality isn't completely trash is just a bonus.

Really want to get a comp worthy shot one day thought. It definitely won't be taken at Martin Mere though. Even if you had a 600mm with a 2x TC it would be too far away.

Andy.

Hi All.
Some nice images there.
If you want to see Kingfishers I was talking to Phil Barber from Wigan 10 this morning. He says there are loads at Pennington Flash. He showed me a photo of a young one that he'd taken only a few days ago.

Regards,

Phil.

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the info! Where abouts at Penny flash did he say? Was it one of the hides?

Andy.

Hi Andy
really glad you managed to get to see the kingfisher and get a photo too, looks like the hunt is on now for more. i have seen them at moses gate country park but only as a flash of blue as they fly away but have heard they can be seen on the river near the foot bridge so will be checking it out.

Martyn

Hi Andy.
Yes it was one of the hides, but don't ask me which one!

Regards,

Phil.

Finally got a half decent Kingfisher today:

https://www.ephotozine.com/user/bydor9- ... h-48563871

Was out from 6am to 4pm - pretty knackered right now...

Andy

I saw that, very impressive!

Thanks John!

Not the shot I hoped for be honest - most of the day I was focussed on a post in the water. Then I turned round only to see it sat right behind me! As I wasn't prepared for the darker scene, I had to spray and prey, so unfortunately it ended up about 2 stops underexposed! Rescued it quite well luckily.

LOL only just seen this Paul - Wicked man!!