Faces of black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata)

skfoo · 28th February 2005

Kingfishers have always been one of those subjects that never fail to excite me. Maybe it’s their colour, their pointed bills, the eyes that are somewhat big for their built, the way they hunt (plunging into the water and swallowing the fish and all that) or maybe its the challenges involved in capturing some nice images of them.

As I progress on from where I started in the later half of 2003, I soon realized that common kingfishers are not so common afterall. On the contrary, collared kingfishers are found in almost every corner of Singapore. One of the stars of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (where I was introduced to the magical world of nature) has to be the stork-billed kingfisher. Visitors are hooked once they see it plunging into the sea (near the main bridge area) for food. During the previous migratory season (somewhere from Sept 2003 to Mar 2004), I saw this fella (black-capped kingfisher) hovering above the water and diving. The encounter was brief as some noisy visitors interrupted the scene.

My special thanks to Madcat II of CS for have it not been for him, I would not be able to share this set of images in this Forum. This is the first time (for me at least) that we were able be capture images of black-capped kingfisher at such close range (from a car) in Singapore.

I have tried to improve over these shots (including using a hide) but have not been successful. The shooting sessions were either disrupted by human activities around that area or by other photographers in the vicinity. I would not mention names here but in my opinion, photographers should learn to assess the situations and show considerations to fellow photographers who were there before them.

That day, I was in a hide waiting for the kingfisher to land on its favorite perch. I spotted the kingfisher a short distance behind me on some metal railing. When the kingfisher is comfortable with my presence, I believe it will land on its favorite perch where I have targeted my lens. Then came a car with photographers inside. Not sure if they were trying to get some shots of the kingfisher on the metal railing but it was obvious that the kingfisher flew away. Then they stopped just a few steps away behind my hide with the roaring engine on for a period of time. (Now, how could we expect the kingfisher to land when there is so much noise and activities going on?) They only left when I step out of the hide…..to realize that it was two friends of mine….Friends, I am not angry with you but just using this as an example to share with fellow photographers that “photographers should learn to assess the situations and show considerations”…….or else it will only be a fruitless trip for all of us with zero images captured. Good shots do not come from such situations. They will only exist when the subject is comfortable with our presence….

skfoo · 28th February 2005

Anyway, hope the above does not bore fellow viewers. Introducing the black-capped kingfisher……

Happy shooting and good health to all.

Cheers!

calvinlo · 28th February 2005

I'm at a loss of word to descibe these shot

Wow!!!

Madcat II · 28th February 2005

greatly captured SK...

... nice to go shooting wif u

Ha ha, I accidently deleted all my pics

joeyao · 28th February 2005

As always, vintage skfoo

Harlequin · 28th February 2005

So you met my friend for kopi session finally. Good shots there despite the disturbances.

If i do have such disturbances, i'll definately tell them off.

Good shots there. Lets go get more of them next week.

On ?

ParkertR · 28th February 2005

very well taken shots! amazing! when i get back home... can i go shoot with u too? hehehe enough space in the caR? :P

wkcheah76 · 28th February 2005

Classic man.... Hey! Will anyone on the forum loan/sell me the tent hide mich mentioned. Or does PE still have existing ones? I want to capture my BCKF better. I got mine eating crabs and near choking... got his landing and acrobats.. but just too inaccessible for humans w/o detection.

Once again. SK you have great stuff...

Madcat II · 28th February 2005

Harlo, next week raptor watch lah, we all going rite?

Originally Posted by Harlequin

Good shots there. Lets go get more of them next week.

On ?

ccplim · 28th February 2005

Originally Posted by Madcat II

Harlo, next week raptor watch lah, we all going rite?

Raptor watch is this week lah

Avatar · 28th February 2005

Excellent work there SK, well exposed and beautifully composed. This cute little one is really cooperative when I visited, guess we have a real poser here

skfoo · 28th February 2005

Dear all,

Thanks for the comments.

Originally Posted by Madcat II

Ha ha, I accidently deleted all my pics

Like that also can huh?

Originally Posted by Harlequin

Good shots there. Lets go get more of them next week.

On ?

On as always!

When you are backed, let's combine images to form a black kite taking off sequence. On?

skfoo · 28th February 2005

Originally Posted by ccplim

Raptor watch is this week lah

I guess that's a trick question.

ccplim · 28th February 2005

Originally Posted by skfoo

I have tried to improve over these shots (including using a hide) but have not been successful. The shooting sessions were either disrupted by human activities around that area or by other photographers in the vicinity. I would not mention names here but in my opinion, photographers should learn to assess the situations and show considerations to fellow photographers who were there before them.

I have similar encounter as you and I know how you feel. Have been waiting for this little fella for so long and it got "chase" away easily by the presence of other human activities

Garion · 1st March 2005

Stunning shots, SK!! Well done!!!

Newguy69 · 1st March 2005

Thanks for sharing those wonderful shots SK

Cheers

LeeDan · 1st March 2005

Thanks for sharing the shots, Wow

Your patience with both men and bird really paid off.. as can be seen...

May I know how long it takes for you to photo these sequence! Amazing!

MatthewSL · 1st March 2005

e second last pix is cool stuff! gd work as usual!

chngpe01 · 1st March 2005

Good work

gooseberry · 1st March 2005

Wow, nice ones. Like that third pic - really good to see the nice blue feathers. Thanks for posting.

28th February 2005	#1
skfoo Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,187	Faces of Black-capped Kingfisher (Halcyon pileata) Kingfishers have always been one of those subjects that never fail to excite me. Maybe it’s their colour, their pointed bills, the eyes that are somewhat big for their built, the way they hunt (plunging into the water and swallowing the fish and all that) or maybe its the challenges involved in capturing some nice images of them. As I progress on from where I started in the later half of 2003, I soon realized that common kingfishers are not so common afterall. On the contrary, collared kingfishers are found in almost every corner of Singapore. One of the stars of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (where I was introduced to the magical world of nature) has to be the stork-billed kingfisher. Visitors are hooked once they see it plunging into the sea (near the main bridge area) for food. During the previous migratory season (somewhere from Sept 2003 to Mar 2004), I saw this fella (black-capped kingfisher) hovering above the water and diving. The encounter was brief as some noisy visitors interrupted the scene. My special thanks to Madcat II of CS for have it not been for him, I would not be able to share this set of images in this Forum. This is the first time (for me at least) that we were able be capture images of black-capped kingfisher at such close range (from a car) in Singapore. I have tried to improve over these shots (including using a hide) but have not been successful. The shooting sessions were either disrupted by human activities around that area or by other photographers in the vicinity. I would not mention names here but in my opinion, photographers should learn to assess the situations and show considerations to fellow photographers who were there before them. That day, I was in a hide waiting for the kingfisher to land on its favorite perch. I spotted the kingfisher a short distance behind me on some metal railing. When the kingfisher is comfortable with my presence, I believe it will land on its favorite perch where I have targeted my lens. Then came a car with photographers inside. Not sure if they were trying to get some shots of the kingfisher on the metal railing but it was obvious that the kingfisher flew away. Then they stopped just a few steps away behind my hide with the roaring engine on for a period of time. (Now, how could we expect the kingfisher to land when there is so much noise and activities going on?) They only left when I step out of the hide…..to realize that it was two friends of mine….Friends, I am not angry with you but just using this as an example to share with fellow photographers that “photographers should learn to assess the situations and show considerations”…….or else it will only be a fruitless trip for all of us with zero images captured. Good shots do not come from such situations. They will only exist when the subject is comfortable with our presence…. Last edited by skfoo; 28th February 2005 at 01:26 PM.

28th February 2005	#2
skfoo Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,187	Anyway, hope the above does not bore fellow viewers. Introducing the black-capped kingfisher…… Happy shooting and good health to all. Cheers! Last edited by skfoo; 28th February 2005 at 01:09 PM.

28th February 2005	#7
ParkertR Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Singapore/Thailand Posts: 5,804	very well taken shots! amazing! when i get back home... can i go shoot with u too? hehehe enough space in the caR? :P __________________ Budget wedding photographer :)

28th February 2005	#8
wkcheah76 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Tanah Merah, Singapore Posts: 2,467	Classic man.... Hey! Will anyone on the forum loan/sell me the tent hide mich mentioned. Or does PE still have existing ones? I want to capture my BCKF better. I got mine eating crabs and near choking... got his landing and acrobats.. but just too inaccessible for humans w/o detection. Once again. SK you have great stuff... __________________ "A closet Nykon lover"

1st March 2005	#15
Garion Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: West side of S'pore Posts: 5,516	Stunning shots, SK!! Well done!!! __________________ [ deviantart selections \| Photoblog ]

28th February 2005	#3
calvinlo Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Yishun Posts: 320	I'm at a loss of word to descibe these shot Wow!!!

28th February 2005	#4
Madcat II Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: this world is not my home Posts: 826	greatly captured SK... ... nice to go shooting wif u Ha ha, I accidently deleted all my pics

28th February 2005	#5
joeyao Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 755	As always, vintage skfoo

28th February 2005	#6
Harlequin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: East of Singapore Posts: 1,651	So you met my friend for kopi session finally. Good shots there despite the disturbances. If i do have such disturbances, i'll definately tell them off. Good shots there. Lets go get more of them next week. On ?

28th February 2005	#11
Avatar Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore / Taiwan Posts: 1,244	Excellent work there SK, well exposed and beautifully composed. This cute little one is really cooperative when I visited, guess we have a real poser here

1st March 2005	#16
Newguy69 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Third rock from the Sun Posts: 1,773	Thanks for sharing those wonderful shots SK Cheers __________________ The place where I can spread my wings, and soar the sky at dawn - I belong

1st March 2005	#17
LeeDan Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: White Sands, Singapore Posts: 148	Thanks for sharing the shots, Wow Your patience with both men and bird really paid off.. as can be seen... May I know how long it takes for you to photo these sequence! Amazing!

1st March 2005	#18
MatthewSL Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Melbourne Posts: 156	e second last pix is cool stuff! gd work as usual!

1st March 2005	#19
chngpe01 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 7,490	Good work __________________ my work I am featured here, in Vol 4

1st March 2005	#20
gooseberry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Central West Posts: 1,913	Wow, nice ones. Like that third pic - really good to see the nice blue feathers. Thanks for posting.