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100th Post - Kingfisher Chick


100th Post - Kingfisher Chick
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3749 W: 483 N: 8155] (28054)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-02-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 10D, Tamron 28-300XR, Hoya UV 62mm
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Kingfishers, Baby Animals 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-02-08 3:43
Viewed: 8406
Points: 33
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kingfisher (Halycon sancta vagans, Kotare)

The New Zealand Kingfisher, also known as the Sacred Kingfisher, is the only species of kingfisher native to New Zealand. The Kookaburra, another of the 86 species of kingfishers worldwide, is the only other bird of the kingfisher family found in New Zealand, although rather scarce.

The kingfisher is a brightly coloured bird, deep green-blue on the head and upperparts. Pale yellowish buff underparts and a creamy white collar around the neck. Long, dark, broad bill and black eye with a yellowish buff eyebrow that starts at the bill and finishes above and beyond the eye.

The dagger-like bill is used in the breeding season to excavate a tunnel in an earth bank by repeatedly flying at the bank at full speed, neck outstretched and uttering a peculiar whirring call. Once the tunnel has started and the hole is big enough to perch in, the kingfisher then continues to excavate the tunnel by pecking and scooping out the loosen earth. The tunnel is sloped slightly upwards and ends with a chamber for the nest.

Despite their name, kingfishers do not necessarily eat fish. They tend to populate coastal areas but some are entirely terrestrial. Those around the coastal waters eat small crabs and fish, in fresh water they'll eat tadpoles, freshwater crayfish and other small fish. In the open country they eat earthworms, cicadas, weta, stick insects, dragonflies, chafer beetles, other beetles, spiders, lizards, mice and small birds (especially silvereyes). The Tiritiri Matangi kingfishers have been observed feeding on skinks.

Conservation Status: Protected Native
Mainland Status: Common throughout NZ
Size: 24cm, 65g
Life Span: Not known
Breeding: October - January
Diet: Invertebrates, mice, small birds

The above obtained from http://www.123.co.nz/

Image Information

Camera: Canon 10D
Time of day: 19:30 p.m.
Date: 8th February 2005
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Tamron 28 - 300mm XR
Filter: Hoya 62mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/10
F-Stop: F/5.6
Flash: No
Tripod: No
Focal Length: 55mm
ISO: 100
Janice, red45, LordPotty, ellis49, marhowie, PDP, willie, liquidsunshine, pompey, milloup, Luc, gerhardt, Robbrown, Callie, TAZ, suleesia has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To gerhardt: Sharpeningcoasties 2 02-09 03:54
To Luc: Critiquecoasties 1 02-08 23:22
To marhowie: Thanxcoasties 1 02-08 11:44
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3277 W: 148 N: 6163] (18832)
  • [2005-02-08 4:25]

Congrats Pam. Well done on making the 100th. And you've posted a good one for it too. Great notes - I knew nothing about the Kingfisher, except that is was a beautiful bird and we don't see enough of them around here. Lovely colours. TFS.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 5 N: 2240] (12636)
  • [2005-02-08 4:33]

Belle oiseau , beau regard et superbe couleurs. Félicitation et bonne journée.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-02-08 6:06]

Congrats and welcome in 100 club Pam :-)

Excellent bird and note. I like pose and composition. Great eye!

Now,isn't that cute?
A lovely Kingfisher pic Pam.I don't know how you got so close.They usually take of as soon as you get near.
Well done on reaching 100 posts.I'm not far behind you.

Very nice shot Pam.
Good pose, compositon and colours.
Well done.

Congrats for your 100th post.

Pam, Congratulations on your 100th post. I've enjoyed your posts.. Good details, composition & colors in this hard to capture little guy! Excellent notes, Thanx!!

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-02-08 11:52]

Hi Pam congratualtions on your 100th post. It's a nice shot, maybe a little soft in focus but 10/10 for capturing a kingfisher chick - I don't think I've ever seen one. Well done.

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2005-02-08 12:26]

Congrats on the 100th post Pam. You really got a great shot to mark the occasion. Great job

Congratulations on your 100th Post Pam, and this is a great one.
Fantastic composition and superb detail and pose.
Wonderful shot, well done Pam.
looking forward to the next 100.
Thanks for posting

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 4 N: 746] (2774)
  • [2005-02-08 17:43]

Lovely shot Pam, a real cutie. I love kingfishers and this one is no exception.
Great colours, good feather definition, good clarity and lovely background.
Good note also, thanks for sharing.

Kingfishers are skittish, so well done just getting one to sit still long enough to have its picture taken ;-))
Cute pose and good details, but the photo overall looks soft. A dose of sharpen should take care of most of that, I reckon.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1835 W: 301 N: 4287] (14767)
  • [2005-02-08 22:43]
  • [+]

Critique:
Personal assessment of the photo: a very good one.
Great visual impact.
Aptness of the photo for the site: excelent.
Personal assessment of the note: a complete one
Comment:
Pam, I test at present a new and personal way of writing my critics and you are among the first ones to whom I send it.
Any comment will largely be appreciated.

Congratulations on your 100th post.
I think this photo can be digitally improved to add a little more sharpness.
Well seen and well done.
Thanks

WOW! Pam, what a incredible opportunity. I have yet to get a Kingfisher better yet a chick.

Congratulations on reaching this mark. You have made a valuable contribution to the site. Your country is at the top of my places to visit list.

Most digital captures are soft and needs sharpening. You should try it on all photos before posting. I did some sharpening in Photoshop to show the difference.

An image worthy of being your 10th Pam, a real little cutey.
He is very well seen in the the image for placement and colour, and as you have already recogonised a bit on the soft side, worth a repost when you have done your course and done some work your self on it.

  • Great 
  • Callie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1101 W: 95 N: 2610] (7555)
  • [2005-02-15 12:06]

Hi Pam
I saw this one previously, but just could not Reach" it. I love k'fishers, and yours are great, the baby here is cute and cuddley. No nits, beautiful

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-04-18 7:26]

Belle et intéressante composition photographique pour ce petit oiseau. J'aime bien son regard. Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté.
Well Done !

one of the cutest King I've ever seen! nice colour and feather details.

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