Result- the baby kingfishers are out, 3 of them. only 10 days since i last went to take a look and they are already huge, almost equal in size to the adults. Colour is almost completely through. Annoyed i missed their first flights but they are still a little wobbly and not catching food on their own yet. Too old for a family photo sadly.
Juveniles staying high and in the shade for most part leading to difficult photos- still managed some nice shots.
little one busting some shapes pruning was fun to watch.
Nice series of shots miccro
Lots of beautiful photos! Thanks.
Very cute shots of the little ones.
Great shots as usual Miccro.
Saw a couple on the weekend, seemed to be entering and leaving a nesting hollow.
Not sure if they were preparing a nest, couldn't hear any chicks.
Set up about 15m from the tree and covered with camo netting then waited, and waited, and waited
Gave up after an hour but will try to go back at some time to have another look.
They would fly back to settle in surrounding trees but wouldn't come back to the original branches they were perching in when I first saw them, only about five metres from the nest hole.
Hope to learn a bit more about them.
Great shots, Miccro.
It is great to experience the young birds.
The BSK's across the road from my place had 3 young in September and have just had 3 more.
Exciting times.
Shorty......Canon gear
Canberra
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/
I was lucky, the 3 pairs i have photographed all tollerated me. The last pair had nested in a garden near the drive way, the household had dogs and small kids running around. They were the ultimate pair to photograph as really didnt mind humans. I had the camera set up 5 ft from the nest and they weren't troubled at all. One caught me off guard when i was checking the camera and whisteled at me- not in distress but to say 'oi get out of my way, i have a delivery to make'. as soon as i had cleared the flight path to the hole he was off and in...mater of feet from me.
Having photographed shy kingfishers in the past - the first few weeks when they are digging out the nest and on the eggs are the worst time to photograph them, they are less likely to tollerate humans and more likely to abandon the nest. An hour is a long time for them not to show interest in the nest and id exercise caution if you think you are the cause.
Camo is not needed, they will know you are under there, it actually puts them on edge- like a predator hiding. Best way is to sit on the ground with our back up against something in plane sight. Try not to point the lens at them first off, dont show interest in what they are doing or look directly at them. They will establish that you are not a threat laying in wait, if you dont show interest in them they become disinterested in you.
Another option is to use full hides- these are probably the best, but they are more upset about the shutter sound as they dont know where its coming from.
Once they have smallchicks to feed they tollerate humans much better. However, if they are whistling danger calls or look distressed probably best to move on and come back another time. Lots of short visits are much better for their stress level and they will remember you each time and be less and less bothered by you.
currently with the osprey i photograph- i can slowly walk up to within 10ft of them sit down and photograph hapily. They always know where i am, as long as my movements arn't agressive they dont mind. They remember individuals well.
im off to UK for a month for holidays so doubt i will see the sacred KF juveniles again, maybe they will come back next year.
hopefully get a shot of a common kingfisher in the snow, a shot i have been chasing for years.
thanks
mike
Another bird i love here- i was lucky as well, had several visits to a family of young kites in september- just up the road. amazing to see the parents bring in mice and watching mice pass in the air. They juveniles had no fear.
a lot of photos so slow load-
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/black-shoulder-kite-nest-juveniles
septmber- dec is such a great time to photograph wildlife here.
thanks
mike
Thanks for the info Miccro. The birds weren't making any distress calls just wary I think.
Had another look at your Kite photos and their still magic
Will be in WA over Xmas around SW area, might have to pop up to Lake Bibra.
Cheers