About the Image(s)

The Belted Kingfisher might be common, but this is only one of two that I've seen and photographed in the past. The first was in Virginia earlier this year and this one happened in September 2025.

The Kingfisher is one of the larger landbirds. It plunge-dives for fish from exposed branches. It occasionally raised its crest. This adult male was very difficult to photograph because it was very skittish. It was singing as it flew around a large body of inland water. Even though I was in single shot mode and hand-held, I was fortunate to be able to capture the Kingfisher just as it left the branch for its plunge-dive into the water. The photographic location was in the Wooded Island, which features several islets, including Turtle Island that was originally created by Frederick Law Olmsted, for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

Exif:
Gear: Canon R6 EOS
Lens: Canon RF 200 800
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/1000
ISO: 200