Stalking a Kingfisher

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Stalking a Kingfisher

January 22, 2013 by Mike Powell

I spent several hours on Sunday and Monday stalking a female Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon). Does that make me a bad person?

I first encountered this beautiful bird a couple of weeks ago and was immediately smitten. Like a paparazzi photographer, I started snapping photos frantically when I saw her. I included some of those photos in a previous posting that I creatively entitled “Belted Kingfisher.”

Now I have started to hang out what I think are some of her favorite places, hoping desperately to catch a glimpse of her. She is still quite standoffish and won’t let me get close, but perhaps she will get used to having me around. Maybe she has commitment issues.

Here are a few shots from my recent encounters, including two in which I captured her as she was flying away.

For now, it is a classic case of unrequited love.

Posted in Birds, Humor, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Alexandria VA, Belted Kingfisher, Canon 55-250mm zoom lens, Canon Rebel XT, kingfisher, Lake Cook, Megaceryle alcyon | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on January 22, 2013 at 6:36 am | Reply New Hampshire Gardener

If stalking a bird makes you a bad person there are millions of you out there.
- on January 22, 2013 at 7:00 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Of course, I am just having fun. Thanks for all your supportive comments. We nature photographers may be viewed as a bit odd by outsiders, who probably view birders as really odd.
on January 22, 2013 at 9:14 am | Reply Sue

Nice work, Mike. I particularly like the shots of the bird in flight. I spent a couple of hours tracking (stalking) a kingfisher myself the other day, and never even saw the bird (got distracted by a possum). I feel exactly the same way you do — but why do you think we are so drawn to this perky little fisher-bird?
on January 22, 2013 at 10:55 am | Reply Vicki

I think that bird stalking is a good thing.. I also like the shots of the bird in flight, very hard to get a clear shot as they fly so fast.
on January 22, 2013 at 1:18 pm | Reply lylekrahn

I think it’s pretty clear both you and the bird have issues that need to be dealt with. Perhaps you should arrange a meeting to discuss it.
on January 22, 2013 at 5:27 pm | Reply naturesnippets

You should be friends before too long.
on February 6, 2013 at 7:25 am | Reply Indian Homemaker

Lovely pics!!! That makes me a stalker too 😀
- on February 6, 2013 at 7:37 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. When it comes to birds, I guess it’s ok to be a stalker.
on February 9, 2013 at 5:32 am | Reply Stalking another Belted Kingfisher « Mike Powell

[…] previous post chronicled my quest for an elusive female Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) at a little […]
on February 14, 2013 at 6:10 am | Reply Return to the female Kingfisher « Mike Powell

[…] I posted photos of the male kingfisher and female kingfisher as I continue in my quest to get some really good photos of these amazing birds. If you compare the […]