Birds and Photography

The Elusive Belted Kingfisher

A pair of belted kingfisher has outfoxed me for months. But today I captured an acceptable photo of one of the birds.

My first sight of a pair of belted kingfishers last winter in Essex Park delighted me. The unique birds darted over the little creek that meanders through the park. They emitted a loud and continuous strident rattling sound as they flew.

Essex Park, two miles from my house in Rochester, Minnesota, is the home of the kingfisher pair. They live in a burrow high up in the bank of the creek.

I have visited Essex Park a dozen or more times in the past several months to pursue photos of the kingfishers and other birds. I often hear or glimpse them near their burrow as they flit among the trees.

But they kingfishers have outfoxed me. They have evaded the camera lens with speed.

Today I pedaled my bike across town to Quarry Hill Nature Center, another favorite place to hike and photograph birds. With camera in hand, I walked to the center’s pond. Several pairs of Canada geese and a pair of blue-winged teal ducks glided across the calm water.

A painted turtle warmed itself on a rock. A pair of Canada geese guarded their goslings as they grazed on fresh grass.

Then I heard a kingfisher. It emitted unmistakable sounds. The bird flew back and forth across the tree line on the opposite shore, 100 feet away. Its mate flew past, too.

One of the birds landed in a tree. But branches obscured the view. I focused the camera and pressed the shutter release. Then, the flew across the tree line and landed on a branch in the open. I raised the camera, focused, and took the picture. The picture was a keeper.

The kingfishers flew away as I continued on my hike. I did not see them again, even after I returned to the pond an hour later.

Belted kingfishers are striking in appearance. They have stocky bodies, a short tail and legs, a scruffy crest, a large head, and a thick bill. About the size of an American robin, adults range from 11 to 14 inches in length.

The sexual dimporhism of belted kingfishers is the reverse of many birds. Usually, the male members of dimorphic birds species are more colorful than the females. But female belted kingfishers feature an extra rust-colored belt across their breasts.

The photo that I captured of the belted kingfisher is acceptable. I can achieve better, but will need to be patient and persistent. Now that I have seen the birds at Quarry Hill, I will return their soon.

About the Author

Randy Runtsch publishes Wildlife Trekker magazine. He is a writer, photographer, data analyst, and programmer. He writes for Wildlife Trekker, Towards Data Science, The Shadow, and other publications.

Randy and his wife live in Southeastern Minnesota in the U.S.A.