Capturing a kingfisher's dive

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Here are some shots of a kingfisher diving. These are the hardest photos to take, as you never know exactly where the kingfisher will dive into the water.

Of 100 shots, perhaps only a few will be successful. Or you will be half a metre off, or the bird will be underwater. So if you want to take a successful photo, you will be at it for a while. It remains challenging.

Settings for a fast shutter speed to get a sharp photo are 1/5000 or 1/6000, ISO1600 or 2500, f/4 with my 600mm lens. The photos are taken from about 8 metres away, with the camera on a tripod. Choose a spot where you expect the bird to dive. And you need a good dose of luck as well.

When hunting for a fish, the kingfisher flies straight at its target with precision. If it has enough speed, it can dive as deep as a metre, but usually it is only a few decimetres.

To protect its eyes from the water, the kingfisher uses its nictitating membrane. The nictitating membrane also closes when the bird preens itself, to prevent its sharp claws from damaging its eyes.

Immediately after catching the fish, the kingfisher leaves the water and flies to its perch, where it kills the fish by striking it against the branch it is sitting on.

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