Practicing Patience; The Belted Kingfisher

This is the entire frame.  I was using my Fujfilm X-H2S with the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens set
at 400mm (~600mm FF) with my pre-programmed C1 Function Dial. (click to enlarge)

This is the story of practicing patience.  As a result, my patience paid off and I was able to capture the image I envisioned.

Recently, during my annual visit to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island on Virginia's Eastern Shore, I looked for a certain Belted Kingfisher that I had seen in years past, but it was absent.  On the second day, I finally saw it perched in a specific tree next to a small canal—the same tree in which I had seen it in previous years.  The relatively small bird was easy to spot as the bare branches of the tree provided no cover for my little friend.  The question became, could I finally make some photos of it this year as each time I even stopped my vehicle in the past, it flew off.

Kingfishers are notoriously skiddish and, in past years, whenever I saw this bird I found it near impossible for me to approach at any reasonable distance to make to capture images of it.  As soon as I got within 50 ft. of it, it flew away.  There is a roadway about 40 ft. across a canal from the tree in which this beautiful little creature likes to perch.  Between the roadway and the canal is about a 20 foot wide swath of grass onto which one can pull one's vehicle, stop and photograph from it.  

Sometimes animals are leery of the human form but not so much of the shape of a vehicle so staying in a vehicle can be an advantage.  This time as I approached there was already one SUV pulled over and I spotted a rather large telephoto lens protruding from the driver's window.  I passed the Kingfisher then pulled onto the grass just to the other side of it.  It didn't fly!  Yeah!  So far, so good.

A closer view of the image above. (click to enlarge)

I already had my Fujifilm X-H2S set for bird photography.  I had the C1 Custom Dial set to shutter priority, 1/1600th sec., 15fps, RAW, Auto WB, Auto ISO with IBIS turned on continuously.  I had the C2 Custom Dial set for the same except I added Fujifilm's Pre-Shot feature which continuously buffers a number of images but only saves the last several (15 in my case) when you fully depress the shutter button.  Also, I had my large U-shaped beanbag that drapes over the car's window sill and I carefully put that in place.  

I set my my X-H2S with the 100-400mm lens racked out to 400mm onto the bean bag and zeroed in on the bird nervously sitting on a branch across the water.  I hadn’t gone unnoticed but it felt secure enough to stay on the branch.  

At first, I just made a series of images of it as a focus check.  At least now I had a decent image of it if nothing else.  Then I set my camera for C2 as I was determined to sit at the ready, with my right index finger half-pressing the shutter, until the bird took flight.  With Fujifilm’s Pre-Shot engaged, I was sure to get an image of the bird taking flight, even if my reflexes were not as good as in decades past.

I waited and waited and waited.  During the wait I saw the bird stretch its wings so I depressed the shutter as I never before witnessed that.  Another interesting capture of this species.  Then I waited and waited, still afraid to take my finger away from the shutter because if I did, I was sure that would be the exact time the bird would decide to fly.

The minutes passed.  More minutes passed.  My right finger and hand, in a relatively awkward position, were now getting very tired.  I could feel stiffness setting in.  But I didn't dare take my eyes off the bird nor finger off the shutter.  I didn’t dare!

I've never witnessed a Kingfisher stretch its wings.
(click to enlarge)

I waited and waited and waited some more.  Finally, after sitting still with my finger half depressing the shutter for 49 minutes, without any warning  the bird instantaneously took flight.  I pressed the shutter!  Did I get it flying away?

I looked at the LCD and yes, I did capture the exact photo I wanted.  It had taken flight and I had one image of it with its wings fully spread.  In fact, at 15fps, the camera only recorded three images of the bird in flight before it was out of the frame.  But...were the images sharp?

I magnified the images on my LCD screen to 10X and yes, they were sharp!  Success!

"The Money Shot!" (click to enlarge)

I felt the effort was well worth it as I was able to plan, execute and create the image I had in my mind.  A few minutes later I saw the photographer in the other SUV pull off and she stopped adjacent to me.  I asked her if she got the photo and sadly, she said no.  She said somehow the focus was off in her lens and she missed it.  I felt badly for her.

Lessons learned:  

1.  Careful planning, the right settings on the right gear and plenty of patience can pay off and bring a smile as well as great satisfaction to you as a photographer.

2.  Fifteen frames per second did not give me a sufficient number of images to capture this very fast bird as it took flight and before it was out of the frame.  In the future, I will raise my C1 and C2 settings for 20fps.

3.  Unlike the other photographer who was also trying to capture this bird taking flight, I continually checked focus throughout the 49 minute wait.  Evidently, she did not.  I recommend regularly checking your focus just in case it has unexpectedly shifted for some reason.

ADDENDUM:  Later that day, I saw the same Belted Kingfisher sitting on a powerline above the road across from the tree.  One more thing I had never before witnessed when it comes to this little gem of a bird.

"Bird on a Wire!"  Very unusual for a Kingfisher?  I don't know. (click to enlarge)

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Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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