Tobias Hayashi Photography
Azure Kingfisher, South Durras Creek, 3.12.09
Hi all,
Back from a trip to the south coast of NSW. The trip was primarily spent chilling with mates after finishing school (Year 12), but of course there was some opportunity to do birding.
This photo (one of many) was defintely the main highlight from the trip. On the second last morning I had gone for an early morning walk which quickly payed off with a brief sighting of an Azure Kingfisher zooming along Durras Creek. I soon realised that it had a nest, located underneath a nice clump of shady trees overhanging the river bank. I set about trying to get some shots from the opposite side of the river, but no luck.
Later on, after some surfing and swimming, I returned to the site. I had realised that the kingfishers liked to use one particular branch: near the river bank, about 10 meters from the nest. I crawled through the numerous ferns and lomandras on the nest side of the river, and eventually positioned myself with the camera pointing at the branch.
I had to make sure I was well camoflaged so that the kingfishers wouldn't notice me. I ended up lying through/under several ferns and clumps of lomandra, and peering through some sticks and yet more lomandra. Anyhow, it worked, because not 2 minutes after I had lied down an Azure Kingfisher turned up at this branch and proceeded to preen itself less than 2 meters away from me. Amazing.
Over the course of the next two hours spent lying flat on my belly in the grasses, the kingfishers visited the branch four times, and on one occasion two birds were visible. They were evidently quite unaware of my presence, which was a great bonus.
They are really beautiful little birds, and quite uncommon in southern NSW. I also saw one extremely briefly shooting along the side of Durras Lake whilst doing a spot of canoeing.
Azure Kingfisher, South Durras Creek, 3.12.09
Hi all,
Back from a trip to the south coast of NSW. The trip was primarily spent chilling with mates after finishing school (Year 12), but of course there was some opportunity to do birding.
This photo (one of many) was defintely the main highlight from the trip. On the second last morning I had gone for an early morning walk which quickly payed off with a brief sighting of an Azure Kingfisher zooming along Durras Creek. I soon realised that it had a nest, located underneath a nice clump of shady trees overhanging the river bank. I set about trying to get some shots from the opposite side of the river, but no luck.
Later on, after some surfing and swimming, I returned to the site. I had realised that the kingfishers liked to use one particular branch: near the river bank, about 10 meters from the nest. I crawled through the numerous ferns and lomandras on the nest side of the river, and eventually positioned myself with the camera pointing at the branch.
I had to make sure I was well camoflaged so that the kingfishers wouldn't notice me. I ended up lying through/under several ferns and clumps of lomandra, and peering through some sticks and yet more lomandra. Anyhow, it worked, because not 2 minutes after I had lied down an Azure Kingfisher turned up at this branch and proceeded to preen itself less than 2 meters away from me. Amazing.
Over the course of the next two hours spent lying flat on my belly in the grasses, the kingfishers visited the branch four times, and on one occasion two birds were visible. They were evidently quite unaware of my presence, which was a great bonus.
They are really beautiful little birds, and quite uncommon in southern NSW. I also saw one extremely briefly shooting along the side of Durras Lake whilst doing a spot of canoeing.