Kingfisher Behaviour

Longimanus

Longimanus

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,218
Name
Lee
Edit My Images
Yes
I just wanted a bit of info from all the people that get pictures of the kingfisher.

I have a lake that I currently fish with a number of kingfishers, I quite often see them perched on branches and hear the 'plop' as they dive.

My question is do they normally use the same perches to do their thing?

At the weekend one was about 6-8m from me and I am tempted to try and setup and get some shots

Any help appreciated
 
Errm! I may be wrong, but maybe this would get more response in a talk photography forum?

I will rtm and leave it to a mod/admin dude to decide.
 
yeh they often use the same branches to dive from - look out for white poo on them, tell tale sign that it's a frequently used perch
 
Drew, many thanks for this, I will keep my eye out.

With regards to staking out do you just put up some sort of camo netting and then be as quiet as possible?

Any other tips would be great
 
I'm sure someone will come in with the full facts, but I believe they're a protected species and you need a license to actively photograph them.
 
Durbs said:
I'm sure someone will come in with the full facts, but I believe they're a protected species and you need a license to actively photograph them.
Click to expand...

only near the nest, rtfm :bonk:
 
Wha? a licence? to photograph wild birds out in the open? I think not. I don't think anything is illegal to photograph in public tbh.

if you have a long lens, 200mm+ , maybe set up your tripod and cam/lens aimed at the branches you see them frequent. Or areas of the lake they fish on. I imagine they're hard to get close to.
 
Cagey75 said:
Wha? a licence? to photograph wild birds out in the open? I think not.
Click to expand...

You think wrong.

There several birds that it is illegal to disturb when they are at, or near, the nest. Photography is classified as disturbing and the Kingfisher is one of the species covered.
 
Interesting, I suppose how do you know where the nest is? and does fishing count?

I will be fishing first, photographing whilst waiting for a run (seems to be ages at the moment)

Its all on a private lake so I think it will be fine
 
Keith thanks for this, I have seen them on a few branches, as said the one the other day was only 6 to 8 metres away and it only flew off once I got up to investigate what the noise was

I think I may setup the camera focused on that branch and see how I go

Many thanks for the info
 
It is illegal to disturb schedule 1 birds and photographing them on or near their nest constitutes this unless you are experienced and have a licence from English Nature.
See:-
http://www.wildlifeupclose.co.uk/codeofconduct.html

General photography while they are fishing is fine and if you set up a new perch they will often try it out.
 
Cagey75 said:
Wha? a licence? to photograph wild birds out in the open? I think not. I don't think anything is illegal to photograph in public tbh.

if you have a long lens, 200mm+ , maybe set up your tripod and cam/lens aimed at the branches you see them frequent. Or areas of the lake they fish on. I imagine they're hard to get close to.
Click to expand...

As has been pointed out... there are many birds you need to a license to photograph at the nest. For some this extends to their breeding ground.
 
On matters regarding photographing kingfishers ,it is not illegal to photograph kingfishers ,but it is illegal to intentional or recklessly disturb the nest site...plenty of information out there on the subject.
 
This Schedule 1 guff gets thrown out whenever kingfishers get brought up. The legalities of schedule 1 apply to anyone and everyone. It is not aimed specifically at photographers but at anyone whose actions disturb and/or impact on the birds at or near the nest site. There is a long list of schedule 1 species and there are two parts to the schedule also.

If you “intentionally or recklessly” disturb a bird listed in Schedule 1 whilst trying to photograph it “in, on, at or near” the nest or whilst it has dependent young, and without the necessary Licence from Natural England etc, you MAY be committing a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £5,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 6 months.
 
I'm just new to the forum and I had no idea about this at all !

Wow ! Something else I've learnt !
 
Dear me, we have a local lake where the Local Wildlife Conservation have built hides which are used daily to photograph kingfishers. People travel for miles to view. I have even taken some pics however not very good. I intend to clarify with the local warden and Conservation Trust. last year there was an osprey who decided to stop off and I am told photographers from all over UK visited and took pics.

Just my thoughts

Chris
 
WillNicholls said:
As has been pointed out... there are many birds you need to a license to photograph at the nest.
Click to expand...

No you don't.

You need a license to disturb a Schedule 1 bird at, or near, the nest.

Or do you really believe that the hundreds of people who photograph the nesting Kingfishers from the 'Kingfisher' hide at RSPB Rye Meads, as the birds fly ina an out of the custom-built bank, are breaking the law?

Or the hundreds of people who photograph the Peregrine Falcons at Symonds Yat, and other locations?

Yes, most of the time photographing a bird at or near the nest will disturb it. But not always.
 
hollis_f said:
No you don't.

You need a license to disturb a Schedule 1 bird at, or near, the nest.

Or do you really believe that the hundreds of people who photograph the nesting Kingfishers from the 'Kingfisher' hide at RSPB Rye Meads, as the birds fly ina an out of the custom-built bank, are breaking the law?

Or the hundreds of people who photograph the Peregrine Falcons at Symonds Yat, and other locations?

Yes, most of the time photographing a bird at or near the nest will disturb it. But not always.
Click to expand...

Thank you I know that. But I thought maybe one less post on a widely read forum about a loophole would be worth it for the sake of maybe a few nests.

Even so, you will have a hard time convincing anyone you didn't disturb if you photograph on a relatively short focal length.

Many will think oh look, now I know it is a license only to disturb I will just be extra quiet and do it anyway. Not realising that their presence alone can cause problems.
 
Last edited:
Photographing a kingfisher fishing will lead you into no trouble what so ever, whether it be on public or private land. Your best bet is just keep quiet and still (I think most worm-drowners do anyway?), a hide will of course give you a better opportunity to get closer. Try putting up another perch,over the waters edge,at your eye level and see what happens. With luck you will be rewarded and you will probably get a lot of enjoyment just watching them.
 
mex said:
Photographing a kingfisher fishing will lead you into no trouble what so ever, whether it be on public or private land. Your best bet is just keep quiet and still (I think most worm-drowners do anyway?), a hide will of course give you a better opportunity to get closer. Try putting up another perch,over the waters edge,at your eye level and see what happens. With luck you will be rewarded and you will probably get a lot of enjoyment just watching them.
Click to expand...

it's not just a case of being quiet though. A large hide suddenly appearing looming over the nest could easily spook a bird if used incorrectly. Eg leaving or entering in the birds' view.
 
where do I mention nest?
 
Last edited:
Just to give an update

I have been watching the birds as and when I am fishing and noticed that they use many perches around the lake, and when one is near me any sort of movement and they are off, let alone getting the camera ready :-)

I was woken by one the other morning right next to me though, almost dancing on its perch, its great to actually be in their company, watching them do their day to day duties, one day I may get the chance to get a photo.
 
Longimanus said:
Just to give an update

I have been watching the birds as and when I am fishing and noticed that they use many perches around the lake, and when one is near me any sort of movement and they are off, let alone getting the camera ready :-)

I was woken by one the other morning right next to me though, almost dancing on its perch, its great to actually be in their company, watching them do their day to day duties, one day I may get the chance to get a photo.
Click to expand...

Have you thought about using a pop-up hide? You can then set up a temporary perch and wait to see if the kingfisher arrives on it whilst hidden in a hide. I've known a lot of success that way. There is also nothing wrong or illegal with doing that.
 
I had intended on trying to photograph them whilst I am fishing, so I will already have my bivvy that I can hide in, I think its a case of seeing where they stop and then hoping I can fish near by, kill 2 birds with one stone as they say.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top