Queenfisher

I’ve just spent my birthday sitting in a small wooden shed. Last year we were here looking at Red Squirrels in the forest. This year we’re looking the other way, across the lake at Lago di Alviano, and it’s Kingfishers which are drawing my attention.

There’s a female on the branch of an overhanging tree here. I can’t get a photograph of it because it’s too high and against the light. It dives, catches a silver fish and is gone.

An hour later and she’s back. I try getting a photograph. It’s out of focus. Repeat that sentence for an entire day.

It’s day two of sitting here when I finally get an action shot:

Kingfisher - Lago di Alviano - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

That’s quite a splash for a small bird.

Kingfisher - Lago di Alviano - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

As she rises from the water she looks like an Olympic swimmer doing breaststroke. What an amazing evolutionary adaptation.

Kingfisher - Lago di Alviano - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I love how she’s grasping the small silver fish tightly across the middle. That’s accuracy for you.

Kingfisher - Lago di Alviano - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

She sinks down in the water slightly before escaping from the tumult and flying to a perch to eat.

Nothing supernatural can ever be as magical as the natural world if you take the time to appreciate it. What’s your favourite nature experience?

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