Male Belted Kingfisher Plus A Rare Migrant Northern Waterthrush

Belted Kingfisher in a willow portrait – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Yesterday while I was up in the mountains looking for birds to photograph a male Belted Kingfisher flew in so close to me that my first photos of it were portraits. I was using my Nikon D810 with my Nikkor 500mm VR lens and a 1.4x TC attached in DX (cropped) mode and I couldn’t fit the whole body of the kingfisher into the frame.

Belted Kingfisher perched high in a willow – Nikon D810, f9, 1/1600, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I took a few portraits then switched over to FX mode which allowed me to fit all of the bird into the frame without clipping the tail of the kingfisher. It delighted me that the Belted Kingfisher stuck around on this branch because that gave me great views of him.

Belted Kingfisher male calling from a willow – Nikon D810, f9, 1/1250, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The male Belted Kingfisher got excited when he heard another kingfisher calling off in the distance and he returned the call.

Belted Kingfisher staring at something with intensity – Nikon D810, f9, 1/500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

A few minutes later the kingfisher spotted something and stared at it with intensity. I have no idea what he was staring at but I could hear swallows nearby and they seem to enjoy dive-bombing kingfishers so he may have been keeping an eye on them.

While I photographed the Belted Kingfisher I kept an eye out for other birds in the willows. I spotted and photographed several Yellow Warblers, a female or immature Common Yellowthroat, a couple of young Song Sparrows, and then a bird that amazed me showed up.

Northern Waterthrush in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D810, f9, 1/640, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Below where the male Belted Kingfisher was perched a Northern Waterthrush appeared and as it moved around in the willows I was able to get a few documentary photos of it. I suspected that it was a Northern Waterthrush as soon as I saw it and I knew that they are rare migrants to northern Utah.

After the waterthrush disappeared from my sight and the Belted Kingfisher flew to another tree I took a back of camera photo and opened the Merlin app on my phone and when the app ID’d the bird as a Northern Waterthrush. I also contacted Billy Fenimore and Mark Stackhouse to verify the identification. Both Billy and Mark agreed with my ID and with the app. Billy and Mark are my go to bird people when I am struggling with an ID. I wanted to be sure that the waterthrush wasn’t a Louisiana Waterthrush because they are even more rare in Utah and are on the state’s review list.

I used to see Northern Waterthrushes back east before I became a bird photographer but that has been a long, long time.

If I hadn’t been sitting exactly where I was at the time I was photographing the Belted Kingfisher I would have missed out on seeing this rare Northern Waterthrush. Paying attention, especially beyond the viewfinder, and being patient paid off for me once again.

Life is good.

Mia

My thanks go out to Billy and Mark, I appreciate their help and want to give credit where credit is due.

Click here to see more of my Belted Kingfisher photos plus facts and information about this species.