This is an Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azurea) which we got wonderful views of within a few minutes of starting an evening cruise on Yellow Waters in Kakadu National Park. The views we got of this bird were the best that I have had of this species, despite it being found all the way down the east coast of Australia.
The bird is between 17 and 19cm long and really is a spectacular bird to see. (Some of the pictures are a bit 'soft' due to me not having my act together at the time - rule number 1; always check the settings!!)
Now its over to you - click the blue button to join on with Wild Bird Wednesday.
Now that really is azure!!! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeletea gorgeous bird and great shots.
ReplyDeleteSoft? Well, you don´t always have the time to check settings. If you do the bird is gone when you are one :)
What a beauty! The beaks on kingfishers cannot be beat.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning bird! Wow!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the Azure you were very lucky that the bird stayed still that long.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird!!! You forget to check your settings too? Kindred spirits!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful colour blue, it is gorgeous. Have a great week, Cheers Diane
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely shade of blue. Couldn't tell how big it was though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a colorful bird! I love it! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Quite uncommon down here in Tassie where I've only seen it once. Used to see them up in N.S.W but did not have a decent camera at the time.
ReplyDeletegorgeous color!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty bird..Nice shots!! No birdies to share again this week..maybe next week??
ReplyDeleteStunning Kingfisher :-)
ReplyDeleteThis Kingfisher is quite different from Indian Kingfisher... But beautiful... :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteStunning pictures
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart, beautiful images of the Azure Kingfisher. I'm not sure whether I imagine it, but our kingfishers seem to have much more pronounced bills. Haven't seen a kingfisher since leaving East Africa *sigh* ; can't actually remember. Thanks for hosting this meme. Greetings. Jo PS I'd love you to visit my post today and let me know what you think?
ReplyDeleteI never cease to be envious of your wonderful birds. The most beautiful kingfisher ever! And of course great pictures. Thank you for sharing this new bird to my virtual life list :>)))... the next best thing to being there. And thank you as always for hosting.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is azure for sure, Stewart! I've only seen one Kingfisher when I was kayaking at one of the lakes I frequent...they are not easily captured!...:)JP
ReplyDeleteAmazing colors are the birds down there! (I can't imagine ever forgetting to check my camera settings...ha!)
ReplyDeleteThis is my favourite bird together with its relative the Kookaburra. Great shots.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely kingfisher! I have only seen one kind here in NZ and I posted a shot of him today!
ReplyDeleteThat is one spectacular bird ... I love all of the Kingfishers, but this one takes the prize. Your pictures are wonderful even the soft ones (you are entitled to a mistake now and then ... just wait, when you get to be my age you will be thrilled if you ever remember to look at the settings :) Didn't post this week because I had eye surgery and couldn't see the screen well enough to read what I was writing ... as the surgery was the same day as the election, I could have made some very disturbing comments about the outcomes without even realizing it ... hmmmm. So the USA has shown it's true colors ... not my colors but apparently the majority colors. This could be the beginning of some difficult times. Don't understand how this happens, but I will just keep to myself and try to weather the storm. Coming to Australia is starting to sound better and better :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea @ From The Sol
Beautiful and precious photos, Congrats..
ReplyDeleteKingfishers the world over are spectacular but this is about as good as it gets.
ReplyDeleteWhat a spectacular little bird!
ReplyDelete