Photographing Kingfishers at RSPB Lakenheath Fen using the OM1mkII with the 150-400mm lens

[@surendranadig6394]

Awesome 👏. Great photos & video sir. Love it.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for the very kind comment. Glad you liked it.

[@DennisJacobsenWildlife]

Beautiful photos and video Roger! Well done 😁

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks Dennis

[@RichardCookphotography]

Fab video Roger. Great that you can get that close from a public hide. Some lovely footage and shots. Well done 👍👍

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks Richard. Glad you liked it.

[@CheikoSairin]

Stunning photo of kingfisher in-flight photo. A big LIKE for the video. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from Singapore.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thats very kind of you to say so. Its much appreciated, and glad you liked it.

[@EmmasNatureEscapes]

I really enjoyed your video. It has such a peaceful and relaxing vibe, beautifully connected to nature💚 You got my subscription! 👍

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for the kind comment Emma. And thanks for subscribing. Its much appreciated.

[@cliffday1183]

patience is certainly the key Roger, and you have it in spades 👍 great stills with the 150-400 and the vid footage excellent. very enjoyable video as usual, nice work

[@rogerhance5883]

Thats really appreciated Cliff. Thansk for the very kind comment. 👍

[@theflyingdutchman7127]

Hi Roger. Nice pictures and video👍

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks very much for commenting. It`s always greatly appreciated.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Great video Roger, what fantastic birds to photograph.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks Steve. I am surprised you have not been there. Its showing quite well.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

@@rogerhance5883 I've been so busy Roger with business, family and house maintenance I've just not had the chance unfortunately.

[@rogerhance5883]

@@SteveHedgesPhotography Glad the business is keeping you busy. Must be hard trying to make a living out of photography.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

@@rogerhance5883 It's going well at the moment. I think the main thing is we have been established for a long time. That really helps I think.

[@rogerhance5883]

@@SteveHedgesPhotography Fortunately for me, I am retired, but if I had to make a living at photography, it would frighten the life out of me.

[@davidosborn3356]

Another lovely little video Roger. Nice stills and nice footage and of course, a fabulous little bird.

[@rogerhance5883]

Cheers David. We dont get many Kingfishers sites down in Essex, so it was nice to have a site like Lakenheath thats only an hour and a half away.

[@stevevickers2844]

A wonderful video Roger some truly awesome shots and video.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for the very kind comment Steve. Its much appreciated. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@brianclark3597]

Great shots once again. I have been photographing them myself at RSPB Rainham, so I know that it isn’t easy. Keep them coming Roger,as I always look forward to them.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thank brain. Glad you liked it. They are a lot more difficult at RSPB reserves. The shot that are taken at `paid for set ups` are brilliant, but in those situations, you cannot really miss.

[@ツPeter]

Great video!

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks . Much appreciated.

[@birdwatcherlubuski]

Wonderful footage as usual, Roger! Re: the branch, Apart from it Bering rather thick, somebody had na awful idea to saw off the minor twigs, rather than simply snap them off, which makes it super obvious than it's been prepared by a human, doesn't look natural at all. But as you said, it's not a photo hide per se but rather a birdwatching hide, so can't really blame them, although it wouldn't cost them any extra effort if they did that. Amazing how easy it is to obtain quality kingy shots in these fixed hides. I remember how back in the day, photographing from me portable hide I had to prepare everything grom scratch, from careful recon job to finding the right spot to removing lots and lots of loose reeds and rushes obscuring the branch, so that the frame, both background and foreground would be neat and clean, which at times cost me my trousers because my waders proved too short for the pond...😂 Fun times.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for commenting. I agree that the branch is not really set up for photographers, - more for birdwatchers, - but that is fine. After all, it is an RSPB reserve. I mentioned in the video that a lot of shots of Kingfishers that you see where they are emerging from a dive with fish, are taken at commercial hides. Most, but by no means ALL. I know a freind of mine in Scotland who has beautiful shots of Kingfishers emerging after a dive, but they are all taken at his OWN private set up that he made himself. He has put in a lot of time and work (as you obviously did in the past) and got some amazing shots. Unfortunately, I do not have any areas in Essex where I could set something up myself. Maybe one day. Once again, thanks for commenting.

[@philparker97]

Great shots and video - another location to add to my list!

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks Phil. Its well worth a visit when the chick have left the nest. Plenty of visits then.

[@macg33zr]

Nice shots and video Roger. That hide was so busy the last time I went recently on a weekday, like others I was amazed to see you talking to camera in an empty hide!

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for the kind comment. I did think I would have to do the bit to camera on the boardwalk to the hide, so was really pleased to have the hide to myself for half an hour. Perhaps they didnt like my aftershave ? 🤣

[@jvas5871]

Brilliant video of a fabulous bird Roger.👍

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for the very kind comment. Its much appreciated.

[@johnpark8297]

Amazing video and stills Roger. Thank you for making this, top work indeed 👍

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for the kind comment John. Glad you liked it.

[@philiphadley2280]

Brilliant video Roger and for sharing your Knowledge and some beautiful stills and video.

[@rogerhance5883]

Cheers Phil. Thanks for the very kind comment. 👍

[@treesthatleave876]

Stunning video and stills, always like to see Kingfishers in action and this is perfect!

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for commenting. They are such stunning birds.

[@photosonthebay9341]

Incredible footage and fantastic photos. Really enjoyed this one. Well done Roger.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks Neil. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@davelock3166]

Great video and pictures, Roger. Also very informative.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks Dave. I always try to pack a fare bit of information into the videos

[@MJSPhotographyUK]

Very good, Rodger. Thanks for sharing. As for sitting in a hide for six hours, I managed to do two hours, but I can't sit still for too long.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for commenting Martin. Longer thantow hours can get very tiring if theres nothing happening, but I passed the time trying to photograph dragonflies in flight (not ver sucessfully either )

[@bobf711]

Great work as usual Roger. I'm afraid once again you and Mike Lane are doing such a great job in selling the 150-400 mm lens I might have to think about selling one of my kids.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for the kind comment. You now have to make the decision on which kid to sell. 🤨 In the end, I couldnt decide, `so tossed a coin` ! 🤣 I got enough for my daughter to buy the 150-400mm and had enough left over for the 90mm Macro , so a results all round ! 🤣🤣🤣

[@bobf711]

@@rogerhance5883 Now you've got me thinking...😄

[@rogerhance5883]

@@bobf711 😂

[@petersmith4098]

another super video Roger

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks Peter. Glad you liked it.

[@BeaktoLensphotography]

Great video Roger, I really would like to get some good shots of a Kingfisher. I just never put much time in as its such a commonly photographed bird. Beautiful shots and slow motion 👏

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for the kind comment. As you so rightly say, its a commonly photographed bird these day. When I first started nature 30 odd years ago, it was quite something to photograph a Kingfisher. Glad you liked the images and slow mo.

[@BeaktoLensphotography]

@@rogerhance5883 yeh I mean I would photograph it any day but if I’m going to I want to do a setup that’s different to everyone else. Your diving shots were perfect, super sharp.

[@rogerhance5883]

@@BeaktoLensphotography Thanks.

[@robj1366]

Excellent video and I love the shots with the wings spread as it begins the dive, brilliant ... thanks.

[@rogerhance5883]

Cheers Rob. Thanks for the kind comment. Greatly appreciated.

[@Cerusico]

Truly spectacular videos and photos

[@rogerhance5883]

Thank you for the very kind comment. Glad you liked it.

[@CamillaI]

Lovely video Roger I have been to that hide on a few occasions with no luck . I did have a great session with fellow KZbinr Steve Hedges down the path from there with the Bearded Tit though one January . Our best two hour session with those guys . Awesome reserve . Love the Perch bashing video 👍

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for commenting Mark. I watched your video with Steve at Lakenheath, and you certainly hit it right for the Beardies. Theres a lot of luck with the Kingfisher, but I think I just timed it right.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

My local reserve that fast gets ruined as soon as the Kingfishers show well! I've had some amazing results here but because it's the kid's hols it's my busiest time of year and that on top of the hide getting ridiculously busy thanks to social media it's usually a hard pass

[@rogerhance5883]

August, when the kids are on holiday, is not my favourite time either. Fortunately, not many parents take their kids to RSPB reserves. Interestingly, on my second visit I got to the hide about 6.50am and amazingly, nobody turned up till after 10.30am.

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@@rogerhance5883 Wow that's quite remarkable! I always find the first week of the kids holidays is the worst as it feels like every Mum on Earth starts off with the best intentions and fortunately it goes downhill for them from there 😆

[@rogerhance5883]

@@JoeMaranophotography Yes , I was amazed as well.. It wasnt that there were people in the hide who left after I arrived either !. If that had been the case I could have blamed it on my aftershave !

[@JoeMaranophotography]

@@rogerhance5883 Was it recently? I might try and get down there soon although I don't know when I'll get the chance. Was it much of a journey for you?

[@rogerhance5883]

@@JoeMaranophotography The second visit was last Tuesday. Its a long trip for me as I live in Colchester, so an hour and a half.

[@brianchandler1365]

Another excellent vid Roger. I was there a few days ago, only a couple of others in the hide but dslr sounded like an old typewriter clattering😮. Question regarding the 150-400 if i may, how does it perform at distance? I currently use the 400 f4 with the om mkii and find i often need to crop and lose definition making the shots useless. I am seriously considering the 100-400 but at the cost, it needs to perform of course. Thanks for your time and effort putting the vids together.

[@rogerhance5883]

Thanks for the kind comment Brian. The 150-400mm is fine at the 400mm end of the lens, even with the 1.25 extender. Its even very good with the 1.4 extender and the 1.25, although you may notice a very slight differnce if you pixcel peep. There is definately a slight loss in quality with the 2x converter. The 100-400 is a very good lens for the price, but its not as good as the 300mm F4 or the 150-400mm. If you are thinking of buying the 150-400mm, and you are in the UK, email me via my web site, and I will be able to give you a discount code.

[@catrionathomson8981]

An alternative to using your coat to bolster the bean bag is a small folding caravan step. I tend to use this instead of a tripod, mainly by sitting on it

[@rogerhance5883]

Never thought of that.

[@ThomasReed-c1w]

The stills of the kingfisher Roger exceptional. And to think if I had been posted, on Flickr, they would’ve looked even better. Just to say thanks as well.

[@rogerhance5883]

Very much appreciated Thomas. Your comments are very kind.

[@creaph]

Bravo Roger Toujours de belles vidéos. As tu remarqué à 8mn27s une pelote de réjection. J'ai dû faire un petit retour en arrière pour vérifier. Bon week end __ Oui, tu le marque en haut à gauche .............................................................................................. Bravo Roger Always great videos. Did you notice at 8mn27s a ball of rejection. I had to go back a little to check. Yes, you mark it at the top left Have a good weekend

[@rogerhance5883]

Merci pour le très gentil commentaire Philippe. Comme toujours, vos commentaires sont les bienvenus. J'ai remarqué que le Kingfisher avait éjecté une pastille vers la fin de la vidéo. Lorsqu’ils avalent un poisson, ils doivent régurgiter les os et la colonne vertébrale. J'ai eu de la chance de filmer une vidéo à ce moment-là parce que je ne pense pas que cela aurait été aussi beau qu'une photo. Un grand merci et meilleurs vœux.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Good video Roger. How did you get an empty hide to do your bit to camera? Facebook says the hide is overfilled with people!

[@edwardrussell5413]

I wondered the same :-)

[@keithgypps3432]

Apparently they've now restricted access to the mere hide and reduced the opening hours to 9am to 5pm due to apparent abuse from a select few!!

[@rogerhance5883]

I was jsut lucky that they all cleared off after I arrived ! Perhaps I have bad BO or something ? I started sniffing my armpits after they had gone ! 🤔😂😂

[@rogerhance5883]

@@edwardrussell5413 Its my BO they cannot stand ! 😂 Clears a hide quicker than anything ! 🤣

[@edwardrussell5413]

@@rogerhance5883 I thought it was your aftershave so thanks for the update, please let me kow when you are going next so I can avoid the area 😂😂

[@stephencook9800]

Six hours no wonder no can get a seat in the hide

[@rogerhance5883]

Ha Ha ! 😂 There is a sign that says that if the hide is busy, you should only use the hide for 2 hours. On both occassions that I visited, the hide was never full.

[@stephencook9800]

@@rogerhance5883 I stand corrected

[@stephencook9800]

I stand corrected the hide was not fll

[@stephencook9800]

I went there at seven in the morning a while ago and was number sixteen to get a seat

[@rogerhance5883]

@@stephencook9800 Wow. I was very lucky then. I was thinking of having another ty this week.