Common Kingfisher by Dean Eades

 

 

With just shy of 5,000 uploads, Common Kingfisher is one of the most popular subjects to feature in the BirdGuides gallery over the past two decades.

In that time we've seen all manner of submissions of this species, from spectacular diving shots to sublime perched poses. It therefore takes something special to stand out when it comes to images of Common Kingfishers, and that's exactly what Dean Eades has provided with this phenomenal flight shot of a male. Well exposed and with a diffuse straw-coloured background, all attention is on the kingfisher. Dean has framed the subject brilliantly and caught it in a pin-sharp pose, with wings splayed and every little detail of every feather recorded. What a fantastic winner!

 

Other notable images

 

Eurasian Teal, Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire (Geoff Snowball).

Western Marsh Harrier, Blacktoft Sands RSPB, East Yorkshire (Ian Bollen).

Common Redshank, Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire (Jonathan Bull).

Purple Sandpiper, Portrush, Antrim (Jonathan Rosborough).

Sanderling, Newton, Glamorgan (Holly Tudball).

Red-rumped Swallow, Walberswick, Suffolk (Andrew Moon).

Ring Ouzel, Elan Valley, Powys (Kev Joynes).

Daurian Redstart, Longxue Island, Guangzhou, Guangdong (M J Bond).

Pied Wheatear, Whitley Bay, Northumberland (Darren Chapman).

Pied Wheatear, Whitley Bay, Northumberland (Glyn Sellors).

Dusky Warbler, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (Ashley Fisher).

Blue Tit, Studley, Warwickshire (Clive Daelman).

Common Starling, Whitley Bay, Northumberland (Darren Chapman).

Evening Grosbeak, Bloomington, Indiana (Steve Bell).