Don Larkin Captures the Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month with Stunning Kingfisher Dive
Winning photo shot with a Canon 5D Mark IV
Lens: 560 mm | Exposure: 1/2000 sec | Aperture: f /8.0 | ISO: 3200
Don Larkin was honored with the Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month for a captivating action shot of a Belted Kingfisher diving at the Edmonds Marina.
This is the second time Don has individually won the award. He and his wife Margaret have jointly won another three times.
Don and Margaret were initially at the location to photograph Black Scoters reported on E-bird at Brackett’s Landing. Their journey led them to the Edmonds fishing pier, where they encountered the kingfisher perched on a sailboat’s rigging.
Don's anticipation and patience paid off when he captured the kingfisher's dive. "I knew from the intense gaze of the kingfisher that he was ready to dive,” Don says. “My arms were tiring from holding up a heavy lens". Nonetheless, he successfully captured the bird that can dive up to speeds of 25 miles per hour.
The photograph features a male Belted Kingfisher, identifiable by its blue and white plumage, in sharp contrast to the more colorful females that sport rust on their chests. This species, found across Canada, Alaska, and the United States, is known for its remarkable fishing technique. “Kingfishers can spot fish from a perch above water,” says Margaret. “Once they spot a fish, they dive down like a missile to nab their prey.”
The Black Scoter was the original subject of the Larkin’s outing to Brackett’s Landing in Edmonds
You can see more of the Larkin’s entire nature portfolio at: https://www.instagram.com/larkinnaturephotos/
LarkinNaturePhotos (smugmug.com)
See also:
Belted Kingfisher resting after the day’s events
About the Eastside Audubon Photograph of the Month Award
The Photo of the Month award was instituted to recognize the work of the Photo Group Members. The group members meet monthly to show their latest photos and videos as well as share their knowledge of photography and wildlife. To attend the meetings, please join the group’s announcement list.