This is a Belted Kingfisher, shot in Nov. 2012. I remember it well because it was in a location of the Ridgefield NWR that I had never seen this species in before or since. The tree he is perched in has long since fallen over. The bird repeatedly dove into the water below and flew right back to this high branch for at least 5 minutes, which is an eternity in bird photography. I captured many different poses of this fellow. Unfortunately, he never did catch a fish while I was there. Good memories of this bird encounter.
Canon 5D Mark III, 1/400, f 5.6, ISO 800, 400mm, 11:32 a.m.
