Of crabs and kingfishers. Pt 1

I've been away for the past six months on a farewell tour of Australia's east coast saying goodbye to friends I may never see again. However looking on the bright side I managed a stack of photos which should keep me busy for the rest of this year. I'll start with some kingfishers which exhibited some behavior I've not seen before, this will be in Pt 2, but first the introduction....

Watching and waiting for dinner, the tide had to be just right.


2

3

4 And when the crabs came out they struck...

5 some managed a clean catch.

6 and returned to their branch

7 While others collected a hefty catch of sand in the process....

8

9


To be continued.

Thanks Joe You must have seen this as I posted, I only had time for a cup of coffee between Pt 1 and 2!!!. These were taken at 1770, and although there were several birds hunting/feeding they were still very shy so I was more than happy with these shots. All taken with my 70-200mm plus x2 TC which I think is the equal if not better than my old 100-400mm and that's saying something. Not a lot of editing just heavy crops.

Thanks Addy, yes it was emotional. I lost my best friend of 55 years in April and the same month had a cancer diagnosis myself. Makes you consider the future so we took off to see friends of similar vintage. All apart from one were in a worse shape than me, two strokes, one aggressive prostate cancer and one vasculitis confined to a wheelchair and a couple of others. A lady friend of 50yrs has never had a day off in 82 years, no mammograms, pap smears or anything and still bright as a button, way to go!! After surgery my own prognosis sounds good, they tell me they got it all. I'm left with a skin graft that my grandson tells me looks like a duelling scar!! can't compain at nearly 80, as long as I can still hold the camera....!!

Thanks Sashi. Just lucky to get there at the right time....