I love kingfisher too... they are truely amazing. One of my first banding species is Eurasian common kingfisher. I just could not describe the bright blue feather shiny in my hand... I might need to paint them in color version... This one is the white-breasted kingfisher.
Yes, Alcedo atthis, they are pretty common along streams back home... They remind me of my childhood. It is funny, since I banded quite a few of those feisty little guys too, along with wagtails and water ouzels-we would place nets across streams...
I think old flytyers used European kingfisher feathers for Victorian salmon flies.
Thanks for the note about kingfisher's pattern, I remember there is one in Orvis's old book...I might need to check them out again. I saw someone post a white-breasted kingfisher's pelt long times ago. I wish I can get one of those... legally... When band those common kingfishers, the tricky part is to keep the mist net as close to the water as possible... because they fly nearly touch the surface... but you want to make sure they won't dip into the water when they get caught...sometimes we out a tree branch on the surface of the fly path to make sure they "rise up" :P I bet you know this trick!
I am a biologist grew up with a fishing rod in my hands. I have been fortunate enough to embrace my love of art and science in my career. Most of my free time were well spent in the nature, either studying bird behavior or chasing variety of fish with fly rods. My favorite art medium is watercolors, I love the natural and spontaneous feel created by watercolor pigments. I am currently a post-doctoral research fellow at Harvard University. Welcome to my website. Mark
5 comments:
Wow Mark-great! You captured some of my favorite birds on the paper. Kingfishers are so beautiful!
Thanks Vlad,
I love kingfisher too... they are truely amazing. One of my first banding species is Eurasian common kingfisher. I just could not describe the bright blue feather shiny in my hand... I might need to paint them in color version... This one is the white-breasted kingfisher.
Yes, Alcedo atthis, they are pretty common along streams back home... They remind me of my childhood. It is funny, since I banded quite a few of those feisty little guys too, along with wagtails and water ouzels-we would place nets across streams...
I think old flytyers used European kingfisher feathers for Victorian salmon flies.
Professional fisherman indeed!!
Great work as alway Mark! Keep it up.
Thanks friends...
Vlad,
Thanks for the note about kingfisher's pattern, I remember there is one in Orvis's old book...I might need to check them out again. I saw someone post a white-breasted kingfisher's pelt long times ago. I wish I can get one of those... legally...
When band those common kingfishers, the tricky part is to keep the mist net as close to the water as possible... because they fly nearly touch the surface... but you want to make sure they won't dip into the water when they get caught...sometimes we out a tree branch on the surface of the fly path to make sure they "rise up" :P I bet you know this trick!
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