On our recent trip to Leigh we detoured to Sandspit to take the chance to explore the mangroves. A visit some years back had given the opportunity for decent Banded Rail, Kingfisher and White-faced Heron photos. One of the heron photos Edin took began her competition winning streak with the D-Photo Junior Wildlife Photographer award, news of which reached her while we on a trip to South Africa. This time I found a bathing Kingfisher.

On this brief visit we had opportunities again on White-faced Herons, Kingfisher, Variable and South Island Pied Oystercatchers, Pied Stilts and Caspian Terns. The only Banded Rails seen were tiny gangly chicks. The thin high cloud gave the flat light that I prefer for bird photography at any time other than early morning or late evening.

These photos were of a Kingfisher plunge bathing in a lead among the mangroves. I prefocussed on the spot he was diving into and let the shutter run as he dived.

Photos with Nikon D500 and Nikon 300mm F4 PF lens with Nikon TC14 1.4x teleconverter.