River Spey · Scotland

A Flash Of Blue On The Spey

A morning in a small pop-up hide, waiting for a brief flash of blue beside the River Spey.

Photographing Kingfishers on the River Spey is a very different experience from the speed and drama of photographing Ospreys. It is quieter and more intimate, but it still requires plenty of patience.

I use a small pop-up hide positioned carefully near the river and try to settle in before the area becomes active. Once inside, there is very little to do except stay quiet, watch the water and listen. The sound of the river becomes part of the experience, and after a while every movement in the trees or call in the distance catches your attention.

A Kingfisher can appear without warning. Sometimes the first sign is its sharp call; at other times it is simply a streak of brilliant blue travelling low and fast above the water. Even when you are expecting it, the intensity of the colour can still take you by surprise.

The bird may land for only a few seconds, so there is very little time to react. I try not to rush and instead wait for a natural pose, a turn of the head or a moment when the light catches the feathers. Quite often the bird disappears before I have taken the photograph I imagined.

That uncertainty is part of the enjoyment. You can spend a long time sitting in the hide for only a very brief encounter, but when a Kingfisher finally lands in front of you, the waiting immediately feels worthwhile.