Nice catch! Photographer snaps kingfisher diving for her food

DAILYMAIL.COM • 1h ago

By JOSHUA HAINING, NEWS REPORTER 00:46 06 Oct 2026, updated 00:53 06 Oct 2026

A wildlife fan has photographed a common kingfisher diving into a body of water for her food.

Martin Goff snapped the majestic bird as it swooped from its perch to feed at a Shropshire lake on September 30.

Mr Goff spoke of the moment he photographed the ‘remarkable precision and speed’ of the animal.

He said: ‘This common kingfisher was plunging into the water, executing a flawless dive to capture its prey of small fish.

‘The female is distinguishable by the distinct orange/red coloration on the bottom of its beak, which looks a bit like lipstick.’

Mr Goff added that he knew the bird was not male because they ‘don’t have a red underside’.

The ‘King of Fishers’ are so fast that even the most dedicated bird spotters can fail to spot the animal.

‘Kingfishers demonstrate remarkable precision and speed, but when a picture works, they are momentarily suspended in a dramatic explosion of water droplets and light.

‘Its vibrant plumage makes it one of the UK’s most beautiful birds.’

They typically weigh a mere 35 to 50g, have a length of 16-17cm and a wingspan of around 24-26cm.

There are more than 80 species of the lightning-fast bird around the world but only one, the common kingfisher, is native to the UK.

Kingfishers live in dense foliage and perch patiently near slow-flowing water on the hunt for prey that is often larger and heavier than itself.

Do YOU have a story? Email [email protected]

Pictured: Girl, 11, found dead in park – as police probe ‘unexplained’ death

GP is found dead in her home ‘while hosting a children’s sleepover’ near Sandringham estate: Man is…

Police lock down ENTIRE town to stop anti-migrant unrest as 12 protesters arrested after nearly 150…

Kieran Hayler accuses Katie Price of ‘setting him up’ as court told he ‘pinned down and raped…

Dozens of residents of village with a population of 700 vow to ‘sell up and move’ over plans to…

Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86: Bestselling author and politician passes away suddenly and peacefully…

‘Why would anyone start a business in the UK now?’ Jeremy Clarkson hammers Labour in surprise…

Green Party is reported to the police over its ‘Zionism is racism’ motion – but Polanski ignores row…

Nearly all women who try to reach UK in small boats are raped during their journey, Home Secretary…

Afghan lorry migrant who stabbed innocent dog walker to death after trying to murder his landlord…

Student, 15, has hand blown off while trying to throw stun grenade back at police as far-left…

Inside Russia’s ‘plague zone’: Putin’s five lockdown areas amid ‘pneumonic plague outbreak’ as…

Is this Meghan’s new kitchen? Duchess showcases luxurious farmhouse-inspired room in As Ever promo…

Body of missing girl, 11, is found in park as police probe ‘unexplained’ death

Mother was crushed to death by pile of bricks on the school run as she walked past building site,…

King bans Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from using his money to fight legal battles against police who…

Nice catch! Photographer snaps kingfisher diving for her foodComments are subject to our House rules and TermsNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}

No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first.

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{#replies.comments}}{{^isLast}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/isLast}}{{#isLast}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/isLast}}{{/replies.comments}}{{/replies.totalCount}}{{^replies.totalCount}}{{initials}}{{userAlias}}, United Kingdom, {{formattedDateAndTime}}{{message}}

{{upVotes}}{{downVotes}}{{/replies.totalCount}}{{/isComment}}The opinions and views expressed in the comments section are solely those of the individual users and do not represent or reflect the opinions, views, or positions of MailOnline. MailOnline does not endorse, support, or verify the accuracy of any user-generated content.Terms|Privacy|FeedbackOldest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}}