Kbbkirl Photography

Kbbkirl Photography A Licentiate holder from the Irish Photographic Federation L.I.P.F Photographer.

The King of the FishersNow, I’m the King of the Fishers, Oh the Valley VIP,Perched up high, looking fly,And nobody’s bot...
08/08/2026

The King of the Fishers

Now, I’m the King of the Fishers,
Oh the Valley VIP,
Perched up high, looking fly,
And nobody’s bothering me.

I’ve got a flash of blue
And fishing on my mind.
I rule this valley from branch to stream,
So keep your cameras ready — I’m not easy to find!

Not the Dodder…The "Kingy" of the Valley.Move over Dublin, this is Waterford's very own Kingfisher.No fancy throne.No cr...
07/08/2026

Not the Dodder…

The "Kingy" of the Valley.

Move over Dublin, this is Waterford's very own Kingfisher.

No fancy throne.
No crown.
No royal entourage.

Just a tiny blue-and-orange blur, on occasion waiting on the branch for the perfect moment to turn a small fish into lunch.

Of course, photographing a Kingfisher comes with the usual wildlife photography rules: You don't find the Kingfisher. The Kingfisher decides when you're allowed to see it. After plenty of waiting, and wondering whether that flash of blue was actually a bird or just wishful thinking, I finally got a small few seconds with the King of the Valley.

On WatchEvery nature reserve has one...The tiny bird who's convinced they're in charge of security.Perched at the highes...
06/08/2026

On Watch

Every nature reserve has one...
The tiny bird who's convinced they're in charge of security.

Perched at the highest point it could find, this little sedge warbler spent far more time supervising the valley than looking for food.

Every passing dragonfly? Investigated.
Every rustling leaf? Suspicious.
Every photographer with a camera? Definitely suspicious.

Fortunately, after deciding I wasn't a threat (or perhaps just too slow to catch it), it paused long enough for a quick portrait.

Wildlife photography is mostly about patience, and waiting.... waiting for the head of security to approve your visit. lol :)

If you've ever photographed a warbler, you'll know they have one very important rule...Always perch behind just one more...
04/08/2026

If you've ever photographed a warbler, you'll know they have one very important rule...

Always perch behind just one more twig. 😄 Not out in the open. Oh no.

Right in the middle of the blackberry bush, where every branch, thorn and leaf seems to have signed an agreement to block the camera's autofocus.

You wait... The warbler pops into view.

Click!, It's behind a leaf. You wait some more... Click! A thorn, covers the view.

Finally, after what felt like lengthy negotiations with Mother Nature, this little feathered acrobat decided to perch in exactly the right spot for just long enough to grab the shot.

Wildlife photography: proving that birds know exactly how autofocus works—and how to defeat it.

There are rumours... whispers... and the occasional blurry eyewitness account..."I saw a grebe this morning!""Really?"Th...
01/08/2026

There are rumours... whispers... and the occasional blurry eyewitness account...

"I saw a grebe this morning!"
"Really?"

They are rare enough to make photographers stop in their tracks, and elusive enough to make you question your eyesight if spotted. They are apparently equipped with a sixth sense for knowing the exact moment you've lifted your camera and focused, to dive at the perfect moment.

It spends most of its day perfecting two skills:
Looking adorable.
Vanishing without a trace.

But when you get a beautiful shot it makes the challenge worthwhile.

One of nature's smallest model's. Meet today's reluctant model... a Red Soldier Beetle, caught halfway through an all-yo...
27/07/2026

One of nature's smallest model's. Meet today's reluctant model... a Red Soldier Beetle, caught halfway through an all-you-can-eat pollen buffet on a Marguerite daisy

Macro photography is often described as peaceful. What they don't tell you is that it involves lying in awkward positions, holding your breath, manually focusing by moving your entire body a fraction of a millimetre, all while your tiny subject insists on wandering off to inspect every flower in the garden.

Then, just when you finally nail the focus, it turns around and gives you that look, as if to say, "Seriously? Can't a beetle eat in peace?"

Still, moments like this remind me why I love macro photography. A tiny world that most people walk straight past is full of incredible detail, colourful characters, and expressions that almost somehow seem strangely human.

"Well..., it wasn't quite my time for this competition!"I've been keeping this one hidden away for a while after enterin...
22/07/2026

"Well..., it wasn't quite my time for this competition!"

I've been keeping this one hidden away for a while after entering it into a landscape photography competition.

The results are in... and apparently the judges accidentally skipped over my email. That's the only logical explanation, right?😂

Ok only joking, but let's just say my photo and the shortlisting never got formally introduced.🤣

That's photography though.

This image wasn't just a lucky snap. It involved a road trip with a buddy, scouting the location, checking tide times, sunset forecasts, keeping everything crossed for decent weather, scrambling over slippery rocks, setting up the tripod, and hoping the Atlantic wouldn't claim my camera before the shutter finished its long exposure. And that can be a real fear just ask any seascape photographer 🤣.

After all that, it turns out the hardest part wasn't capturing the image. It was convincing the judges! 🤣

Would I have loved it to go further? Absolutely.
Am I disappointed? Maybe just a little.
Will it stop me heading back out with the camera? Not a hope.

Because competitions come and go, but standing at Crohy Head as the sky exploded into colour, listening to the waves crash against the rocks, and capturing a moment like this... that's the bit I'll remember.

Maybe it just wasn't my time this time, but the coast isn't going anywhere, sunsets keep happening, and somewhere out there is another image that's just waiting for me to take at the right time that might even make the next shortlist.

Location: Crohy Head, Donegal, Long exposure from one unforgettable evening.

Photography teaches you one important lesson: sometimes you win awards... and sometimes you just win with an incredible sunset evening. I'll take both whenever I can.

"I just came to say hello..."A quick head rise out of the water before disappearing again in less time than it takes to ...
20/07/2026

"I just came to say hello..."

A quick head rise out of the water before disappearing again in less time than it takes to say, "Where's my camera?"

Wildlife photography isn't quite relaxing... standing perfectly still for ages, watching an empty patch of water, convinced you've imagining things. Then, just for a split second, a little face pops up, looks straight at you as if to say, "I just came to say hello," and vanishes beneath the surface before your autofocus has finished its morning coffee.

Fortunately, this time the camera—and the highly caffeinated photographer—were ready. A rare and welcome encounter with one of Anne Valley's most elusive residents.

Wildlife photography: 99% patience, 1% pure magic.

If anyone thinks wildlife photography is all majestic stags and soaring red kites... allow me to introduce the humble An...
18/07/2026

If anyone thinks wildlife photography is all majestic stags and soaring red kites... allow me to introduce the humble Anne Valley duckling.

Tiny? Yes. Cute? Absolutely. Cooperative? Not even slightly. More like a disobedient toddler.

One minute they're all lined up perfectly... the next they've exploded in four different directions like feathery popcorn. Add in fading evening light, reflections on the pond, and a mother duck who apparently believes in interval training, and you've got yourself a battle to isolate and capture just part of the action.

Still, after a lot of patience, a few muttered words the ducklings definitely shouldn't have heard, and the odd missed shot, one or two more, than I'd care to admit, these little characters finally gave me a few moments to remember.

Proof that sometimes the smallest wildlife subjects are the biggest challenge!

Que Danger Zone... 1980's song...Puffin One: "Tower, this is Puffin One requesting a low-altitude flyby..."Tower: "Reque...
11/07/2026

Que Danger Zone... 1980's song...

Puffin One: "Tower, this is Puffin One requesting a low-altitude flyby..."

Tower: "Request denied. You're carrying too many sandeels for a high-speed pass."

Puffin One: "Negative, Tower... photographer in position."

WHOOSH! (Shutter Click)

One perfect flyby. One beak full of sandeels. One happy photographer.

"I feel the need... the need for speed."

Who's your wingman? Tag someone who'd appreciate this shot—and if this flyby hit the mark, follow the page for more wildlife moments from the front row.

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