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.

A wildlife fan has photographed a common kingfisher at a lake in Shropshire on September 30

Martin Goff snapped the lightning-fast animal as it swooped from its perch in the hunt for food

Pictured: the kingfisher with its prey in its beak as it flies away after diving in the water

Kingfishers typically have a wingspan of around 24-26cm and weigh a mere 35 to 60 grams

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

They typically weigh a mere 35 to 50 grams, 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.

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