Pied Kingfisher by Al Henderson

Al Henderson recently visited The Gambia, a well-established birding destination that tends to produce plenty of great photo opportunities of confiding African birds. Standing out among Al's images was this extraordinary capture of a Pied Kingfisher with fish prey. While we see a good number of 'kingfisher with prey' photos, it's rare for one to be executed so well as this, particularly as Al has caught he kingfisher readjusting the fish ahead of swallowing it whole – in fact, it is the head-on angle of the fish, with its hapless expression, which really adds something special to this photo and makes it a worthy POTW winner. Congratulations to Al!

Other notable images

Alpine Swift, Dunbar, Lothian (Frank Golding).

Eurasian Coot, Otmoor RSPB, Oxfordshire (Jeremy Dexter).

Peregrine Falcon and Feral Pigeons, Britain (Robert Booth).

Common Crane, Willow Tree Fen LWT, Lincolnshire (Ian Bollen).

Kittiwake and Sanderlings, Formby Point, Lancashire (Stephen Tomlinson).

Great, Little and Western Cattle Egrets, Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB, Cheshire (John Gilbody).

Green Heron, Curaçao (Nick Clayton).

Common Snipe, Tacumshin, Wexford (John Murphy).

Northern Shoveler, Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk (Nick Brown).

Coues's Arctic Redpoll, Dorman's Pool, Cleveland (Carolyn Farry).