A wildlife photographer from Oxfordshire has taken a beautiful series of photographs of a wild kingfisher.

Simon Booker, from South Stoke, snapped the images of the distinctive bird on the River Thames in Goring using a Nikon D850.

Mr Booker said the bird granted him a “spectacular couple of hours” on Saturday, April 16.

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He explained that while it took him “some time and a lot of failures photographs” his “patience was rewarded with a few sharp ones”.

Oxford Mail: A Dart in The Undergrowth. Picture: Simon Booker A Dart in The Undergrowth. Picture: Simon Booker

The first image, which Mr Booker titled A Dart in The Undergrowth, shows a female kingfisher skimming about a foot above the water, using its aerial skills to avoid roots and branches.

Oxford Mail: The Blue Bullet InFlight. Picture: Simon Booker The Blue Bullet InFlight. Picture: Simon Booker

The second photograph, The Blue Bullet InFlight, has the kingfisher in the forefront of the image with a “perfect” backdrop of the River Thames.

Oxford Mail: Head On. Picture: Simon Booker Head On. Picture: Simon Booker

The third and final image, Head On, the bird can be seen whipping across the Thames at speed. The colours reflecting on the River Thames in the background resemble a water colour painting.

Mr Booker said these shots were technically challenging to "catch" but after two hours on the riverbank, persistence and patience paid off for him.

The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust states that kingfishers are widespread across the county and can be easily spotted because of their vibrant colours.

More photographs taken by Mr Booker can be viewed, and purchased, from his website stokerpix.com/

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