The kingfisher is one of the most bewitching of birds - strikingly beautiful in colour, unmistakably elegant in profile, incomparable when plunge-diving for its food. It is shy, solitary and hard to spot when it perches motionless on a branch above the water, ready to strike the moment of fish appears. It is also notoriously difficult to photograph, which makes Charlie Hamilton James' achievement in producing "Kingfisher: Tales from the Halcyon River" all the more remarkable. From a hide attached to his home by a West Country river, and from a number of vantage points along that river, he has watched and photographed kingfishers for literally thousands of hours, starting work before dawn and continuing until there is too little light for him to see. This dedication has enabled him to build up a unique photographic portfolio.
CHARLIE HAMILTON JAMES has been filming and photographing wildlife for over 20 years. He is particularly passionate about otters and kingfishers and has become an authority on both. He has won numerous international awards for his work, including Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 1990 and 1991 and Best Cinematography at Wildscreen 2004. In 2007 he won the Royal Television Society award for Cinematography was nominated for a BAFTA for his camera work.