Just finished reading, and looking at more than 100 shots, from 4 Canon shooters on Safari in SA.

The biggest surprise was how close the animals were a lot fo the time : 80% of the time they were using a 70-200/2.8 and only occasionally a 500 they had (your 300/2.8 and a Pentax AFA x1.7 would be perfect to get you to 500, remember at infinity it almost acts like an AF lense - even on a MF lense).

You will need maybe a 17-50 for sunset and landscape shots, maybe even an UWA, such as a 10-20, would be better still.

You could also consider the very highly rated Tamron 28-75/2.8. A superb lense.

With your current lenses you would only leave a gap from 21 to 27 and could consider the 21 Ltd or one of the fast Sigma's later.

Please note though that I don't recommend using it ... it dramatically slows down shot to shot processing.

Spectacular series Mille ! I love the shots of the kingfisher with the baby eel.

Gorgeous Kingfisher shots John !

Lovely series indeed ! Love all of them to be honest.

I was going to buy the 150-500 but held off as I can't decide which is the more important lense to buy (haven't quite figured out my reasons for buying any of them yet though ) the 150/500, Sigma 100-300/4 (seems to be easier to find here than over there) or a 70-200/2.8 ..... decisions decisions !

Since then I've found a few shooters who are getting great results from it when birding.

Is this the guy that has a hide up in his garden and a blog diary going ? Kingfishers are protected birds in the UK and I know there are lots of things that you can not do in breeding season with regard to getting too close and photographing them.

Nice shots ! Definitely look like Stink bugs.

Kingfishers are such nervous birds it is SO tough to get close to them. The ones I've encountered here rarely let you get within 30 yds. Did the Damsel get away ?

The best I've managed so far is here link with the Tamron BB 500 mirror (before I got the *300), however it seems at least I get more opportunities than you do over there.

Interesting that, even though the article is 3 years old and on his own blog, he failed to answer a criticism in the comments that said : The centre "target" is way too small with too many extraneous elements for the centre AF to lock on to.