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The male flies away to let the female eat in peace. SURREY RARE images have captured the Holy Grail of Kingfisher photographers - a mating ritual known as "the fish pass." This is a well-known but very rarely documented mating ritual in which the male kingfisher dives into the water to catch a fish and presents it to the female. The moment marks a monumental stage in their relationship when their bond is cemented, known as the "kingfisher fish pass", captured on this occasion in River Mole, Surrey. These adorable images were snapped by 56-year-old British wildlife photographer Paul Furner with a Sony A1 camera and a 400mm lens. “I have been studying these birds’ behaviours and habits for years, and on this particular day, I waited around five hours to capture a moment like this,” he said. “Witnessing and photographing a kingfisher fish pass is a bit of a holy grail for bird photographers. “These birds are small, fast, wary and elusive. I was absolutely delighted to be in the right place at the right time to capture this amazing behaviour. “I noticed both of them were hesitant to move towards each other to pass the fish, almost like people are during their first date. “One image shows the male kingfisher standing bolt upright in a threat pose just milliseconds after the female kingfisher accepted his gift. It was quite comical and surprising. “He then flew away, leaving her to eat the fish. The whole interaction between the two birds lasted just ten seconds. “Shooting at 30 frames per second allows you to examine what happened in slow motion, revealing the incredible beauty and intricacy of the natural world.” ENDs