This is the first bird I saw while in Singapore at the Botanic Gardens. We saw over 20 species of birds while there. As many were hidden in vegetation, the ISOs were often very high. No Sherpa to help carry my gear so I think I did pretty well carrying around two camera bodies and my big birding lens and monopod in the oppressive humidity. Birding was perfect though as we just took our time.

This beauty is so named because of its ‘rackets’, a pair of elongated tail feathers that have bare central shafts except at the ends, where the feather barbs form a twisted pendant that dangles down.

It also makes a loud racket and can mimic the call of other bird. The rackets often get damaged or can be lost during moulting, as I think may be the case here so I will post another one with the rackets in tact.

Definition of Drongo- A stupid or incompetent person. Not sure if this is an Australian slang or used elsewhere?

Tags:   Botanic Gardens Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Singapore birds Dicrurus paradiseus Singapore Botanic Gardens Drongo feathers blue crow-like Nikon Nikon D500 Nikon 200-500 Wirrawill rainforest walk rainforest

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This is the second Drongo I was lucky enough to see (apart from the many I encounter of the human type). This shows the gorgeous long tail feathers or Rackets that the bird is famous for.

Bukit Batok Nature Park, Singapore.

Tags:   birds drongo Bukit Batock Nature Park Singapore Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus glossy rainforest Nikon Nikon D500

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The Kingfisher is much celebrated bird in Singapore.

One of my goals in Singapore was to try to find some Kingfishers. Singapore has about 8 species but most are uncommon and migratory so you have to be lucky to find them. Only two are common residents and one is an uncommon resident. I was very happy to spot an uncommon and common resident.

This is the White-throated Kingfisher, a common resident of Singapore and South-East Asia. A real beauty. It is quite a large Kingfisher growing up to 28 cm (kookaburras are about 40 cm for comparison and our sacred Kingfisher is around 20 cm). It feeds on fish, large insects and small animals.
There was a resident bird at the Gardens by the Bay.

You may have to put up with a few images of this bird ;-)

Tags:   birds gardens by the Bay White throated Kingfisher Kingfisher Singapore Halcyon smyrnensis water Bird Nikon Nikon D500 Nikon 200-500

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The Kingfisher by William Henry Davies

It was the Rainbow gave thee birth,
And left thee all her lovely hues;
And, as her mother’s name was Tears,
So runs it in my blood to choose
For haunts the lonely pools, and keep
In company with trees that weep.
Go you and, with such glorious hues,
Live with proud peacocks in green parks;
On lawns as smooth as shining glass,
Let every feather show its marks;
Get thee on boughs and clap thy wings
Before the windows of proud kings.
Nay, lovely Bird, thou art not vain;
Thou hast no proud, ambitious mind;
I also love a quiet place
That’s green, away from all mankind;
A lonely pool, and let a tree
Sigh with her bosom over me.

This image shows how this beautiful Kingfisher got its name.

Thanks for viewing and please know how much I appreciate and value each and every comment.

Tags:   White-throated Kingfisher birds gardens by the Bay Halcyon smyrnensis Kingfisher Singapore tree feathers Nikon Nikon D500 Nikon 200-500

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This tiny male Kingfisher (17 cm) caused quite a stir while we were in Singapore, attracting the big gun photographers with their $10,000 plus lenses. Known as the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) it apparently isn’t that common in Singapore and is very shy and is highly sort after. It is migratory from August to March. We hung around the big guns, rewarded with some flashes of metallic as the bird zoomed by.

I thought that might be as good as it gets.

However, we were rewarded on the following day when no- one else was around. I heard the distinctive call first and was then lucky enough to see it’s feathers glittering on a small branch leaning over the river. Excitement on steroids.

I was able to sneak around on the opposite bank while the bird basked in the sunshine. What a beauty. Very similar to our Sacred Kingfishers in Australia but with a very buff coloured breast.
I was happy with the few shots I made from my $1700 lens

They are very territorial as they have to eat about 60% of their body weight a day. They can live up to 21 years

Tags:   Common Kingfisher birds gardens by the Bay Kingfisher River Kingfisher Singapore Alcedo atthis bird Nikon D500 Nikon 200-500 River blue feathers

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