Kingfisher Paradise
Tangkoka forest reserve (or is it National Park?) at the Northern tip of Minhassa region in Sulawesi is an incredible place for Kingfishers. I saw 9 different species in 3 days. This one is a bird of the forest. Very approachable as it sits motionless waiting for a prey. It was difficult to get shots without flash and the flash tends to enhance the colors a bit much but, still, lovely looking bird it is.
Lilac Kingfisher, endemic to Sulawesi
Raja-udang pipi-ungu (Cittura cyanotis)
The Green-backed Kingfisher is a bit bigger and more numerous. It also hunts in wooded areas and can be approached real close with care. Endemic to Sulawesi.
Cekakak-hutan tunggir-hijau (Actenoides monachus)
Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher
An incredible shiny little jewel of the interior forest. Very approachable.
Also endemic.
Udang-merah Sulawesi (Ceyx fallax)
Ruddy Kingfisher
Even though not an endemic or lifer for me, I still just love the color of this bird and I think it is the prettiest of them all.
This one was perched over a stream.
Cekakak merah (Halcyon coromanda)
Black-billed Kingfisher
lives in the mangroves and a boat ride was necessary to get to see them.
Pekaka bua-bua (Halcyon melanorhyncha)
I also saw Blue-eared Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher and Collared Kingfisher.
Catatan: Cerita dan foto oleh Peter Ericsson.
Cerita di atas merupakan pengalaman seorang Peter Ericsson, pengamat burung dan pe hoby Photography yang tinggal di Thailand, saat dia berkunjung ke Tangkoko antara tanggal 7-13 Oktober lalu. Laporan lengkap mengenai perjalan Peter ke Sulawesi bisa anda baca di PBase
Terima kasih buat Peter yang dengan senang hati sudah mau berbagi ceritanya dengan kita di sini. (Thank you Peter for sharing your experiences with us here in Burung Sulawesi).
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Comments
What a treat to have so many Kingfishers to see in Sulawesi! They are one of my favorite fishing birds and here in the US, we have only three Kingfishers. Only one species is seen in the Western US, the Belted Kingfisher, and it is not very approachable.
These are gorgeous photos of your birds in Sulawesi. The Lilac Kingfisher is truly exceptional!
Nice variety of colorful birds