Big Bill

Stork-billed kingfisher... monster!

Another trip down memory lane with this stunning halcyon. (I'm too tired to go out birding today... "nightshift hangover").

This big brute was photographed in the wonderful Singapore Botanic Gardens in August 2007, with collared and white-throated kingfisher also available for good measure.

Not so great

The countdown begins to my impending trip East, and Alans' comment at Dusty Bins has prompted me to delve into my photographic archive and dust (pardon the pun Alan) off an oldish image of a not so greater racket-tailed drongo.

This bird was photographed in Singapore in August 2007 - as you can see it's favoured habitat is not the best for photography, it is very dark in the jungle!

The camera was set to ISO 1250 with exposure at 125th second. The original image was very grainy, and as the 100-400mm lens was hand held the image is not as sharp as I'd have liked, even with image stabilisation.


This blast from the past has re-inforced my decision to have a play around with fill-flash, I certainly think it will enhance chances of getting better images on the trip.

Pigeon Post

Charlie Moores recent account of emerald dove on the 10000 birds website reminded me of my trip to Singapore in 2007. I didn't manage to see emerald dove on my visit, but I did see plenty of these - pink-necked green pigeon. Very common but delightfully pretty. Beats the UK's wood pigeon hands down in my book (two of which are in my garden now, vacuuming all the bird seed off the bird table!)

The Davison and Fook (oo-er!) photographic guide to birds of peninsular Malaysia and Singapore describes PNGP as "chubby" and "enormously common". I like that.

The bird featured here was feeding in our hotel garden one afternoon, in city centre grounds that also attracted blue-crowned hanging parrot, asian koel, common iora and plain-throated sunbirds. Nice.