Here’s looking at you babe

skfoo · 15-04-2005, 01:35 AM

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Sorry, this content is visible to registered members only.

This is a male common kingfisher as its bill is all black. The bill of the female is mandible base orange. Just when we thought we probably miss the opportunity to have a close encounter with the common kingfisher this season, it landed on dead tree a short distance from Harlequin’s car. What luck!

I would like to recommend a book by Charlie Hamilton James titled Kingfishers for those who may be interested. Charlie Hamilton James has spent more than 10 years recording the lifestyle of these beautiful birds in Britain. His own spectacular photographs document the many aspects of the kingfishers' life described in the text, capturing the speed of their flight, the darting manoeuvres of their hunting, as well as the quieter moments of courtship and the magnificent colour of their visual displays. It’s a coffee- table kingfisher book. Easy to read and digest. Plus it’s reasonably priced too!

I bought mine from Kinokuniya some time back. Amazon.com is still selling it. Refer to the following link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/IS...172821-3531252

Ria has also done up an excellent website on Mangrove and wetland wildlife at
Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve (SBWR). Within which information on some of the kingfishers in SBWR can be found:

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/birds/birds.htm

Hope you like them.

Cheers!

MountainMan · 15-04-2005, 01:41 AM

SK... thanks for sharing. Important resources for the KF shooters

joeyao · 15-04-2005, 07:02 AM

Wah! Excellent catch

Good to know that this guy is still around

Garion · 15-04-2005, 09:52 AM

SK, excellent shots, and thanks for sharing the info and resources with us. That book looks interesting, got to check it out.

Love the 2nd shot for its vibrant colours of this tiny fella, personally would have cropped it a bit tighter but thats just me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeyao

Wah! Excellent catch

Good to know that this guy is still around

Think he has gone off liao...this was shot sometime last month I believe.

harlequin · 15-04-2005, 10:18 AM

Hmm...very familiar twig eh ?

The difference between a 500mm and 600mm from the same shooting angle and distance.

Good one there my friend.

joeyao · 15-04-2005, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garion

SK, excellent shots, and thanks for sharing the info and resources with us. That book looks interesting, got to check it out.

Love the 2nd shot for its vibrant colours of this tiny fella, personally would have cropped it a bit tighter but thats just me.

Think he has gone off liao...this was shot sometime last month I believe.

Ah chay....back dated shots....for a moment I thot I could have a go at this beautiful bugger

calvinlo · 15-04-2005, 01:32 PM

What a good catch!!!

Seldom get the chance to see a shot of this 'uncommon' KF with so much sharpness and details...drooling now...

eric · 15-04-2005, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvinlo

What a good catch!!!

Seldom get the chance to see a shot of this 'uncommon' KF with so much sharpness and details...drooling now...

Totally agreeable! Bravo to skfoo!!!

Truly a nice shot of this common KF. Still wondering why it is known as common

Arthur · 15-04-2005, 06:29 PM

That's a good catch sk

A beautiful bird with a nice clear bg, especially love pic 1.

Cheers

skfoo · 15-04-2005, 08:08 PM

Guys,

Thanks for the comments.

I have a riddle for you.

The bright colours that you see on the common kingfisher, are they feathers? Make a calculated guess if you are uncertain.

Cheers!

skfoo · 17-04-2005, 03:52 PM

No takers?

The answer (abstracted from the book "Kingfishers" by Charlie Hamilton James):

"Their bright feather colours are not due to true pigment, for pure blue pigment does not actually exist in birds. Rather, the astonishing colours on the upper parts of the kingfisher are the result of a complex structure in the layers of the feathers which filters out certain colour of light, reflecting back only blue. This is known as 'Tyndal effect' and as a result of it the kingfisher can appear to turn from bright blue to a rich emerald green with only a slight change in the angle at which the light falls on it."

Now that's what I call COOL!

Another good example of beautiful nature creation.

nickmak · 17-04-2005, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skfoo

No takers?

The answer (abstracted from the book "Kingfishers" by Charlie Hamilton James):

"Their bright feather colours are not due to true pigment, for pure blue pigment does not actually exist in birds. Rather, the astonishing colours on the upper parts of the kingfisher are the result of a complex structure in the layers of the feathers which filters out certain colour of light, reflecting back only blue. This is known as 'Tyndal effect' and as a result of it the kingfisher can appear to turn from bright blue to a rich emerald green with only a slight change in the angle at which the light falls on it."

Now that what I call COOL!

Another example of beautiful nature creation.

That sounds cool, only if they could make cars like that too! Haha...

Kingfishers looking like chameleons... hmmm....

15-04-2005, 01:35 AM	#1
skfoo Eagle Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,081	Here’s looking at you babe *Sorry, this content is visible to registered members only.* *Sorry, this content is visible to registered members only.* This is a male common kingfisher as its bill is all black. The bill of the female is mandible base orange. Just when we thought we probably miss the opportunity to have a close encounter with the common kingfisher this season, it landed on dead tree a short distance from Harlequin’s car. What luck! I would like to recommend a book by Charlie Hamilton James titled Kingfishers for those who may be interested. Charlie Hamilton James has spent more than 10 years recording the lifestyle of these beautiful birds in Britain. His own spectacular photographs document the many aspects of the kingfishers' life described in the text, capturing the speed of their flight, the darting manoeuvres of their hunting, as well as the quieter moments of courtship and the magnificent colour of their visual displays. It’s a coffee- table kingfisher book. Easy to read and digest. Plus it’s reasonably priced too! I bought mine from Kinokuniya some time back. Amazon.com is still selling it. Refer to the following link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/IS...172821-3531252 Ria has also done up an excellent website on Mangrove and wetland wildlife at Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve (SBWR). Within which information on some of the kingfishers in SBWR can be found: http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/birds/birds.htm Hope you like them. Cheers!

15-04-2005, 01:41 AM	#2
MountainMan Osprey Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gone Troppo Posts: 5,167	SK... thanks for sharing. Important resources for the KF shooters __________________ In Memory of a very dear friend...

15-04-2005, 07:02 AM	#3
joeyao Eagle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Upper Paya Lebar, Singapore Posts: 3,719	Wah! Excellent catch Good to know that this guy is still around __________________ *Birds of Singapore* *Birds in Action*

15-04-2005, 06:29 PM	#9
Arthur Eagle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Where the birdies are Posts: 2,607	That's a good catch sk A beautiful bird with a nice clear bg, especially love pic 1. Cheers __________________ 我是阿德: 太阳, 沙滩, 美女和葡萄酒是我向往的生活方式!

17-04-2005, 03:52 PM	#11
skfoo Eagle Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,081	No takers? The answer (abstracted from the book "Kingfishers" by Charlie Hamilton James): "Their bright feather colours are not due to true pigment, for pure blue pigment does not actually exist in birds. Rather, the astonishing colours on the upper parts of the kingfisher are the result of a complex structure in the layers of the feathers which filters out certain colour of light, reflecting back only blue. This is known as 'Tyndal effect' and as a result of it the kingfisher can appear to turn from bright blue to a rich emerald green with only a slight change in the angle at which the light falls on it." Now that's what I call COOL! Another good example of beautiful nature creation. Last edited by skfoo; 17-04-2005 at 06:52 PM.

15-04-2005, 10:18 AM	#5
harlequin Eagle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Some Airport Lounge on Planet Earth Posts: 2,163	Hmm...very familiar twig eh ? The difference between a 500mm and 600mm from the same shooting angle and distance. Good one there my friend.

15-04-2005, 01:32 PM	#7
calvinlo Kite Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 44	What a good catch!!! Seldom get the chance to see a shot of this 'uncommon' KF with so much sharpness and details...drooling now...

15-04-2005, 08:08 PM	#10
skfoo Eagle Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,081	Guys, Thanks for the comments. I have a riddle for you. The bright colours that you see on the common kingfisher, are they feathers? Make a calculated guess if you are uncertain. Cheers!

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