Beach Kingfisher

I often go to Raja Ampat to guide visitors who want to enjoy birdwatching and snorkeling. From my previous trips, I saw various species of coastal birds. One of them was Beach Kingfisher (Todiramphus saurophagus). This bird was quite big compared to Azure Kingfisher and Yellow-billed Kingfisher. Its calls were also unique. I could easily recognize the bird even when he was calling from behind thick branches, twigs and leaves of a tree.

One day I was standing on a hill near Port of Waisai town. I had been there photographing Willie Wagtail, Moustached Treeswift, Moluccan Starling, and Coconut Lorikeet. Suddenly, I saw a Beach Kingfisher landed on the naked branch of a tree that was very close to the beach. I quickly aimed my camera to the bird and pressed the shutter button several times. Although I could not get close up picture of the bird, I was quite satisfied with the result. At least it could be used in this post for identification purposes. written by Charles Roring

White-headed Shelduck

Last month I guided 4 Czech tourist on a snorkeling and sightseeing tour in Raja Ampat. We visited numerous islands including Mansuar, Kri, Kabui bay and Fam islands. We saw a lot of frigate birds, shearwater and tern.

White-headed Shelduck in Raja Ampat

In our final day in Kri island, I saw a couple of big white ducks walking at the beach. It was close enough to me. So, I aimed my camera and shot them. At that time I did not know what species they were. When I returned home I opened my fieldguide book and was able to identify the birds. They were White-headed or Rajah Shelduck (Tadorna radjah).
Raja Ampat regency is also the natural habitat of Red and Wilson's birds of paradise particularly in Waigeo and Gam islands.
Please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com if you want to do birdwatching and snorkeling in Raja Ampat.

Also read:

• Wildlife Tour in Tangkoko Nature Reserve and Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Bali
• Birdwatching Tour in Subdistrict Sonder