Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher

Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher

The first time I saw Red-breasted Paradise Kingfisher was when I guided some tourists on a birding tour in Klasow valley of Sorong regency. This Kingfisher was sitting in a small tree at its lowest branch around 2 meters above the ground. I did not pay attention to it at that time. I was watching Lesser Birds of Paradise (Paradisaea minor) dancing in high branches of some trees in front of me. Suddenly a villager named Daniel Kalami called me and showed me the bird. I turned and aimed my camera at the bird. 

Several weeks ago, I guided 4 American tourists on a birding tour to Tambrauw regency which was located between Sorong and Manokwari. I saw the bird again. This time it was sitting in a high branch around 5 meters above the ground. Fortunately, I brought my telephoto camera the Canon 200D with Tamron 150-600 mm G2 lens. I adjusted my position so that I could see the bird through a small window among thick green leaves of the surrounding trees. Carefully, I aimed my camera and shot the bird several times. 

Yellow-faced Myna

There were a lot of other birds that we saw during the rainforest birdwatching and wildlife watching tour in Tambrauw forest including:

• Palm Cockatoo, (Probosciger aterrimus)
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, 
• Long-tailed Buzzard, 
• Brahminy Kite, 
• Pinon Imperial Pigeon, 
• Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, 
• Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise, 
• Lesser Birds of Paradise 
• Large Fig Parrot, 
• Eclectus Parrot, 
• Red-cheeked Parrot
• Black-capped Lory
• Black Lory
• Grey Crow, 
• Marbled Frogmouth (Podargus ocellatus)
• Hooded Pitta, 
• Azure Kingfisher, 
• Blyth's Hornbill, 
• Red-cheeked Parrot,
• White-bellied Cuckooshrike,
• Black Sunbird
• Helmetted Friarbird and etc.

Because I brought my Kinglux 20-60×60mm spotting scope, I was able to show the beautiful birds to my American clients during the tour. It was not a professional scope but it was good enough for watching birds, wild animals or flowers in distant trees. I also played a few sounds of the above birds to attract them. We stayed in the houses of the villagers.

If you are interested in taking rainforest tour that is organized from Sorong city to Tambrauw forest please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Related articles:
Kingfishers
Azure Kingfisher