SANParks.org Forums

Seen recently in Kruger.

During the past 5 days I have had the pleasure of listening to the calls of more woodland kingfishers than I have ever heard before in one place in the Shingwedzi area. There were also as many brownhooded kingfishers in the area. Truly the sound of summer in the bush.

As I mentioned in my previous post, we have a resident WK in Marloth.
This weekend I made an interesting observation – if it is common knowledge, please forgive me but I really did not know this.

From about middle April we did not hear our WK anymore and presumed that he migrated. This past weekend we saw him again but he could not sing anymore. I knew that when they are in North Africa that they are quiet, but I thought it is by choice – breeding season is over. I really did not know that they actually lose there voices.

“Our” WK was very eager to sing this past weekend, enjoyed bathing in the garden sprayer, but all he could utter was a soft “trrp”, the “trrrrrr” part was gone. It looked as if you wanted to complete his rhyme…stretching is mouth….but nothing came out.
Me thinks they sing themselves out of their voices in the summer – first in the morning and always last in the evening – whose voice can handle that!

After breeding season most songbirds "loose" their nice melodies. Its by choice. Animals dont waist energy like us humans. And then its back to little contact sounds

I really enjoyed watching them dive-bomb into to the water, and catching fish, along the primeter of Letaba Restcamp.

I'v also seen a Woodland Kingfisher fight with a pair Crested Barbets. Crested Barbets are very teritorial and didnt like them introoding at all!!.

Was very nice to witness

Did anyone see the interesting piece on 50/50 recently where they had footage of a Woodland Kingfisher killing a bat.
It was a small bat and the bird was repeatedly hitting it against the branch as they do with any other prey.
They were not sure if it actually ate the Bat as it seemed to give it to a mate and then they unfortunately lost sight of the birds.
Another interesting feature was that it was still calling all the while beating this poor Bat to a pulp!!!

Elsa , yes I did
It was very interesting, especially, how the Kingfisher was throwing it up in the air, calling and beating the bat all at the same time. Although it does leave many ? in my head.
What happened before, how it started... and if the Kingfisher actually ate the bat.

Roberts states: "Food: ..... young birds". So this means that there are previous records of Woodland Kingfishers eating other bird species.

Have seen this in Satara in February 2006. Could not managed any decent photos of the incident though. Also hammered the little bird (could not ID it) against a branch. It eventually flew of with the bird still in its mouth so I did not actually see it eat the bird.

I think it might still be a bit early. Last year I heard the first Woodland calling on 14 November, outside Orpen reception. First sighting was on the same day, but later in the afternoon.

Okay Krugergirls and Krugerboys - keep your eyes peeled! This morning I heard and saw my first woodland kingfisher in the Limpopo riverine forest, just outside Mapungubwe National Park where I stay. (I actually heard the first bird while I was taking a bath. Could hardly wait to get out and dressed!)
And there it was - on a high branch in the nyalatree!

It shouldn't take them days to fly down to Kruger, should it!?

For the record: the woodland kingfisher arrived in Letaba on the 17th of November and now the whole KNP is flooded with the pretty creatures! It's fantastic: the one day they are nowhere to be found the next early morning the place is full of their wonderful sound. (They do nightflight, that's why.)

We love these birds and saw them all over Kruger from December 29-January 6. Cannot get enough of their call and striking color.

Definitely one of my favourites. Its the worst thing about visiting April to November - they are not around!

Richard

http://www.pbase.com/richardharris/february_2007&page=1

more photos and larger versions here