S’pore Photographer Manages To Snap Rare Photos Of Kingfisher Feasting On Cockroaches At HDB

If you’re having a long day or just zoning out of your zoom meetings, what do you do? Look out of the window.

For one lucky Singaporean, he managed to catch a glimpse of a cute Kingfisher having a feast.

Caught on Camera

On Monday, a local photographer was delighted to hear the calls of a Kingfisher at his block.

Despite the gloomy skies, he watched the bird for 15 minutes before it flew down to perch on a lamp post near him.

He then noticed it swooping down to the ground and taking off with a cockroach, before perching on the lamp post again to snack on it.

The bird must’ve been really enjoying snack time because it repeated this motion three times, before finally landing on a tree nearby to snack on its scrumptious (and crispy) meal.

Cute.

You can see his full album below:

Kingfishers in Singapore

Did you know that there were many types of Kingfishers that can be found in Singapore? The Kingfisher pictured by the photographer seems to be a White Collared Kingfisher.

According to NParks, the White Collared Kingfisher is the most commonly sighted Kingfisher in Singapore. It is originally a bird adapted to the coast but has now been able to adapt to the urban landscape of our island. You can find them in any part of the island, including the CBD.

Its call is described as “series of five to six harsh ‘kip’ notes” and even a maniacal laugh. So, if you hear weird laughter outside your window, it might either be a Kingfisher or a Pontianak… we’ll just hope it’s the better option.

Other Bird Sightings in Singapore

In March, a Barn Owl was spotted in Toa Payoh that drew the attention of passionate birders and the public.

According to Singapore Birds, the Barn Owl is uncommon in Singapore, though you’ll be lucky to spot one under bridges.

It is also one of the most well-known owls in Singapore and can be often found in barns. (As suggested by its name)

However, this incident highlighted the bad etiquette of some people while observing the bird. One or two people were spotted standing right under the tree, while some used flash photography and made noises while the bird was asleep.

Common sense really isn’t that common after all.

In fact, it got so bad that local wildlife rescue group ACRES had to step in and cordon off the area to ensure a safe distance between the owl and the public.

Wild Animal Etiquette

What should you do if you encounter wildlife around the island? Here are some things you should keep in mind.

Do not approach or feed them.

If you see a wild boar or bird, do not do either unless you have a death wish. Wild animals will be reliant on humans to feed them if people feed them every time it is seen. Plus, some foods are toxic to individual animals.

Maintain a distance.

This should be pretty straightforward to understand, so just keep a safe distance from the animal.

Do not crowd or follow the animal.

If you want to take pictures, don’t use flash either.

Read Also: New Starbucks Outlet At Katong Square Looks So Vintage & Pretty It Can Be A Movie Or Drama Set