The juvenile that could be another, almost

Another flycatcher arrival, without fail every year.

As with any juvenile flycatcher, the Dark-sided Flycatcher (Muscicapa sibirica) tends to extend a little excitement that it could perhaps be another rarer flycatcher until one scrutinises it.  The closest that this juvenile resembles would be the juvenile grey-streaked flycatcher and the excitement fizzles out when one looks more closely in particular at the shape of its head, and bill, of which the dark-sided flycatcher has a relatively flatter, smaller head and also tiny bill, and smudgy side streaks.

Refresher (extract mybis):

Order - Passeriformes

Family - Muscicapidae

Genius - Muscicapa

Specific epithet - sibirica (J F Gmelin, 1789)

Common name: Dark-sided Flycatcher, Sambar Sibiria, Sambar Sisi-gelap

Status: Least Concern

13/2024

 

Commonest of kingfishers?

Certainly a day for kingfishers!

One can be certain that one would not miss the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo Atthis) when it's in the vicinity.

This one indeed announced its arrival, and uncharacteristically was unwary of my presence in the open.

This little fella's unusual behaviour indeed was a thrilling surprise. As I moved about trying to get the best angles for shots it would fly off but eventually come down to perch again close to where I was.

Is the Common Kingfisher named so due to its presence over an extensive range that stretches across Europe, N Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, India, Russia, China, Korea, Japan, Indochina, Southeast Asia?  It's easily one of the more alert of kingfishers, extremely conscious of human proximity, and require substantial patience to get close for photography purpose.

Refresher (extract mybis):

Order - Coraciiformes

Family - Alcedinidae

Genius - Alcedo

Specific epithet - atthis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Common name: Burung Raja Udang, Common Kingfisher, European Kingfisher, Kingfisher, Kingfisher Bird, Pekaka Cit-cit Kecil, Raja Udang, Raja Udang Biasa

Status: Least Concern

11/2024

Swallowing its tiny fish catch.

"Can't help falling in love"