This is Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) that I saw at a hill near the harbor of Waisai town in Raja Ampat. A government building about Geopark stood on it. I was there to participate in certification works for tourist guides. While waiting outside of the Geopark building with my other friends, I did some birding. I brought a point and shoot camera. It was a Fujifilm HS50EXR. I was trying to find a Beach Kingfisher that was calling from trees at the lower area of the hill. Suddenly when I looked at the higher branch of the tree in front of me, I saw this lorikeet walking down a branch. I quickly aimed my camera at the lorikeet and shot it.
The Coconut Lorikeet fed on nectar of flowers in that tree. Actually there were a few lorikeets in other nearby trees but branches and leaves covered those birds. The bird was common in lowland and lower montane forest of New Guinea.
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| Coconut Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) in Raja Ampat |
Shortly after taking picture of the lorikeet, I was able to see the Beach King Fisher that i was looking for. He was sitting on a naked branch of a tree that was close to the beach. Because I stood on a hill looking down on the bird. The background image of the bird was the sea. It was not difficult to shoot the bird. There was a big window among the branches and leaves of trees. I could take good picture of the bird through it.
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| Beach Kingfisher (Todiramphus saurophagus) |
In the past this coconut lorikeet was categorized in one group with Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus). The coconut lorikeet has got red and dark blue stripes on his or her breast. Because the birds have got beautiful feather, it is often caught and sold as pets.
Birding is an environmentally friendly sport or tourism activity. To enjoy birdwatching, at least, we need a good pair of binoculars.b byCharles Roring
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