Half-collared Kingfisher / Alcedo semitorquata subsp. semitorquata (Birds) by MAJ on 15th July 2012

Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata

Observed by MAJ on 14th November 2009

(Added to iSpot on 15th July 2012)

Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata

2. Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata

3.Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata

Bright blue with black beak and red legs. Sitting quietly and appeared alseep.

Location: Villiers St, Barrydale

Identification

Half-collared Kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata) by MAJ at 1:26 pm 15/07/12

Confidence: I'm as sure as I can be.

Notes: Not sure of subspecies
ID agreements (): 1 person agrees with this identification.
- saxicola
likely ID

Half-collared Kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata subsp. semitorquata) by rudi von staden

at 2:17 pm 15/07/12

Confidence: It's likely to be this, but I can't be certain.

Notes: Dark blue rather than chestnut cheeks should rule out Malachite Kingfisher, which also has a black bill. A very unusual record this far west in the Western Cape.
ID agreements (): 2 people agree with this identification.
- Marion Maclean
- tony rebelo
Search Encyclopedia of Life for Alcedo semitorquata subsp. semitorquata

Other observations of Half-collared Kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata subsp. semitorquata)

Comments

Range extension

15 July 2012 - 2:24pm — rudi von staden

rudi von staden is knowledgeable about Birds

rudi von staden's earned reputation in Birds

This is a wonderful sighting! Is it regular around Barrydale? It would represent quite a range extension for Half-collared Kingfisher according to the current Southern African Bird Atlas 2 records (see http://sabap2.adu.org.za/spp_summary.php?Spp=396). Please consider submitting this as an incidental record for that project. See http://sabap2.adu.org.za/new_incidental.php for instructions.

Do you perhaps have any other photos from this observation? I'm fairly happy that it's a Half-collared from this picture, but it would help to have a view of the front or side of the kingfisher.

Range extenssion

15 July 2012 - 3:56pm — MAJ MAJ's reputation in Birds

This is the first and only time I have heard of it in Barrydale. I'll make some other enquiries and let you know. Yes, I'll be glad to submit it to the Bird Atlas 2 project.

I've other photos but all from more or less the same angle as the vegetation was in the way and I was balanced precariously on a ladder! Will have a look tomorrow and send some in.

Well done!

15 July 2012 - 4:21pm — rudi von staden

I admire both your dedication and your steady hand! The feather detail in this picture is amazing.

Detail

16 July 2012 - 1:35pm — MAJ MAJ's reputation in Birds

I love my old Nikon equipment!

Range extension

16 July 2012 - 1:47pm — MAJ MAJ's reputation in Birds

Have submitted a couple more photos - but not much difference, except for head angle, and there's also one of the site where the Kingfisher was probably fishing and where the Giant Kingfisher is quite often seen. I made some enquiries about other sightings. One person has seen the Half-Collared only once at the river at the junction of the R62 and R324 at the edge of Barrydale en route to Tradouw Pass.

Note the change of location - had made a mistake in the road name.

Also some additional info about how the bird was found.

Thanks!

16 July 2012 - 2:26pm — rudi von staden

Thanks for adding the extra pictures and info. The second photo gives a better view of the side of the head, and you can clearly see that it's all blue (not that there was much doubt about the id). I would guess that it probably died as a delayed result of its collision with the window.