Thump! Splat! Smack!

4:56 PM  ,  

Somewhere Out There
Singapore
October 2012

This morning Merlion Wayfarer was shocked out of her sleep by a loud THUMP! on her glass door. Thinking that it might be a broom or dustpan blown by the strong wind remaining from the rain last night, she ignored it. But curiousity got the better of her, especially since she opened the door and found no one there and all the items in place.

A closer look revealed this interesting sight - SPLAT! right on the ground...

Then it hardly moved at all. It was in such an awkward position that Merlion Wayfarer wasn't even sure it was alive! She decided to check out if it was ok. It wasn't zombied enough to stay still though, and it got up quickly. Merlion Wayfarer had to move real fast to prevent being pecked by that bright orange beak!


It recovered enough to start flying and SMACK! it hit another wall and landed on the ground again.
Ok, more recovery time needed...

You can see its pupils getting dilated with the dazed effect...

Getting better, starting to getting awake...

Hopping around to test its orientation and then... BYE!

Afternote
As this was not like any kingfisher that she had seen before, Merlion Wayfarer sent out a call to her fellow nature kakis to ID it. LC (Thanks!) reverted that this is a rare Halcyon Coromanda (Ruddy Kingfisher), an uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor to Singapore. Usually found in a forest setting, this little kingfisher appeared disorientated in the urban setting. 

Referring to the first photo, Merlion Wayfarer had noticed a blue patch on its back. She thought it was due to the glass as it appeared less obvious after the door was opened. After doing some research, she realized that it was the blue sheen can only be seen in flight and when reflected against some light.

The "dazed look" was also explained as a nictitating membrane - The eye is covered with a translucent layer, as a protective function before the bird swoops down to attack prey, but in this case, it probably surfaces as as result of the knock on the head twice against the glass, then the wall. Interesting occurrence!
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