Bright Colored Kingfishers at Singapore Quarry - by Lily

We had hiked in the vicinity of Diary Farm Nature Park  many times, but somehow, we have never started the hike from the park. Last Saturday we decided to check it out. Arriving at the park in mid-morning, we entered the woods via the Wallace trail.

The trail begins with paved roads, then become unpaved and winding up and down in the dense woods. I liked it right away as it is well shaded and varied terrain. Eventually we reached an open meadow surrounded by several quarry walls, known as the dairy farm quarry. Several groups of bikers were resting under the trees and chatting. Beyond this were only mountain bike roads for them, we the hikers had to turn around. 

Our next destination was Singapore Quarry. As we entered the quarry area, we noticed a group of people holding big lenses at the viewing deck. Just then a big kingfisher landed on the tree branch right in front of us. I have never seen such a big kingfisher at such a close distance, I was captivated. It has a long red beak, light brown head, bright yellow neck and breast, and cobalt blue back. This is the stork-billed kingfisher. Taking out my phone, I started taking pictures right away. It gracefully perched on a tree branch for quite a while. It then turned, glided down with wings spread revealing the light blue color underneath. Such a beauty! In fact there were two of them in the area, and we saw them diving into the pond to catch fishes. I managed to capture an incredible shot of one in mid-flight, and I even recorded their melodic chirping as they hopped among the trees. It was an exhilarating experience to witness these magnificent birds up close — a stroke of sheer luck.

Photo of Stork-billed kingfisher from Allan's big camera

photos of Stork-billed kingfisher from my cellphone

The size of Singapore quarry seems to be just perfect. The red quarry walls surround a gem like pond. With the blue sky, white clouds, green vegetation, and red stones, all the color filled my view with joy and serenity.

Retracing our steps, we embarked on a trail that led us further uphill. The path was steep yet strangely familiar. It wasn't long before we found ourselves at the summit of Bukit Timah Hill—the highest point in Singapore at 163 meters above sea level. As customary, we touched the stone marking this significant milestone before beginning our descent.

Our hike in Diary Farm Nature Park offered unexpected delights, from the enchanting encounter with the stork-billed kingfisher to the breathtaking views of the Singapore Quarry. It was a reminder that exploration can lead to incredible experiences and unveil hidden gems even in familiar surroundings.