June 2023
It is amazing how many rodents were caught on a daily basis. Certainly need the Black-winged Kite to control its population. Garden by the Bay
Pin-tailed Whydah in courtship rituals at Farmway, Pasir Ris
Courtship into sunset
MAY 2023
26 May – This morning, grey skies and a downpour – a worst case scenario for documenting the feeding of the Black-winged Kite chicks. However, it did not dampen my spirits. Stayed on until the rain stopped. The parents returned with a small bird (see the legs sticking out on the abdomen) and a rodent.
The Strike – another unsuccessful dive by the Gray-headed Fish Eagle
Despite having fledged, the juvenile Pacific Swallow will take the easy way out. It will call out its parents to demand being fed. It perches to remain visible and waits patiently for Deliveroo service.
The corpse flower blooms again. This time, the Amorphophallus paenoiifolius was not affected by rain. People had complained of the stench on day 1. On the 3rd day there was none; not a whiff of the odour.
Coppersmith Barbets at Hampstead Gardens – its chick is growing fast (helped by the numerous offerings of fruits).
MARCH 2023
Laced Woodpeckers at Labrador Nature Park. One chick already fledged, the other, anytime soon. Female and male LWPs. Conserving the mangroves at Labrador is paying dividends.
More at Labrador Nature Park – Peacock (resident), Chinese Pond Heron (changing to breeding plumage) and Mangrove Whistler (rare migrant).
With nest-hole completed, so one can expect to see juniors soon. (DFNP)
Down by the Pandan River. Gray-headed Fish Eagle on a successful dive, Smooth-clawed Otter feeding and Purple Heron about to land.
It has been quite a while to touch base with the Banded Flying Snake or Twin-barred Tree Snake – elusive until today. The Waggler’s Pit Viper remained comfortable at its resting site despite the numerous flashes from one particular photographer. As usual the Red-crowned Barbet was chilling, now that the nest hole was completed. (DFNP)
Flycatchers at Dairy Farm NP – Green-backed FC and Blue and White FC
Common Flame-back preparing for nesting abode. Hampstead Gardens
White-bellied Sea Eagle at Eagle Point. A brood of two chicks at the usual nest near the entrance- an indication of a busy time for the parents. Bottom right: WBSE caught a small fish. SBWR
Red-crowned Barbet excavating tree hole for a nest (Dairy Farm Nature Park)
It was past 4 days documenting this bloom and was quite wilted. A rare bloom of the Amorphophallus paenoiifolius at the Healing Garden of the Botanical Gardens, also known as corpse flower, I did not detect any scent even as I put my nose next to it.
FEB 2023
Blue-tailed Bee-eater at Seletar Cresent.
Smooth-clawed otters devouring a huge Koi at Quarry. Another one bites the dust. 24 Feb 2023
Gray-headed Fish Eagle suddenly dived and caught a small fish (Spore Quarry).
Purple Heron had two large eels and a Red-legged Crake for breakfast and was still hunting!!! (S’pore Aerospace). 19 Feb 2023
Crimson Sunbird taking a break (S’pore Quarry) 17 Feb 2023
Storkbilled Kf and Waterhen at Hindhede Quarry
The dive by the Brahminy Kite (Holland Plains)
The migratory Large Hawk Cuckoo (Jurong Lake Gardens). 13 Fab 2023
Javan Pond Heron chilling in cool weather (Jurong Lake Gardens). 13 Feb 2023
Stork-billed Kingfisher – a resident at the Singapore Quarry.
Olive-winged Bulbul at Jalan Asas. 10 Feb 2023
Oriental Darter looking for fish at Singapore Quarry. Also known as a Snakebird, it can assume a slender profile as it remains underwater for long periods.
Brown Hawk Owls roosting on 2 separate near branches. Near twilight they both got together and started smooching. What a moment . (Bukit Timah Nature Reserve) [060223]
Grey-headed Fish Eagle at S Quarry (060223)
Smooth-coated Otters enjoying their sashimi at Pandan River (050223)
Nature Ramblings – Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (backlit) [DFNP], Sunskink (Spore Quarry), Stork-billed Kf (Spore Quarry) [030223]
Massive blooms attracting host of butterflies and moths at Dairy Farm Nature Park. (020223)
JAN 2023
Dragonfly nymphs are much sought after by the Cattle Egret and Lineated Barbet scouting for a home but was chased away by Common Flameback (both at Hampstead)
The migratory Common King as seen at Jurong Ecogarden
Banded Woodpecker (Hampstead), Changeable Hawk Eagle (Seletar) and Magpie Robin (Jurong Lake Gardens)
Another Blue-winged Pitta is sighted at Jurong Lake Gardens
Two pairs of Lesser Whistling Ducks doing their thing at Duck Lake. Always more drama when these pair cross paths. Baker Street
The Buffy Fish Owl family is getting on fine. The owlet is seen jumping around and making short flights. And they will all suddenly disappear from view until the next generation of chick(s). Hampstead Gardens.
Another Pitta in our midst. The Blue-winged Pitta made its presence in another heartlands (instead of our forests). Once it was up the tree at 9.30am and came down looking for food only after 5.30pm. For some, the long wait was a test of perservereance. Bedok Reservoir Blk 645
Update on family of SWOs. Am told that this owlet fell to the ground 4x. Thank goodness for the kind-hearted folks at Pasir Ris, the owlet has a chance to grow up among its parents. Robust and clumsy, singular branches pose problems for its stability.
Hooded Pitta at HDB estate. For a few years, quite a number of HPs managed to find food in the housing estates (Jurong East St 21). It usually arrives to our tiny island, unkempt and hungry. This fella has done well; storing enough of reserves to fly back soon
The Hooded Pitta caught a small centipede; Standing tall for a better view; grooming time.
The Blue-eared Kingfisher is a rare resident. Males have the all black bill and females have a reddish lower bill. Dairy Farm Nature Park
Spotted Wood Owlet still figuring out how to stay on the branch – it fell three times to the ground and needed help. Every year its the same problem at Pasir Ris Park.
The introduced Lineated Barbet is thriving well here. Hampstead Gardens
