Saturday, 29 September 2007
Forces Of Nature
They have the power to send a jolt through the universe and helped form the earth beneath our feet. They can be both a blessing and a curse. We can't control them as no one can fully comprehend their awesome majesty. Natural disasters can happen at any time or place. They can bring sorrow, but they can also teach important lessons about who we are, what is important to us, and what joys life can hold for us.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Common Moorhen
The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) is a member of the rail family, it inhabits marshes and ponds. Its long toes make it possible to walk on soft mud and floating vegetation. They often swim in open water, bobbing their heads as they cross a pond or pool. Their diet includes mosquitoes, spiders, tadpoles, insect larvae, fruits, and seeds.
Friday, 01 December 2006
Purple Swamphen
Purple Swamphens (Porphyrio porphyrio) are large waterhens or rails that live among dense vegetation in lakes, swamps and streams.It is mainly dusky black above and dark blue to purple below, with a broard dark blue collar. As it walks, it flicks its tail up and down, revealing its white undertail. The bill is red and feet orange-red.
Monday, 27 November 2006
Pied Harrier
Harriers are diurnal birds of prey which characteristically fly low over open country and grasslands with wings angled up. They hunt or harry small animals or birds (hence their common name). Most are in the genus Circus, the scientific name also arising from the slow circling for prey. There are about 13 species of harriers worldwide and all are migratory.
Sunday, 28 May 2006
Himalayan Griffon
The Himalayan Griffon (Gyps himalayensis) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is closely related to the European Griffon Vulture. It breeds on steep rugged masses of rocks in the mountains in the Himalayas and Tibet, laying a single egg. The bird is found in high mountain ranges - seldom breeding below 1,200m and occuring at altitudes like 6,000m.
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush
The Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush also known as (Garrulax mitratus) can be found in Malaysia, Sumatra and Borneo and is a subspecies major ranging in the western Malaysian highlands (n Perak to s Selangor and Pahang).
A common sub-montane resident in forests or on the edges of clearings up to 9000 feet, ranging down to 700 feet at the foot of mountains. It is about 23 cm in size and often found in pairs or small groups. One can also find them with bird waves, foraging from forty feet downwards in dense vegetation.
Monday, 10 April 2006
White-bellied Sea Eagle
The White-bellied Sea Eagle is one of the largest raptor in Singapore; these raptors can be seen near coastal region or reservoirs in the morning and evening riding thermal.
White-bellied Sea Eagles have excellent eyesight and will hunt for prey that is found near the surface of water. They catch their prey by skimming over the water surface then snagging the prey with their talons.
Thursday, 09 February 2006
Brahminy Kite
The Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers.
This kite is a familiar sight in the skies of India and southeast Asia as far as tropical north Australia, through which it is widespread and resident. It has a typical kite flight, with wings angled, but its tail is rounded unlike the Milvus species, Red Kite and Black Kite, which have forked tails.
Monday, 23 January 2006
Changeable Hawk-eagle
An uncommon resident, the Changeable Hawk-eagle (Spizaetus cirrhatus) is a bird of prey. Despite its name, it is officially classified as a type of eagle. The Hawk-eagle is a medium large raptor. As its name implies, the plumage of the raptor is highly variable, from a nearly pure white to a dark brown plumage.
Saturday, 24 December 2005
Oriental Magie Robin
Oriental Magie Robin (Copsychus saularis) is a familiar resident garden bird. The male is magpie-like in colouring but in build resembling a robin. Females have the blue-black replaced by a coat of brownish grey (ash-grey on the chin, throat and breast). Magpie-Robin is a better name for this well-known little resident with its pied plumage and robin-like characteristics. It shares its English relative's love of gardens.
Friday, 23 December 2005
Azure-winged Magpie
Magpies are in the Corvid family, meaning they are related to crows and jackdaws. The Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyana) is similar in overall shape to the European Magpie (Pica pica) but is a more slender bird with proportionately smaller legs and bill. It has a glossy black top to the head and a white throat. The underparts and the back are a light grey-fawn in colour with the wings and the long tail feathers a beautiful azure blue.
Monday, 19 December 2005
Daurian Redstart
The Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus) is a familiar visitor to Hong Kong which arrives during November and leaves in March. It is a small bird easily recognised by its gay plumage and smart appearance. Males have whitish-grey heads, black chin, throat and sides of neck, black wings with a white blotch and orange-chestnut rump, tail and underparts. The female is mainly brown; there is a white blotch on the wings as well as some white on the throat and belly whilst the tail is a paler colour than that of the male.
Friday, 16 December 2005
Little Grebe
Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) are the smallest of the Grebes. They are persistent divers, and may dive for around half a minute. If alarmed, it will submerge until only its head remains above water.
Little Grebes breed in ponds and small lakes. The parent can be seen swimming with a brood of tiny young aboard. Feeding is usually carried out but one of the parents, who will return to the youngs after a successful hunt. It was observed that their diets include prawns and dragonflies.
Sunday, 20 November 2005
Collared Scops Owl
The Collared Scops Owl (Otus bakkamoena) is a native of Asia, composing of over 20 races. It ranges from Pakistan in the west to Japan in the east; from tropical Java and the Philippines north to temperate Siberia. Its preferred habitat is lightly forested areas and having adapted to urban habitats, it can also be found in some town gardens.
Tuesday, 20 September 2005
Shrikes
We've been really busy recently and have not been posting images here. Fred has found some time today, and will like to share a couple of shots of a Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach) and Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) with you.
Tuesday, 13 September 2005
Grey Heron
The Grey Heron stands at a height of 1m and has a wingspan of 2m. It is one of the largest birds in Singapore. Grey Herons' diet includes crabs and fishes. Its long neck gives it a long reach while hunting. They can stand motionless for hours and will usually wait for their prey to swim by before snatching them out of the water.
Small preys are tossed and eaten headfirst. Larger ones are shaken or stabbed to death before consumption. Mangroves are the Grey Herons' habitat. They breed, roost and hunt here. The Grey Herons in Singapore are loosing breeding grounds as mangroves and other suitable habitats are cleared for urban development.
Thursday, 04 August 2005
Black-shouldered Kite (2)
Continuing from part I, allow us to present you with part II of our images on one of our favourite bird, the Black-shouldered Kite.
Tuesday, 02 August 2005
Black-shouldered Kite (1)
The Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) is a small raptor with its unique plumage, flight silhouette and active flight. It is the only diurnal raptor in the region shown to be multi-brooded. There are 4 subspecies of Black-shouldered Kites all over the world.
They can be seen perching on tree tops and even lamp posts along the road. It prefers open habitats with scattered trees and hunts over open areas. The Black-shouldered Kite is purely a non-forest bird and a common resident in Singapore and can be found nesting in the precious, undisturbed open country we have here.
Tuesday, 19 July 2005
Blue-tailed Bee-eaters
The Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) is classfied as a common passage migrant and winter visitor. It is strongly migratory.
This slender bird is richly coloured in predominantly green with a narrow blue patch on its face together with a black eye stripe.
It also has a yellowish brown throat. As its name goes, its tail is blue and has a black beak. Elongated central tail feathers also known as streamers are common on adults. There are no visual differences between sexes.
Bee-eaters eat insects which are caught in the air or from an open perch.
The birds nest colonially in sandy banks or open flat areas and have about 5 to 7 eggs. Eggs are taken care of by both the male and female birds. They also feed and roost communally.
Tuesday, 03 May 2005
Black Kite
The Black Kite is a medium-sized raptor. It appears almost black, with a light brown bar on the shoulder from a distance. Its long forked tail with barred with darker brown and almost unmarked under-wing make it unmistakable in flight. They feeds lizards, small mammals and even grasshoppers. The black kite is a scavenger, just like the Brahminy kite. We've observed them in big numbers around padi fields in West Malaysia during the migratory seasons.
Friday, 15 April 2005
FRIM & Rawang Heronry
Our friend, Eric decided to organise a little visit to FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia) and soon we were on our way. This trip was really interesting as Mich got to pilot AO in foggy conditions while we were on our way up. And we also got the chance to observe and photograph many birds that we don't get to see in Singapore.
A BIG THANK YOU to Eric, Ahli, Susan and many of our friends for making this trip possible!
Wednesday, 13 April 2005
Barn Swallows
Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) are common in Singapore and often build their nests near human populated areas. The nest is built out of mud pellets combined with dry long grasses arranged like bricks to form half-bowls or saucers. Barn Swallows eat insects, preferably flies and mosquitos. They can be considered as a natural form of pest control.
Sunday, 20 February 2005
Little Heron
Little Herons (Butorides striatus) are commonly found near mangroves, estuaries, coral reefs and rocky coasts. They may also be found, in freshwater wetlands such as swamps, streams, canals, reservoirs, and even parks and gardens.
They often perch-and-wait on a branch or root over the water, tucking in their necks and crouching in a low forward position over the water, motionless but intently looking out for small fishes and crabs to feed on. They prefer to hunt during the early morning and late evening and may flick their crests up and down as they wait.
Little Herons are solitary birds, they usually hunt and roost alone and are highly territorial. However, several of them may be spaced out at regular intervals in good feeding areas. Both adults and young birds have a partial web between the middle and outer toes, which may allow them to swim.
Thursday, 17 February 2005
Richard's Pipit
Richard's Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) with their drab brown plumage blends well with sandy and stony terrain. Their diet includes insects and some seeds. They were often observed to be engaging in flights that will end in an abrupt dive to the ground, where they'll start running and stopping. While stopped, they'll usually bob their tails up and down.
Monday, 07 February 2005
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) can usually be found near streams, lagoons, lakes and near the coast. It is a sluggish bird and perches most of the day. Occasionally, it'll make short flights over the water to hunt for fish. The Grey-headed Fish Eagle does not have the spectacular fishing methods of the Osprey or the White-bellied Sea Eagle, and can take quite large fish that swims near the water surface.
Monday, 24 January 2005
Pacific Swallow
Pacific Swallows (Hirundo tahitica) can be found almost anywhere in Singapore, they are very common in areas near water and open-field. They eat insects, they will perch and wait, once a prey comes along, they'll chase it just like what Bee-eaters do.
Wednesday, 15 December 2004
Terns
The Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) is one of the smallest terns, easily recognised by size and colour alone. Close up, the black-tipped yellow bill, yellow legs and white forehead of adults can be seen. Juveniles have dull legs and bill colour and a scaly appearance to the back. They also have subterminal markings on wing coverts. Their flight is buoyant and usually hover before plunge-diving into shallow water for small fish and shrimps. Little Terns utter raucous crree-ick and other calls.
Sunday, 12 December 2004
Munia
Scaly-breasted Munias are quite common in Singapore, these birds can be found near grasslands. These Munias have large conical beaks and specialise in eating grass seeds and sedges. Scaly-breasted Munias breed year-round and may have up to 3-4 broods on a good year.
Friday, 29 October 2004
Lesser Adjutant
Allow Fred to share some images he has taken of the Lesser Adjutant (Leptotilos javanicus) during our little field trip to Parit Jawa. The Lesser Adjutant is a globally threatened bird, its food source consists of small reptiles, frogs and fish.
Thursday, 21 October 2004
Parit Jawa
We just came back from Parit Jawa not long ago, and the pictures are up! Do drop by the gallery to take a look at abundant wildlife in Muar, Malaysia.
Wednesday, 06 October 2004
Sunbirds
We've update the Sunbird gallery with a couple of Plain-throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) pics taken by Fred recently. The Plain-throated Sunbird is also known as Brown-Throated Sunbird.
Thursday, 08 July 2004
Asian Glossy Starling
Asian Glossy Starling mimics the calls of other birds, their glossy plumage has an iridescent shine, changing to green, purple or black as they move about in bright sunlight. These birds breed year-round (peak in March-June), they feed and roost in flocks of about 20. Fred has managed to capture some images of these birds, and they can be found in his Gallery. Enjoy! ;-0
Saturday, 03 July 2004
Blue-Throated Bee-eaters (1)
Fred recently went on a misson to document the life cycle and behavior of the colourful insect-specialist, the Blue-Throatd Bee-eater. This is the first of many upcoming galleries on this amazing Nature's creation.
This gallery gives us an insight to the widely variable diet of the Bee-eater. Do come on in, learn and be amazed at one of Nature's wonders. And of course, Fred's photography skills! ^.^
Friday, 25 June 2004
Spiderhunters
While out "hunting" for the elusive Crimson Sunbird, Fred chance upon the Little Spiderhunter (Arachnothera longirostra) and manage to take a few shots of it. This is a very quick fella, and is constantly on the move. It's a challenge to photograph the bird and our pleasure to share the following images with you. We hope you'll like it. ;-)
Saturday, 05 June 2004
Bee-eaters
Having managed to squeeze a bit of time for nature photography during one weekend, Michelle went out to capture some images of one of the most colourful birds in nature, the Blue-throated Bee-eater. Do pop by to view one of nature's most beautiful creations.