Spotted Dove

I spotted this Dove from afar and even with the stretching of my Olympus 84.2mm zoom lens to the maximum, I only managed to bring it this much closer. Not good enough and really I should have used my Canon 400D with the more powerful zoom. If only! Since I happened to have in my hand the Olympus with its frustrating slow response to anything, I had to make the best use of it because birds are such restless creatures - even this spotted dove that was walking along the edge of a retaining wall. It was pecking at bits of the plants apparently having its breakfast. Conscious of its highly exposed position, it constantly looked up and down and around before taking a cautious peck at the plants.

Frustrating moment - The spotted dove flew off before the shutter of my camera was activated.

Bubul surveying site for nest

After I pruned my Bougainvillea plant some weeks ago, the bubuls have avoided coming to my backyard. Now the new shoots have sufficient leaves to hide their visits. This serious-looking bubul saw a potential site for its nest in the bundle of shoots that I had tied up and secured to the fence. How did I know?

It dived into the 'bundle' and moved around inside as if testing the strength of the branches. Welcome back Little Bubul and I hope you will build your nest here.

Hill Mynahs

These birds (5 in the first video and 4 in the second) were perched high up the branches of a tree next to the tree-top boardwalk at Kentridge park. They were making very clear high-pitch calls in the first video taken at the start of my walk to the Hortpark. The calls sounded like a choir warming up for a practice. In the second video, taken one and half hours later, there were 4 birds left but they must have had a very good practice session for they were singing a melodious tune in combination.

Sunbird encounter

You cannot get within 20 metres of these birds, so I have learned. Unfortunately I did not have a better camera with a good zoom lens. Still, I think these pictures are worth posting for they are snippets of the life of this very fast-moving and busy bird and it is not easy to capture them taking a refreshing sip of nectar from the flowers.

Mynah

I apologise for the poor quality of these photos. These shots were made using the digital zoom feature of my IXUS 870IS which explains the lack of clarity and definition in the subject. However, I am posting these photos because they are the only record of a phenomenon that I have not witnessed before. Most times Mynahs such as this one here are part of groups of three or four birds. They have become very common in our parks and gardens and have also become so urbanised that they even have the boldness to take their lunch at our hawker centres pecking at the leftovers on the plates. They are gregarious and I have witnessed a number of fights amongst themselves. Once I saw a group of three or four birds attacking a smaller mynah viciously.

This time I saw this solitary bird very much alone. I would not have noticed it had it not been for its noisiness and when I took time to give it my full attention I noticed that it was preening and puffing up its feathers and I guessed it must be trying to attract the attention of an interested female. Unfortunately for it, the only female was me and I was available. Sadly it did not give me even a second look. After about ten minutes of hopping from leaf to leaf and showing off its body shape, it gave up and flew away.

Bubuls are back again

They came, this couple of young pudgy bubuls. They perched on the topmost branch of my bougainvillea plant as if surveying a new site to build a nest. They look very young and innocent. The mature bubuls fly off at the slightest movement I make even though I am inside the house. This bulbul did not appear to be suspicious of human beings. So I was able to take a number of shots with the zoom lens till it flew away.

Pigeons

Abundant food, eat all you can. How nice if life is so simple and all you need can be had from a tree.

Not a bird but a tortoise

Huh?

You bet you are!

What can you do to me, I have the best protection nature can give.

What difficulty?

You sure are a busybody!

Eh, thanks!

Yeah they are poisonous.

You have nothing better to do is it?

Sigh!

The grass is greener there!

Good bye then! Still...

You are welcome.

Same here too!

Bulbuls - the last set of pictures

These pictures were taken of a pair of devoted parents taking turns to feed their young. I used my Olympus SP-55OUZ so that I could photograph these birds using the 8 X Optical zoom that allows me to keep out of sight and yet be able to capture close-up views of these ultra-sensitive creatures. Little did I know then that this was the last time that I would see these birds.

Here one moment and off the next.

Looking out for danger or threats to the nest while its partner does the feeding.

The dad and mum take turns to catch insects and be the look-0ut.

Three hundred-and-sixty degree surveillance before flying to the nest.

Here you are my lovelies!

Gone again and now it's Dad's turn to feed.

Coast is clear!

Okay safe to go the young ones now.

Pity I never got to see the baby bulbuls because...

today, when I went out to take a look at the nest in the clump of Torch Ginger plants next-door, I received a shock:

Moral of the story: Don't take things for granted. Peace and happiness are fleeting like these bulbuls. Treasure the moments of joy because they do not last. I will miss these birds and I feel really sorry that the young birds did not get a chance to grow. With the nest gone, they would not be able to survive for even if they are not harmed, the parents would abandon them because the nest has been disturbed.

Bubul nest

Over two days I was hoping to get a good picture of this couple of bulbuls flying to and fro the nest they have made on the towering Torch Ginger plant in my neighbour's back garden next door. On the first day, they appeared to be taking turns to bring food back to feed the young which I never got to see.









On the second day, I managed to photograph one of them perched on the fence in the house behind me while its mate was busy delivering dinner to the kids.



I was really, really patient...





...and finally managed to get one of the parents sitting in the nest.

Not a bird, not a plane, it's an IGUANA!!!

Today, I visited my mother and she greeted me at the door telling me about a monstrous creature that I thought had got into her house. I was curious about this creature and much to my relief it had not entered the house but was taking a stroll along the drain at the back of the house.

Seeing an iguana in the flesh is nothing like seeing one on Animal Planet. Even though this particular iguana did not seem very threatening, it was nevertheless quite 'monstrous looking'.

I took these photos behind a grill door and used the optical zoom when I deemed it safe to venture outside. Yes, I am quite chicken-hearted when it comes to animals especially exotic ones like this creature here. The iguana was totally engrossed in sensing its new surroundings. It tried to climb a wall.The wall was too steep and not getting a foothold, it decided to do a few poses for my camera. And then feeling bored, it carried on walking away from my camera.

Unknown bird

I heard the trilling sounds of a bird up on a tree and what I saw was a pair of elegant birds flitting amongst the branches. I recall having seen these birds in captivity before. Fascinated I tried to get a good focus but to no avail because my camera's greatest limitation is its zoom capability.

The Bulbuls are here again

After months of absence I saw this slim bulbul on the new shoots of my bougainvillea plant. It was not easy to take these two photos of this bird because it stopped by for fleeting seconds before flying off elsewhere.

Spotted Dove in the Singapore Botanic Gardens

It was a hot Saturday afternoon. There was just me and this spotted dove seeking shelter away from the scorching sun. It was alone feeding on the fruits of the plant and when it was done it walked around the area looking pretty contented with its life.

Peacock

Peacocks are found in Singapore. I have seen them in the zoo, in the Bird Park and in Sentosa. These peacocks were in Australia and they were great photographic subjects if you are interested because they roamed freely in the garden displaying their feathers as if they had been trained to do so to entertain visitors.

Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus)

This male bird is in mating attire. From what I have read, its feathers are brown when it is not looking for a mate. We were inside the apartment in Australia when this bird came knocking on the window pane with its beak and it did so for two days in a row at around the same time in the morning as if it wanted to be let in. I could not get a better shot of this attractive bird because it was hopping around in an agitated manner and when we went outside it flew away.

Crimson Sunbird

These two are my prized shots because I have never managed to photograph these birds well enough for them to be recognizable as they are such restless creatures and my cameras are those not in the league of professional photographers. Despite this technical shortcoming, I managed to keep cool and still, while waiting for my camera to get its autofocus right. I was all the time praying for this bird to stay for just a few more seconds and miraculously it did. So, never before seen on this blog, may I introduce the crimson sunbird, and a very well-fed one at that.

Photos taken at the Yuen Ping McNiece Bromeliad Garden in the grounds of the Singapore Orchid Garden.

Bubul's visit

Haven't seen you for long time. You have put on a lot of weight and it looks like you have no time to preen your feathers. What's up my little bubul?

Kingfisher and caged birds

Brother I am free.
The sky is my roof.
The air warms my feathers.I am free. Here are my pampered brothers in a blue cage
surrounded by curious humans.
Ironically blue is not their sky but their prison.

Female Asian Koel

It was not my intention to photograph birds. It usually works like this - expect and you will be disappointed if things do not go the way you wish. Have no expectations and a surprise could await you. It happened to me when I was unprepared, caught with only a pocket digital camera that had only a 4x zoom facility - my trusty Canon IXUS 800IS. Still it was better than having no camera at all.

I could tell from the silhoutte of the creature that it was something that I had never seen before. I moved in cautiously and using the flash managed to get these photos that could help in the identification of this bird.


It was beautiful with such fine feathers and a lovely tail!

Collared Kingfisher

I heard the cackling call of this bird before I saw it. It was the closest I ever got to seeing this bird as it chose to land on the branch of a plumeria tree that was about ten meters from me. It looked expectant, waiting as if training its eyes on a prospective prey. I fumbled with the manual settings of the Canon SLR and made a quick decision to switch to full-auto mode.

"Ah huh, looks like my lunch over there."

"The grub is fatter on the other side."

"Too late, someone's got there first."
"Should have been mine."
"Mine, I saw it first!"Whatever its thoughts, I am glad this kingfisher stayed long enough for me to the this shot.

Sunbird

These birds are small and swift and are too fast for me and my compact cameras. Usually when I hear them I just let them be. Sometimes I take it as a challenge to catch them still for just a second or so.

Bulbul rendezvou

This bulbul came one day chirping noisily and flying restlessly here and there, landing sporadically on branches and fence as if looking for something. Observing its behaviour from a distance I realised that it was probably looking for its mate because eventually the other bulbul answered its call. With just a digital camera and mindful that I should not be seen, I was not able to record both birds amongst the foliage of my bougainvillea plant. Still I managed one decent one when the bulbul was perched high above on a neighbour's fence.

Breakfast meal

This is the first time I have taken a photo of a bird with something in its beak. It looks alike a worm and as usual, I was to slow or rather the camera was too slow for me to take another shot and a sharper one at that. Still this is a milestone for me in photographing birds.

This bulbul, possibly the same one landed on the branch with something in its beak. The photo was taken after the bird had swallowed its prey. Too slow again.

Bulbul on Good Friday 2008

Wouldn't it be nice to hold this cute pudgy bird in your hand? I would love to but the bulbul won't be pleased about that. In fact it spends every moment in my garden with extreme cautiousness, always looking straight into my house suspecting that I am there half the time. I have learned to keep very still whenever it and its partner comes to play amongst the thorny branches of my bougainvillea plant.
This particular bulbul was on this branch for less than 10 seconds and in that time it was bobbing its tail up and down continuously. I had to take several shots just to catch it still for a second with its tail down.
I got the picture I wanted at last.
Here's the other bulbul showing off its beautiful feathers and the reason why it is called a yellow-vented bulbul.

Birds that flew into my view

I have never seen Collared Kingfishers as fat as these. I just love the blue of their feathers.
Caught with the limited zoom facility of my Canon IXUS. Better this than not at all. A profile to confirm that it's not just fluffed-up feathers.

From afar I had not thought that this was a Spotted Dove. Those I've seen in my garden are smaller in size and much slimmer. This one has a lump on its chest. Front and back view, that was all I managed to capture before it flew off as I advanced to take a closer look.

A flash of colour streaked across my path and materialised as this White-throated Kingfisher.

Those birds above were spotted along East Coast Park. This one was spotted in West Coast Park.
So much for the week on birds. The nest in my bougainvillea shrub has been rather quiet. I hope the bulbuls have not abandoned it.

Bulbul sitting in a nest

This is the bird with the perpetually 'pissed' look sitting in the nest it built with its partner amidst the thick foliage of my bougainvilla plant.

I have no idea if it is the male or the female half of the couple that I have been observing in the past few months. I am not even sure if these bubuls are the same ones I have been photographing stealthily each time they came to perch on my bougainvillea plant. Neverthelss, I am glad they have chosen my backyard to start a family which explains why I only have a drawing instead of a photo to show off the new tenants in my garden.

Previous attempts to take pictures of the bird in the nest failed because the zoom lens could not focus on the bird as there were too many leaves and branches around it. Rather than risk scaring the birds away and causing them to abandon the eggs, I thought it would be better to keep away at a distance where I would not be seen as posing a danger to these birds. Holding a sketch pad is less threatening than pointing a camera at close range at these sensitive creatures. It's rather peaceful now. What could the bulbul be thinking while it sits almost motionless for such long durations? Amazing nature.

Macaws

These macaws were photographed at the Jurong Bird Park in December last year. I made a print of the digital image intending to paint these magnificent birds someday. Today, I thought I would just do an ink drawing to understand the form, texture and colour tones before I commit to painting with either oil or acrylic. The drawing enabled me to discover the intricacies of the layers of feathers and that there are really more colours than what the eye sees at a glance. These birds are really examples of the endless wonders that nature possesses.

Cattle Egret

This sleek cattle egret was looking out of place at a busy traffic light junction. Fortunately for me the lights turned red and my car pulled up slightly ahead of this lonesome creature on the eve of Valentine's day. I reached out for my trusty Canon IXUS, wound down the car window and took aim. I don't really care what other drivers might have been thinking. I just wanted some pictures and I got them - here they are!

Time to leave as the lights have changed. One last shot of a forlorn creature. I hope it gets back to where the grass is greener.

Kingfisher

Can you spot the kingfisher in this picture? You cannot miss the brilliant blue of its feathers even though it looks no bigger than the clusters of frangipani flowers on the tree. I was caught off guard when this stunningly attractive bird flew across my view and perched itself on the branch of this tree. I did not even have time to focus and just pointed my camera at it and snapped. A split second later, it was gone.

Yellow-vented bubul

This bubul and its companion come often to rest on the branches of my Bougainvillea plant. For some reason they usually come after the rains have stopped. By now, this bulbul must be quite familiar with me knowing that all I want to do is to point a camera at it with no intention of harming it. This time, I used my Olympus camera with the 18x zoom capability, creeping nearer and nearer to take closer shots. At one point, this bubul looked me straight in the face for a few seconds without flinching even though I was moving slowly towards it. I could almost detect a look of trust on its face but alas when I got within 2 metres, it bolted. Still, it gave me some of the best shots in all the time that I spent photographing it.

Yellow-vented Bulbuls

I was playing with my Olympus C-750 10x zoom taking aim at the hibiscus from where I was sitting inside the house.

Then this young bulbul with the proud face flew into my view and rested on the hibiscus branch. It stayed for less than a few seconds before joining its companion on a branch higher up on my bougainvillea shrub.
Because of all the flying around that these two birds were doing I lost track of their identity. Actually I don't really know except that one was smaller than the other.
This one looks annoyed.
Extremely annoyed by something.
Now a little suspicious.
Hmmm, looks like there are no predators, so we can start our preening routine.
I'll keep watch here, you go ahead.
Sure, it is safe?
Yup, no worries, go ahead and preen.
Hmm, something seems to be moving inside the house.
Preen, preen, preen...
Okay, I'm done, now it is your turn.
Hey, wait a minute, there is a nosy human in there pointing a camera at us.
Let me look at her with my right eye.

Just to confirm, now with my left eye.
Now let me process what I saw.
Yup, it's her again, always spying on us.
Hi Mable, you sure are nosy. Okay we got to go. See you.

Sun conure

It is not hard to see why this parrot is called a sun conure. Firstly, the colours are of such a bright and cheerful combination that even on a gloomy day, this bird has the amazing ability to light up your life, if only for the brief moment you spend looking at it. Secondly, it is filled with curiosity and interest in whoever approaches the cage. It boldly sashays across the wire mesh of the cage as if it wants to communicate with you. Its big round eyes never leave yours making it all the more endearing. Last but not least, it knows how to please you. It picks up as melon seed with its beak, looks at you as if it wants to offer you a present in friendship.If I ever need a pet in my life, it will definitely be this bird.

Blue and Gold Macaw

Found out that the name of this macaw (name for colourful parrots found in South and Central America) is just plain and straightforward 'Blue and Gold Macaw'. This one here unfortunately was not at liberty to fly around and it is in a setting that it should not be at. Birds are meant to be free and to enjoy their lives in their natural habitat.

Apart from preening its feathers being chained all the time to a bicycle, this Macaw has no choice but to carry on its existence far away from its home.


What joy it must be to glide through the deep jungles of the Amazon - it can only be a dream now. And this beautiful bird is not alone in its plight.

Waterhen

Waterhens are easily spotted by the water's edge in our parks and nature reserves. Usually, they are very quick to get away from people who go near them. This waterhen however, was not too concerned about my presence even though I went rather close to it to take these photos. It probably knew that it was a protected specie and in broad daylight I was not seen as danger. It could also be that I learned how to move slowly and cautiously so as not to alarm these birds unnecessarily.

Migratory birds on Pulau Ubin

Migratory birds - they are here again!

Where in Singapore is this place? It reminds me very much of Jiuzhaigou and I could not believe my eyes at first when this scene greeted me. The lush greenery, the perfect mirror reflections and the colours of the water.From a distance that was out of reach of even my Olympus 10x zoom camera, I could only gaze at the faraway image of this huge bird that was probably a stork. To the right of where the stork was, I suddenly realised that that a whole community of migratory birds of different species have built their summer homes on the bare, bleached skeletal branches of these trees.
If you were not looking out for them, you would most likely have missed seeing these birds.
Until one or two of them took glides across the water or flutter around their nests.
Wednesday was a respite from the rains of Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was a lovely day with muted sun rays and lovely breezes. A great day for a walk from Chek Jawa to the boundaries of the Outward Bound school on Pulau Ubin.

Return of the Bulbuls

This bubul looks like one of the pair of babies that I had scared away with my persistent photographing of them some weeks back. Now I hide behind curtains and tiptoe to the window whenever I sense their presence. This was about the third time that I have seen them landing on my bougainvillea and doing elaborate preening routines amidst the shady branches of my bougainvillea.

With my Olympus C-750 10X zoomed to the maximum I managed to capture this one shot of this fastidious creature looking up for a brief moment before applying its beak to its feathers again.

Best shot taken while I was hidden from the view of this highly-suspicious bird.
Looks like this baby is growing into a good-looking adult bubul.

It started to sing and I quickly switched the dials to video mode. Unfortunately, I forgot to check if the sound recording was on. It was not. Anyway I was not successful in uploading this video. Will try again another time.

Ordinary pigeons

Pigeons like these are commonly seen in open spaces where some people can be seen feeding them. In the Singaore Botanic Gardens one morning I saw these birds all puffed up into fluffly balls of feathers and stopped in my tracks to take these pictures. All we need to do in life is to do something out of the ordinary and we can become stars in our own right.

Lesser Whistling Ducks II

Long Live Blogger! I can now upload videos directly to this blog all because of the thoughtful appearance of a video icon in the post box courtesy of the Blogger people. I should be most encouraged to go and get a proper video camera now instead of using my digital cameras to make recordings of nature. Here's the video clip I made of a family of Lesser Whistling ducks swimming merrily. One of the parents is keeping a watchful eye while the rest feed.

These ducks make the perfect poster for a happy family:Eat, my children while food is in abundanceAvid photographers aiming for the perfect shot of the Lesser Whistling Ducks in the pond.Parental instinct: Father Duck looks our for signs of danger.Okay kiddos, time to move on.Sayora!

Lesser Whistling Ducks

I first laid eyes on these ducks in Marina City Park. Subsequently, I saw a number at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. That was many months ago.

The feathers are so glossy and well-preened.

The markings on the feathers are accentuated by the contrasting red feathers at the tail. This duck will make a good painting subject if only that is possible.
I was fortunate to have been able to take these shots.
Having the Olympus C750UZ with a 10x zoom makes photo-taking for an amateur like me fun and enjoyble.
Now what should we do about our future here?

Olive-backed Sunbird

All it takes is one shot, one lucky shot. This picture was taken by my husband with an Olympus SP550UZ with an 18X zoom facility while I struggled with a Canon 40D with a standard lens with less than satisfactory results. The bird was never still for a moment flitting amongst the flowers of the jacaranda tree and we were both hoping for the best. Well, this is the one:

Asian Koel

For years I have been hearing the calls of these birds without knowing how they looked. Information from various web resources tell me that these birds came from Thailand and have made Singapore their home.

The males are black and could be mistaken for crows. I read that these birds sometimes lay their eggs in the nests of crows with the latter hatching and raising the baby birds without a clue about their true identity till they are old enough to leave the coop.

These photos were taken of two male birds (apparently the females are brownish in colour with white specks on their feathers) hiding in the branches of a very tall Norfolk pine in the vicinity of Venus Drive.

Now see the video clip:

Little Heron

This Little Heron was fishing on the edge of Upper Peirce Reservoir just below the embankment dividing the reservoir into upper and lower portions. I was close enough for it to sense danger. The bird chose to stay but kept me in sight while it looked for tiny fishes in the water.

It was determined to catch its breakfast.
On the wooden bridge at the Bukit Timah section of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, I spied this fairly large bird perched amongst the thick foliage.With my Olympus 18x zoom camera, I managed to capture the bird preening its feathers in the fading light of the day.
On another occasion, another Little Heron looking no different from the rest I have seen, waits for its prey in the shallow waters of a pond in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.Can't I have some peace and privacy while feeding?
On a bare tree on Sentosa Island, I spotted another Little Heron from afar. It was quite beyond the reach of my camera lenses.This is bird haven until the Integrated Resorts rise above nature and hopefully this tree and its residents or visitors will not disappear from the face of Sentosa. Now see how a Little Heron walks:

Bulbuls in my garden - the videos

This is the first of 4 video clips of a couple of baby bulbuls in my garden. They were never alone as one of their parents was always around to keep an eye on them. See them huddling close to each other in the rain beneath the branches of my bougainvillea plant.

This pair of siblings were seldom apart. Here they are perched on the branch of a Guava tree.

Preening - never knew birds can be so fastidious about grooming.

This is the way that beaks are cleaned.

White-crested laughing thrush

Stork-billed Kingfisher

Photos taken on 18 April 2007

Bulbuls in my garden and house

These birds are family-oriented from what I have observed in the past few weeks. Though they built their nests in my neighbours' gardens, they seemed to like my sturdy bougainvilla plant because it is shady and gives them a good camouflage. This month, we had 3 encounters with these birds and they were close enough to be photographed. I even managed to video them using my digital cameras and will put up a video clip soon.