Sunday, December 4, 2016

JURONG LAKE GARDENS

Is been a while since I last visited Chinese Garden/Japanese Garden which will be part of the Jurong Lake Garden in the near future.
Chinese Garden
 One of the most distinctive icon in the garden is this 7-storey pagoda.
Lotus flower
 If you like lotus flower, this is the right place to visit. I shot this using my mobile.
Lotus flower
I always find lotus flower very attractive and give a sense of purity. There is a Chinese idiom 出于泥而不染 basically say it all... it simply mean out of mud and yet did not get soiled or dirty.
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) can be seen only during this period as they are migratory bird arrive here to avoid the winter up north.
Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater( Merops philippinus)
Another migratory bird in the garden, Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater( Merops philippinus)
White-Breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
 White-Breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) running around near the water edge.
Striated heron (Butorides striatus)
 Perching on the tree over looking the pond below and is hard to spot when it stay motionless - Striated heron (Butorides striatus) also known as Little heron.
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Although with the nest, this Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is not with breeding plumage yet. May be soon?
Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia)
 A very small bird, Common Iora (Aegithina tiphia) can sing very loudly and with many different melodies.
Brown-Throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis)
 Brown-Throated Sunbird (Anthreptes malacensis) feeding on the nectar of the flower.
Collared kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Another bird that can be easily spotted in the garden by simply follow their loud call - Collared kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris)
Pink-necked Green Pigeon(Treron vernans)
A female Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) that without the "pink neck". Only the male show the pink-neck that's how they got their name.
Plantain Squirrel
 A very friendly Plantain Squirrel.
Malayan Water Monitor Lizard
Malayan Water Monitor Lizard are protected Singapore and can be found in many gardens in Singapore.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

A Walk in St James Park, Londun

This is another long overdue post on my recent trip to London back in May this year. I managed to visit the park that is nearest to my hotel in the morning before leaving for airport back to Singapore.
St James Park Birdcage walk
 It was about 10 minutes walk from my hotel to get to St James Park at Birdcage Walk.
Greylag goose
The benefit of visiting new area is that you get to see new things, new animal... such as this Greylag goose.
Eurasian coot
This may not be my 1st time seeing an Eurasian coot. Is my first time seeing feeding Eurasian coot and such a near distance.
Eurasian coot
 Not to mention nest of Eurasian coot.
Eurasian coot
 I can even see their special lobed feet that they use to run on the water surface before taking off.
Egyptian goose
 Another new bird for me - Egyptian goose
Canada goose
 Canada goose is also my new record.
Tufted duck
 I seen Tufted duck in Japan and happy to see them in the wild again.
Northern pintail
 Northern pintail is another duck that I seen in Japan before and that was many years ago.
Smew
 This Smew is so cute. Good to see them here!
Goldeneye
 I have never seen a Goldeneye before too.

Common shelduck
 This Common shelduck just sit there watching me busy taking photo.
Ruddy shelduck
When I saw Ruddy shelduck at Thailand, all of them are so shy and we have to keep a very big distance. Now I get to see them quite close.
Grey squirrel
This Grey squirrel just in time to say goodbye to me before I leave to catch my flight. Is a short 30mins walk in the garden, but an really nice walk.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Birds of Amsterdam Part 2

This is the Part 2 of my posting of birds that I saw for my 3 days short stay at Amsterdam.
European herring gull
There are lots of gull around Amsterdam. Some of them too difficult to id so I file them a side. I hope I got this European herring gull right.
European rabbit
 Not difficult to spot this rabbit. I found them just next to the hotel I stay.
European robin
 Managed to take a photo of this small bird with my bridge camera - European robin
European starling
 One of the very common bird around Amsterdam - European starling
Gadwall
Not easy to see this duck over in Singapore. I'm happy to be able to watch it in such a short distance - Gadwall
Great black-backed gull
 This Great black-backed gull compete with rock pigeon for food right in the middle of Amsterdam.
Great crested grebe
 This is another new record for me - Great crested grebe
Great tit
 This is also new record for me - Great tit
Grey heron
Such a big bird how can I not taking a shot. Although I have seen it thousand times in Singapore... Grey heron 
House sparrow
 Another very common bird but uncommon in Singapore - House sparrow
Mallard
 A pair of Mallard and chicks.
Muscovy Duck
 I believe this is the domesticated/hybrid Muscovy Duck
Northern lapwing
I have been wanted to see this lapwing for a long time. So happy to be able to see it here - Northern lapwing
Rose-ringed parakeet
A pair of Rose-ringed parakeet found in the middle of Amsterdam.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Birds of Amsterdam Part 1

This post was long overdue due. Well, better be late than never. As mentioned earlier, this is not a pure birding trip, nevertheless, managed to take some wildlife during my free time during my short stay in Amsterdam. All photos was taken back in early May this year.
Black-tailed godwit
I have seen Black-tailed godwit many times in Singapore. But this is the first time seeing one with the breeding plumage.
Carrion crow
 Looks very similar to the crow in Singapore, however, the Carrion Crow call was much lower pitch.
Common tern
 Managed to capture this dive shot of the Common tern with my bridge camera.
Common wood pigeon
 Another very common bird that can be found throughout Amsterdam.
Eurasian blackbird
 Black beauty of the garden - Eurasian blackbird.
Eurasian coot
 Is so difficult to see one in Singapore but there are so many Eurasian coot in Amsterdam.
Eurasian jackdaw
 In fact Eurasian jackdaw is the very first bird that I saw in Amsterdam after check-in to my hotel.
Eurasian magpie
 I saw this Eurasian magpie while I was on the cruise.
Eurasian oystercatcher
 This is my 1st time seeing an Eurasian Oystercatcher.
Eurasian wren
A very small bird but can sing very loud. Is the call that lead me to it.