Delivery Interrupted

Can't really tell which is male which is female for this pair of lovely Coppersmith barbet (Megalaima haemacephala)

When the partner did not deliver the food on time, the other partner also flew out to find out what's happening...

Black Napped Oriole Feeding

Finally got to see the chick that I have been waiting for more than 2 weeks!
The mother Oriole is feeding the chick.

I'm sure this caterpillar will be very juicy!

The mother just stay beside the nest after the feeding and the chick just look at the mother.
The chick is calling the mother while the mother is out to look for food!

Read about the nestling here.

Asian Koel Courtship

In Singapore, most of us are wakened by Koel call in the morning instead of a cock. Yet, most are unsure how the Koel looks like.

Asian Koel is brood parasite which means they lay egg in nest of other birds, they are known of laying egg(s) in house crow nest in Singapore.

Don’t you think this male Koel have a very similar appearance with the House Crow? There are slight differences if you look carefully, Koel eyes are red and their bill is greenish in colour.

The female Asian Koel can be easily identified by the spots all over the body.

Since Asian Koel don’t feed their chicks and the feeding happens only during their courtship. The male will collect the fruit and feed the female during courtship (so lovely).

New Chicks Are Out

After 2 long week of waiting....the Black-Napped Oriole's egg hatched!
Although the chicks can't be seen from the photo, the feeding suggest that the eggs did hatched!

Now that the eggs has hatched. Next will be to witness the new generation first fledge their wings.

The nestling was first spotted on 25 January, you may read about it here.

Colourful Bird

Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) is one of the very common bird in the neighbourhood garden.
It really photogenic! Like the blue shade on the head, what a beautiful bird.

Pink-necked Green pigeon (Treron vernans) is another common bird of the garden. They too have a very beautiful colour on their plumage especially the male pigeon.

Rare Visitors of Singapore Botanic Garden

From the month of November to February, lots of birds flew south from the north to avoid the cold weather and some of them landed in Singapore. These migratory birds can be found from Sungei Buluh Wetland Nature Reserve all the way to Singapore Botanic Garden.

Among the migratory birds, Malayan Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus)

and Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida) are 2 of the less common birds that have chosen Singapore Botanic Garden to be their re-fuel station. Once the weather get warmer, they will fly north back to their place of origin.

Love Story

Since Valentine is just around the corner, I shall go along the same theme for my this posting. This is the story about a pair of rock pigeon. How the male pigeon attracted by a female and starts his courtship and finally succeed in getting his dream mate!... ;)
It was a hot and sunny morning when Mani(the male pigeon) met Fini(the female pigeon). Immediately Mani falls in love with Fini. Love at first sight do exist. Mani starts to go after Fini...

Mani is trying very hard in all the funny moves! He is showing Fini his muscle and how hunk he was...try to be a macho pigeon!When that failed, Mani become humble and try to be Valentino...singing love songs!

That doesn't work too....at last he try to be her bodyguard! Follow her wherever she go! He promise her that he will take care of her, he will give her whatever she wants....etc.....
It works!! Fini finally accepted Mani! So, Mani bring Fini to his favourite spot.
It started with a kiss...! Just like the movie...

and follow by....
I can't show the photo here...

It was rounds of exercise and exchange of genetic...

Now is the Fini that wants more....

So guys...don't neglect your mate after your got what you want! ;)

Lesser Adjutant - Jewel of Parit Jawa

This was my 2nd visit to Parit Jawa a small fishing village in the State of Johor, Southern Malaysia. Parit Jawa is famous among the local and also Malaysia with their unique cuisine 'Asam fish' (a special dish prepare with fresh fish and tamarind). People travel from all over Malaysia just to have a taste of this very famous delicacy.

Other than the famous delicacy, Parit Jawa is also a good place for birding.

Tiny yet beautiful Pacific swallow.
Different type of shore birds sharing the same perching place during high tide.
Another common scene at Parit Jawa is the busy fishing boat. These are the fishing boat that provide Parit Jawa all the fresh fish for the famous delicacy - Asam Fish

Brahminy Kite
Another interesting formation.

If you are looking for some action shoots, Parit Jawa is the place you won't want to miss. From tiny waders to egrets. Not forgetting the magnificent 'bald storks' - Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus)

During my guiding on Nature Walks, I always tell the participants that the chance to see certain animals on the guide sheet is very high but I can't guarantee as they move about and we are going to the nature not aquarium.

Although Parit Jawa is known to be the strong hold for Lesser Adjutant, I can't find any until 2 hours later when I was about to leave, they start to fly in.

I was so happy to see this 1st Lesser Adjutant.
More and more coming in and I even spot one of them hunting!

So nature is unpredictable...never assume they will always be there!