Pulau Ubin

Can't remember when was the last time I visited Pulau Ubin. Changi Village is the place you should go and take a 10-15 mins boat (ferry) ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal if you are planning to visit Pulau Ubin.

The boat will pass through Changi beach after the terminal before go north to Pulau Ubin.

During this short journey, you may see grey heron, little terns, white belly sea eagle, etc that will fly across.

Do spend some time to read the Do & Don't before you start your exploration on the island.

The lake may be beautiful and the warning sign is there for a reason. In fact this is a quarry before it was filled up by rain water.

A distance shot of the Pekan Quarry. Isn't it beautiful?

No this is not crocodile but water monitor lizard.

Pulau Ubin is one place in Singapore that sighting of Oriental Pied Hornbill is almost certain.

I saw them almost every few minutes.

Some from far some of them just few meters away.

Another sure see birds on the island is Grey heron.

This is also a good place to practise you flight shot. I took this photo with just my compact camera.

Saw several White belly sea eagle.

Another raptor that I saw is Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Changeable lizard taking sun bath under the sunlight.

Pulau UBin is one place in Singapore that the time stand still. This place is still retain the look of the 60's.

The landscape across the straits over the main island of Singapore is still changing and let's hope the Pulau Ubin can continue the 60's look as long as possible as Ubin is consider the last kampung (village) in Singapore...

Raining Birds

Despite the heavy downpour and flash flood yesterday, we proceed with our planned birding trip to Pulau Ubin. We share a cab in order to reach Changi Jetty before 7.30am, CHL stay furthest, so he get a cab first and pick me up before we pick Ling. We arrive at Pulau Ubin as planned right before 8am.
The first bird that I saw was this very shy Lesser Coucal. It may looks very similar to Greater Coucal from far, however Lesser Coucal is smaller and with the very distinctive white streaks which Greater Coucal don't haveOne of the reason we want to reach Ubin early is to catch this pair of White-bellied Sea Eagle. They will perch here early in the morning and will flew off when the temperature rises.

A curious Yellow-Vented Bulbul checking on us.I saw this Blue-throated Bee-eater last week being fed and is now hunting his own food today.

A Common Myna that once very common now are found usually near coastal area. The weather changed rather fast and it was drizzling and we know is time we head back to the mainland.

Once back to mainland at Changi Village, we go for breakfast while waiting for the sky to clear. Saw these flocks of Rock pigeon fly in a straight line so I just took a shot of it.

There is no sign that the rain will stop so we proceed with our birding with umbrella around the Changi Village. AS usual, is not difficult to locate this very noisy but beautiful Pink-breasted Parakeet.
This pair of Tanimbar Corella in a lovey dovey mood...

Not a bad idea to go for birding in a raining day!

Feeding Behavior of Bee-eater

As the name suggest bees and wasps formed main diet of bee-eaters but they also feed on most flying insect such as dragonfly. I’m particularly delighted to watch the bee-eater ‘process’ their prey before consuming it or feed it to their juvenile.

When the bee-eater caught a bee or wasp, the bee-eater will repeatedly hit and rub them on the tree branch and at the same time add pressure onto the prey. This will remove most of the venom from their prey. Only then the prey is considered safe for consumption.

I saw this pair of Blue-throated Bee-eater (Merops viridis) last week during my trip to Pulau Ubin.

The juvenile (just fledged and without the brown caped) on the left patiently waiting while the parent is processing the bee.

The adult bee-eater hold the prey in the bill and hit it against the tree branch that she perched on several time.
The bee-eater will at the same time add pressure onto the prey to force most of the venom out from the prey.

Only when the prey is considere safe for consumption, the adult bee-eater will feed it to their juvenile.
The adult carefully place the bee into the open bill of the juvenile.

The adult will just watch the juvenile slowly consume the processed food.
What a beautiful sight! "Like father like son!" or you may say "Like mother like daughter!
"

Another Exciting Pulau Ubin Trip

It was quiet than usual when I arrived at Pulau Ubin (a small off-shore island at the north of Singapore) this morning. Perhaps the World Cup match between Germany & Uruguay finish at local time 4.30am partly the reason. Since the traffic is low, I suppose it will be a better chance to spot more birds?

I did have a really fruitful trip this morning and below are some of the photos that I have taken this morning. Just a few minutes walk once I off from the main road I saw a flock of Red-Breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri) Being a noisy birds, is not difficult to spot them when they are nearby.

Saw this huge wasp at the side of the road and perhaps this also explain the high number of Bee-eaters around this area.
A pair of mother and juvenile Blue-throated Bee-eater were spotted just a few steps from where I saw that wasp.

A very colourful Pink-neck green pigeon hiding among the leaves. If the pigeon stay still, it will not be easy to spot them.

A Little Tern was spotted flew pass on top of meHuge red bill Stork-billed Kingfisher patiently perch on the tree waiting for prey.

Oriental Magpie Robin, bird that almost go extinct due to cage bird industry sometimes ago make a comeback after it was re-introduced.

Peaceful Dove taking sun bath under the morning sunlight.

As the temperature soar, this Scaly-Breasted Munia take shelter under the leaves.

A juvenile Scaly-Breasted munia is taking shelter from the hot sun too.

A really tiny bird that less than 9cm, a Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker.

As the temperature continue to soar, I decided to call it a day as I also need to catch some sleep to be ready for tonight World Cup final at 2.30am local time.

First Come First Serve

Traditionally, monsoon period also means that is good time to go for bird watching. Lots of migratory birds will stop over here for the next 3 months to re-fuel their energy after long journey here to avoid the cold winter from the north. Other than Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Central Catchment area, neighbourhood parks are all good place to start. I head to Pulau Ubin last week end to try my luck.
The first thing that I notice is that lots of grey heron (Ardea cinerea)here are changing to the breeding plumage, with their bill changed to orange or reddish colour such as the one on top.
This grey heron first perch on this tree but was fast facing unwanted guests - flock of crows! This poor heron took quite some times to get some peace! However, before the heron able to rest, here comes another guest - a competitor!Unwilling to share this prime area, the heron protest to this uninvited guest by raising up both wings!

Both heron trying to fight for this prime area and unwilling to give way.
Looks like both are really serious and a fight is unavoidable!

The heron on the left seems to be gaining ground, so far no physical contact yet.

For the next 2 minutes, the stand off continues and both heron are trying to scare opponent away without any physical contact.

The saga continue for another minute and the heron on the right show sign of retreat...

The heron on the right finally gave up and flew away and end the saga.

It is very common for birds to fight for 'prime area' especially branches that with good vantage point.