Unlucky Day at SBWR

It was a quiet Friday evening at the Main Bridge of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. There's nothing better than just sit back and watch the kingfisher dive down with a very high speed from the tree branch to the river to hunt for fish.

I saw this Stork-billed kingfisher perched on a tree branch so I just sit back and wait for the kingfisher to hunt for food. I waited for 2 minutes before the kingfisher start hunting for food. The kingfisher dive down with a very high speed towards the river below from the tree branch. The kingfisher just touches the water surface and make a U turn back to the tree branch. I guess the kingfisher didn't managed to catch any fish.

The kingfisher just make a U-turn and back to the tree branch without any prey caught.The kingfisher just perch on the tree branch and looking for best time to make another try. The kingfisher strike again in less than 2 minutes and this time round it dive into the river directly.It must be the unlucky day for this kingfisher, the fish got away again for the 2nd time!

The kingfisher failed for the 2nd time in less than 3 minutes.

The kingfisher just make a U turn and back to the tree branch without and fish.

Desperate for food just before sun set, the kingfisher strike again in less than 2 minutes. In just a split of a second, the kingfisher dive into the river for the third time.

Yes! The kingfisher finally caught a fish! The kingfisher strikes 3 times in less than 5 minutes!

With the fish in the bill, the kingfisher flew back to the tree branch to enjoy his dinner. Based on this statistic, the success rate is only 33% which I think is rather low. I'm not sure if this is normal for Stork-billed Kingfisher.

Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games

No birding or any nature trip for me last week end as I was at the first ever Youth Olympic Games, Singapore 2010!

One of the event that I watched was diving! This is also the first time that diving competition was conducted at night outdoor! Just as the spirit of the YOG, Friendship, Excellence & Respect. I got to know quite a few new friends throughout the YOG. Mr Heinz-Joseph Lenz all the way from USA is among one of my new friends. He and his family flew here to support their daughter - Annika Lenz who represent USA for the Aquatics Diving.

Annika Lenz before the competition.

These are some action shots of Annika and hope Lenz and his family have a wonderful stay at Singapore!

Brittlestars Heaven

The inter-tidal area at Bali is known to be very rich in biodiversity. Last year, I spent 3 days there and only managed to explore a fraction of the entire inter-tidal area. The same thing happened this year, I couldn't cover the entire area and never will I expects that I will be trapped by thousand of brittlestars!!

They are every where and I have to basically watch every of my step so that I don't step on them!

I took a short clip with my mobile.