Sungei Simpang Kiri

Is been a while since I last visited Sungei Simpang Kiri. Situated just next to Sembawang Park and can be reached by Sembawang Park Connector Network (PCN) all the way from Gambas Avenue/Admiralty.

 I arrived around 4pm initially plan to wait for the tide to go down and saw my first bird - a Little egret.

 I didn't know Little egret doing tip-toe too!

 There are a few Common Sandpiper near the water edge.

 Joining the feeding was this Common Green Shank.

This Grey Heron still in breeding plumage. Where could it came from? Probably just feeding here & the nest (heronry) could be a distance away.

Before I could reach the shore, the sky started to pour heavily. I will have to come back again some time to explore the river mouth...

Special Gifts From Overseas

Is been a wonderful year of travel for me in 2013. With close to another 200 new species of animals seen this year, I'm all set and looking for another year of great travel in 2014.

With the year 2013 coming to an end soon, I received some really great gifts that provide me with more inspirations of where to go & what to see in 2014!

I received 2 books on birds of Taiwan & a very special calendar self-printed using photos from my friends first travel to Borneo. She was amazed by the beauty & the abundance of wild life there. I been there twice  & its just doesn't seem to have enough time no matter how long I've planned to stay there. You can read about my friend's - Euphtw first travel experience to Borneo on her blog at 蔚藍手札. Haha... is time for me to re-visit Borneo in 2014?

 I just love this very colourful book on birds of Taiwan -  台灣鳥四季

I have been to Taiwan and seen some of the birds as drawn. The drawing just amplify the main characteristic of the birds & made spotting and recognising the birds so easy. Isn't the drawing cute?

This book just give me all the information that I needed to get started on my new planning of birding in Taiwan.

All the birding hot spot in Taiwan with a brief description on what to expect. A very useful information indeed.

What a privilege to receive this "Not for sale" personal calendar. Let's have another good birding/traveling year in 2014.

Another calendar that I received is all the way from "Middle Earth". My colleague brought this back for me from New Zealand. I have really never do a proper birding in NZ. Another potential place to visit for 2014!

Opportunistic Storks

I was at Sungei Buluh Wetlands Reserve (SBWR) last month & saw this Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) caught a big fish. 

 This otter move to the shallow part of the pond prepare to enjoy the big catch.

Just when the otter prepare to enjoy this big fish, a Milky stork (Mycteria cinerea) appear uninvited. This Milky stork is trying his luck.

With the fish in mouth, the otter move away from the stork.

 Two more storks join in trying their luck to have a share of the fish.

As the storks move closer, feeling the threats, one of the other fight back. The otter chase the stork away like a hunting dog!

The otters may appear cute, but when defending their food security, they are not taking chance. They really will not hesitate to drive any intruders away.

 The otter chase one after another.

While the storks being chase away, the otter cross over to the other side of the pond and starts to consume the fish.

The temptation is just too big to ignore. The Milky storks can't resist and  follow the otters but keep a distance.

The opportunistic behavior proof that is working. The storks got the bit & pieces of the fish that drop behind by the otters.

This is the first time seeing this opportunistic behavior on Milky storks. I'm sure the storks must have notice the otters will leave bits & pieces when they tear the fish to smaller bite size before consuming it.