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Chinese Egret at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

on 20th October 2008


A Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes) was photographed by Mendis Tan at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on 25th August 2008.

This bird is an uncommon winter visitor. The first record for Singapore was a specimen collected in 1940 at Seletar Airbase. Subsequently it was seen ar various locations like Changi, Jurong, Serangoon and Pulau Ubin.

It arrives as early as 24th September and as late as 21st May. The current sighting on 25th August is an early date of arrival since 1983 when records were taken – see the 2007 Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Singapore. And according to field ornithologist Wang Luan Keng, it is important for people to send in their sightings so that records can be more complete.

The Chinese Egret is endangered, with a total world population estimated at 1,000 pairs. It was nearly driven to extinction by the trade in its plumes at the end of the 19th century. However, it has since recovered. It nests in North and South Korea, in islands off Hongkong and in the Jiangsu province of China. A substantial population winters regularly in the Philippines.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

6 Responses

  1. I saw a Chinese Egret at Sungei Buloh in February. I didn’t take any photos, so didn’t think to report it. Mary Rose Kent

  2. May I know how to diffenrentiate Chinese Egret and Little Egret? Little Egret has blackish leg while Chinese Egret has yellowish leg?

  3. You need to be familiar with the species to ID it. Unfortunately the images in the guide books are of not much help unless you do. We hope to make a post on the controversy of its ID soon.

  4. Pingback: sungei seletar

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