5 Apr 2009

von Schrenck’s Bittern takes a frog

by | posted in: Feeding-vertebrates, Heron-Egret-Bittern | 2

In late March 2009, Tang Hung Bun was at a forested area of the Central Catchment forest recently and photographed a bittern in the act of catching a frog. The ground was swampy after a few days of heavy rain and this probably attracted frogs to it.

Tan Kok Hui identified the bird as a male Von Schrenck’s Bittern (Ixobrychus eurhythmus) with Yong Ding Li confirming it, who commented that the bird should be on its way back to its northern breeding grounds by now.

This rare bittern, a winter visitor to Singapore, was posted by another visitor, birder and blogger Charlie Moors in October 2008.

What of the frog that the bittern caught? We sent it to Dr Leong Tzi Ming who identified it as most likely a sub-adult Malayan Giant Frog (Limnonectes blythii) based on the location.

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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.

2 Responses

  2. giant frog
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    […] … been confirmed and in fact a giant Panamanian Golden Frog has taken up residence on the …Bird Ecology Study Group von Schrenck’s Bittern takes a frogWe sent it to Dr Leong Tzi Ming who identified it as most likely a sub-adult Malayan Giant Frog […]

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