Jasper Lim came across an Ashy Tailorbird (Orthotomus ruficeps) picking up some Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata) eggs and flying off to eat them (above). Unfortunately he was unable to get a picture of the bird in the act.
Apple Snail, also known as Golden Apple Snail, can be seen in freshwater marshes and reservoirs. Although snails generally have either gills or lungs, Apple Snail has have both gills and lungs. They are thus amphibious.
The Apple Snail is native to South American. Introduced into many countries as a food item, it has since become an agricultural pest. Their pink egg masses, attached to vegetation above the water level, are conspicuous whenever the snails are present (above).
Jasper Lim (tailorbird image) & YC Wee (snail image)
Singapore
January 2014