Sentosa’s owls
Our bird specialist R. Subaraj sent in this item after reading an earlier posting on Sentosa’s Buffy Fish Owl (above). “Actually, while the Buffy Fish Owl (Ketupa ketupu) encounters are the first records for Sentosa and the Southern Islands, all … Continued
White-bellied Sea Eagle and the Grey Heron
Allan Teo was with his fellow photographers in Changi on 3rd February 2007 when suddenly a juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) appeared in the sky chasing a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) (above). Taken totally by surprise, yet he was … Continued
Hornbills at Changi: Looking for a nesting cavity
As early as November 2006 Angie Ng reported a pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills (Anthracoceros albirostris) checking out a cavity in an old, 22 m high damar hitam gajah (Shorea gibbosa) tree in Changi (left). This cavity probably resulted from … Continued
Bitterns and their vision
Bitterns, members of the Arfeidae, are medium-size to large birds, usually with long legs, necks and bills. The bittern eyes are placed on the sides of the head, giving the bird a monocular vision. However, unlike most other birds, the … Continued
Encounter with the Greater Spotted Eagle in Penang, Malaysia
Tan Choo Eng from Penang, Malaysia wrote in on 12th February 2007 after reading an earlier posting on an eagle attacking a kite’s nest. Choo Eng and a few friends spotted an eagle at the Permatang Pauh ricefields on 3rd … Continued
An uncouth ‘Avian Cowboy’ comes to town
Within a total of 16 species of Asian barbets and a size not more than 17cm, the Coppersmith Barbet (Megalaima haemacephala) has to be about the smallest barbet species in South East Asia. While it looks cute with colourful face … Continued
Sentosa’s Buffy Fish Owl
On 2nd February 2007, Angie Ng wrote: “Did I wake up the owl with my trampling on the leaf litter? Aren’t owls supposed to be asleep in the day? What owl is this? It gave me a fright! I thought … Continued
Owls in Singapore
Have you ever seen an owl in its natural environment? I bet many have not. Yet many have heard of owls. I did, even when I was a small boy. I was told that owls brought bad luck, especially when … Continued
Common Iora: Courtship ritual
K.C. Tsang was birding recently in Perak, Malaysis with Alan OwYong and Connie Khoo when they had an encounter of the musical kind. Here is KC’s story: “We were driving along through the bushes in the Malim Nawar Wetlands when … Continued
Asian Koel and Javan Myna
On the afternoon of 3rd February 2007, I was alerted by the shrill call of a bird outside my windows. Curious, I went out into the garden to investigate. There, perching on a branch of a Golden Penda (Xanthostemon chrysanthus) … Continued
