A Lesser Big Year - for Kit&Herman 2020

[Zim Girl]

Impressive new additions, the Pied Imperial is a very elegant pigeon!

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful, interesting birds!

[Kitsafari]

thanks much @elefromoz @PeterHG @Zim Girl @Peter Connan !

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

147 : Long-tailed Parakaeet, Jurong Lake Gardens

 

A native species to singapore but only seen sparsely in parks and wooded areas. It's at danger of being pushed out by the more gregarious rose-ringed and red-breasted parakeets.  

This is a juvenile that was calling out for his parents  - probably still needing to be fed as it has not developed the full red face that adults have. 

 

[Kitsafari]

148 : Black-rumped Waxbill, Kranji Marshes

 

An import from Africa, and the waxbill species -especially the common waxbills - have been breeding fairly successful here. But there is the risk that the waxbills provide huge competition to native munias and other seed-eating species for limited food that is shrinking by the month as more grassland habitats are destroyed. 

 

 

gathering materials for the nest

[Kitsafari]

149 : Crimson-rumped waxbill, Punggol Barat

 

This waxbill led us on a merry-go-round. 

 

 

Edited August 1, 2020 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

150 : Banded Bay Cuckoo, Neo Tiew vicinity

 

An uncommon resident that attracts lots of admirers when it is spotted. This is a juvenile and has been brought up by a pair of far smaller but really hard-working common ioras as foster parents. This cuckoo is also found in Indian subcontinent, southern China and the rest of Southeast Asia.  It took a second trip before we saw it. Herman did fantastic!

 

(Darn that branch!)

 

[Kitsafari]

151 : Asian Emerald Dove, Dairy Farm Nature Park

 

Also referred to as the common emerald dove, the bright dove is native to Singapore and prefers forests, mangroves and coastal woodlands. a resident lives at dairy farm and can be seen once in a while.  

 

 

[Kitsafari]

Sharp-eyed Herman tells me I've double-counted the rufous woodpecker, so I'll deduct one count, which means the next one will be Number:  

 

151 : Grey -headed Fish Eagle, Pandan River

 

This is, in my personal view, the least attractive raptor in Singapore but it is a great fish hunter. There is a resident along the Pandan river and birders and photographers like to watch for its hunting prowess. It is native to Southeast Asia.

 

 

[Kitsafari]

152 : Pacific Reef Heron, Marina Barrage

 

The pacific reef heron, sometimes called pacific reef egret, is not commonly seen in SIngapore but it is a resident in Singapore and can be found in the rest of Southeast Asia, southern China to Japan and Korea and down to Australasia. The black morph is a stunning bird but we have yet to see it. 

 

 

 

[Galana]

Terrific photos of the Cuckoo being fed are the 'star' of this batch.

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful batch!

[pedro maia]

Agree with @Galana, the cuckoo shots are amazing!!

[mvecht]

amazing photos.

[xelas]

Excellent additions, with Dove being my favorite.

[Kitsafari]

On 8/1/2020 at 5:53 PM, Galana said:

Terrific photos of the Cuckoo being fed are the 'star' of this batch.

 

 

thanks @Galana although it was like "D%$# that B@!#** branch". 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

Thanks @Peter Connan @pedro maia @mvecht @xelas 

 

[PeterHG]

Beautiful batch! Yes, a shame about the branch, but very special shots of the Cuckoo anyway.

[michael-ibk]

Love the Cuckoo photos, terrific stuff!

[shazdwn]

What a fantastic cuckoo sighting - and photos to match

[Dave Williams]

Catching up as I too have been busy doing other things. That means I had to go back a couple of pages which then revealed you 128 was repeated at 137...... and it's the same photo too! Lovely bird though.More excellent photography too.

 

Edited August 6, 2020 by Dave Williams

[Kitsafari]

On 8/6/2020 at 10:43 PM, Dave Williams said:

Catching up as I too have been busy doing other things. That means I had to go back a couple of pages which then revealed you 128 was repeated at 137...... and it's the same photo too! Lovely bird though.More excellent photography too.

 

 

Thanks @Dave Williams Herman caught on to that double-count and I had adjusted the numbers in post #284.

[Kitsafari]

153: Asian Palm Swift, Changi Business Park

 

A failed EBC from Herman. Asian palm swifts have skinnier bodies and narrower wings than the other swifts. Found from India to the Philippines.

 

 

[Kitsafari]

154 : Wood Sandpiper, Lim Chu Kang

 

[Kitsafari]

155 : Little ringed Plover, Lim Chu Kang