Rare Encounter

An alert was sent to me via SMS regarding a rare bird sighted on 10 January 2010. When I reach the location, I only saw the bird for a while but no chance to get a clear shots. At about 6pm, it swam off away from our view. Later, one of our friend spotted it perch on a log about 50 meters away from us. When I rush over, it was gone.

Then came monday, 11 jan 2010. I remembered I was feeling unwell. Visited the doc and was given a day off. After I had taken the medicine, I felt better but was drowsy. Received another SMS. Decided to give it a try as this bird is rare. Only about 2500 left worldwide. When I reach there, it was no where to be seen. Eventually, I felt asleep under the peaceful canopy of the forest. A while later, I got up and decided to go home to rest. At about 5:20pm, 3 SMSs was sent to me but my phone was on silent mode. By God's will, I woke up at 5:25pm. When I check my phone, the message jolted me up and I even forgot that I was sick. I just rush out with my camera and reach the location in less than 15 minutes. When I reach the spot, I only saw it swimming away and I heard laughters from the group there. Recalling the routine the bird did the day before, I quickly rush to the spot where the log was. In the haste to get to the spot, I did not realise that I had bashed through a path full of thorns. True to my prediction, I saw the bird standing there on the log. To get to the location faster, I threw away my bagpack (with my other gears in it) and start shooting. When I had got my shots I started calling my friends on the phone. Some manage to find me while some dont.

When the bird finally left, I was ammazed that I did not feel any pain with a thorn stuck 1 inch into my arm. My Lens' cover was ripped off by 3 thorns. But its worth all the pain, blood and sweat to see this magnificent bird.

Oh before I forget, this rare bird is called the Masked Finfoot(Heliopais Personata). And There are only about 2500 of them left worldwide.

Scarry Voice in the forrest

This is the 2nd time I came across this bird at Panti forest. Its a Javan Frogmouth. They are Nocturnal birds like the nightjar and owls. Finding them is not easy. It look just like another dried leaf and well camouflaged. However their distinct calls is probrably a giveaway clue of its presence. It the wee mornings just before it roost and sleep they call like a laughing ghost. Quite errie if you had not heard it before.

For taking this photo, I was bitten by a leach. (same for the 1st time)

Blue Ear KingFishers

I 1st saw this bird back in August 2008. That time I mistook it for the common KF which is lighter in colour. When I posted it out in the Forum, my friends laughed at me for the error. It turn out that I had got one of the rarest KF in Singapore at that time. To date I have seen and taken photos of all the 8 species of KingFishers in Singapore. They are the resident Storkbilled KF, White Throated KF, Collared KF, Blue Eared KF and the migratory Black Backed KF (also know as Oriental Dwarf KF), common KF,Black cap KF and Ruddy KF. The Black cap is the most skittish of them all and the Ruddy was the hardest to find. I only have a lousy record shots of the ruddy.