Every time we run or jog at Fort Canning park, I hear bird chirpings all around but I can barely see any bird because birds are staying high in the densely leafed trees, and they camouflage very well. When they are in flight, I see only their silhouette. The exceptions include the ubiquitous Javan Mynah, the roaming red jungle fowls or the pigeons - which can be easily spotted in or out of the park. For the sake of sighting record: On a drizzling day, I saw a white breasted waterhen while strolling at Istana park
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| Javan Mynah |
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| Red Jungle Fowls |
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| White Breasted Waterhen @ Istana Park |
Two weeks ago, a beautiful Sunday morning, we went to Fort Canning for the sole purpose of bird watching. With my Sony alpha camera which is equipped with an entry level tele lens, I hoped to see some birds.
Once we got on to the trail from Clemenceau entrance I could hear many birds in big trees, looking up I saw nothing! I paused walking, looked up again, and followed the chirping. I saw small birds, with light color chest, and grey feathers hopping from branch to branch, pecking at blooming flowers, and drinking nectars. I snapped away, took many pictures but mostly with blurry images of the birds except a handful. The birds are warbling white-eyes.
As we walked into the park, we heard bird chirpings only occasionally. It was mid morning already, not the best time for bird watching. Nevertheless we marched on. I saw a large plant with flower ahead of me. It is a flowering banana, Musa ornata. Looked at it again, I saw a bird with dark head, bright yellow breast! It did not chirp, kept hopping around the flower for better positions to drink nectar. When I got closer, it flew away before I could get a good picture of it. There are a lot of Musa Ornata at Pancur Larangan, or Forbidden Spring. While enjoying the views, a bird flew onto one of the flowering banana, and then a second. We got a feast for eyes, and took many pictures - Lily took the good ones shown here. This is brown-throated sun bird.
I saw a couple other birds, either too far for a good picture for bird identification, or no picure at all. As we were heading back, I saw a bird flew overhead, and perched on a tree branch in a tree some 10 meters away. I could see it well, but only a silhouette to my eyes. Lily actually could not spot it!! The camera, with its high zoom, got a better view of the bird for us. It was a forest kingfisher.
Notes
1. Total of 6 new species are added to my personal bird sighting list.
2. Curiosity and patience are key to bird watching, additionally
- Be quiet. Birds are easily startled by loud noises and will flee to cover.
- Avoid sudden movements. Just as loud noises startle birds, so does sudden movement.
- Follow the crowd.
- Study habitat.
- Work the flocks.
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