Bird of Prey - Witnessing a Hawk Devour Its Prey

I am fortunate to witness majestic birds of prey in action such as a bald eagle catching a fish, or a sea eagle carrying its prey in the flight. However, it is rare to see them actually devouring their captured prey. Last Tuesday, an unexpected encounter at the botanic garden allowed me to witness a hawk devouring its prey live!

It was early evening, around 6:30pm. As I strolled along the red brick path at the Botanic Garden, continuous bird chirpings emanating from a big tree made me curious. Looking into the tree, I saw two or three birds flying up and down in the tree. Familiar with such scenes, I immediately suspected the presence of a large bird. Upon closer inspection, I saw a hawk engrossed in its meal—a bird it had captured. The hawk was fully focused on its dinner, occasionally pecking and tearing at the prey. However, it remained vigilant, periodically raising its head to scan its surroundings before resuming its feast.

As I stood there, captivated by the scene, a few other hikers on the trail also stopped, drawn by the live action on the tree branch. Some believed the hawk was dining on a chick, while another was more specific, claimed it was a baby waterhen. The frantic birds flying around the tree were likely the parent birds, helplessly witnessing the cruel fate of their offspring.

The last time I saw hawk eating its prey live, was three years ago, at north Texas. By pure luck, we got a close up view of a red-tailed hawk in action in a neighbor's front yard bush on June 14th: it was eating a mouse live, with one talon stepped on the mouse, using its sharp hooked beak biting into the mouse and teared its flesh... and also played with the mouse! When it noticed another mouse moving behind it along the foundation, it went after that mouse, flapping its wings clumsily in the confined space, but caught the mouse in a few seconds nevertheless. It had two mice under its foot now!

 

Identifying the hawk at the Botanic Garden was challenging due to the backlighting, and the resulting photo quality was less than optimal. However, using Google Lens and cross-referencing with the Singapore Bird list, it was likely a crested goshawk—a splendid avian predator.

While this sighting may not be extraordinary, I felt a sense of accomplishment from exploration and keen observation of my surroundings. The rare opportunity to witness a hawk devouring its prey reminded me of the intricate interactions that unfold in the natural world.

Uncommon Wildlife Encounters at Singapore Botanic Garden

Singapore Botanic Garden (SBG) is known for its diverse bird and animal species, with common sightings including Java Mynahs, Pigeons, and Olive Backed Sunbirds, Yellow vented Bulbuls, Asian Glossy Starlings (red eye black birds), Black-nape orioles, long tail parakeets,  kingfishers, Drongo (white eye black bird with long tails), Pacific Swallow, water hen, jungle roosters. Other commonly seen animals include the pair of resident swans at Swan lake, turtles at Symphony lake, monitor lizards in ponds and on lands. Less frequent but not rare, we saw oriental-pied hornbills, smooth skin otters, and black swans at Echo lake.

However, there are also rare and uncommon sightings that offer unique experiences. Here is summary of our recent unexpected encounters within the garden.

Nightjars

While strolling by Keppel Wetland at dusk (~ 7pm) a few weeks ago,  a bird rested on top of a night light post caught our attention. It looked like a sparrow but quite a bit larger. It looked so lethargic, we thought that it might be injured. When I approached to take a closer look, it flew away and rested on another night light post a couple meters away. This was the first time we saw this bird at SBG in the past two years.

It turned out to be a large tailed nightjar - a nocturnal bird. Checking its chirp sound, we realized that we heard nightjar calls regularly before. We mistaken its distinctive chirping for insect sounds, which added to the fascination of this rare sighting.

Common Palm Civet

In January 9th, 2023, around 8pm, as we walked along the eastern side of the garden, near Tangling gate, I heard some noise in the bush by the road side. A mysterious creature resembling a cat but with a raccoon-like body emerged from the bushes. I snaped a few pictures after staring at it for a few seconds - the best I got was this blurred image of the nocturnal animal. Checking Singapore national park service website, I found out that this creature is most likely a common palm civet, a shy nocturnal omnivore mammal. This brief encounter provided me a glimpse into the elusive life of this fascinating creature.

Common Palm Civet

Nocturnal birds or animals are hard to spot even they are common. There are also some diurnal birds or animals that are not commonly seen.

Plaintive Cuckoo

On the morning of February 18th, 2023, I was walking by Keppel Wetland, and heard this smooth loud bird call , but I could not locate the location of it. An old woman with a camera, was nearby, and looking into woods. With her tip, I finally spotted it. I was captivated by its smooth calls and beautiful plumage. 

Plaintive Cuckoo

A turtle with golden head

While observing the surroundings of Echo Lake earlier this week, we were surprised to come across a turtle with a golden head. Though uncertain if it was an optical illusion, the unique sighting left us intrigued.

A turtle with Golden head

A monitor lizard climbing tree

There are many monitor lizards at SBG. One time we saw ~ 10 of them swimming in the Symphony lake. Recently we saw many small monitor lizards wandering around the garden on the ground. 

But we did see a monitor lizard climbing a tree by the rainforest trail's eastern trailhead. This tree has a big cavity about 5 meters above ground.

Why do water lizards climb trees? According to internet, the lizards climb trees to look for food - such as bird eggs, bird chicks, or other small animals. Another reason is that small young monitor lizard try to escape from adult monitor lizards which actually eat small monitor lizards.

While monitor lizards are a common sight at SBG, witnessing one climb a tree near the rainforest trail's eastern trailhead was a captivating experience. Discovering their arboreal behavior added to our understanding of these fascinating creatures.

A monitor lizard climbed to a tall tree by Rainforest Trail - eastern trail head

A red legged Rake

Red-legged crakes are typically secretive and elusive birds. They are skilled at hiding in dense vegetation and rarely venture out into the open. However, on March 9th, we saw two red legged rakes venturing out of dense bush by Tyersall service desk area in bright daylight, this one in the photo actually ran across the pavement to the bushes on the other side of the road. 

Exploring the Singapore Botanic Garden brings opportunities to witness not only the commonly seen birds and animals but also rare and interesting encounters. From nightjars and palm civets to golden head turtles and climbing monitor lizards, these uncommon sightings offer a glimpse into the hidden wonders at the Garden.

Snorkeling near Pulau Sibu

Nature lovers will find Pulau Sibu to be a haven of natural beauty, particularly in the underwater world of vibrant coral reefs. Among the best spots for these activities is just off the shoreline at Rimba Resort, a true gem waiting to be discovered.

During our stay, we had the privilege of snorkeling three times in this pristine underwater paradise. Our first experience took place on the evening of our arrival. As the sun began its descent, we ventured north from the shore, taking advantage of the rising tide. While the light gradually diminished, as we swam further away from the shore, the barren and whitish sea floor changed into a fertile wonderland teeming with colorful fish. Regrettably, we did not have an underwater camera to capture the captivating sights that unfolded before our eyes.

The east side of Rimba Cove

To stay within safer waters and away from boat routes, we turned westward, paralleling the main shoreline. Our journey was rewarded with an array of fish species and stunning coral formations, including the enchanting sight of clownfish nestled among the anemone and graceful stingrays gliding through the water.

The second occasion arose during our kayaking adventure along the coast of Pulau Sibu on the third day of our resort stay. After navigating the sea for approximately 5 kilometers, we docked at a secluded beach situated one kilometer west of the resort. Here, the coral reef dazzled us with vivid colors, basking in the abundant sunlight of midday. Due to the slightly rough waters, we took turns snorkeling while keeping a vigilant eye on any potential hazards.

After each brief 15 to 20-minute snorkeling session, we returned to the resort, still dripping wet, and swam to the Rimba reef right away. The encounter resembled our initial snorkeling experience, but this time the coral reefs and their inhabitants seemed to burst forth with even more vibrant hues, leaving me utterly mesmerized. 

kayaking trail

snorkeling near a secluded beach at Pulau Sibu

Aware of the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, we meticulously applied sunscreen. However, I made two mistakes. First, I put on a T-shirt after applying sunscreen to my upper body, inadvertently rubbing it off during kayaking. Second, I neglected to reapply sunscreen when removing my T-shirt for snorkeling. As a result, I suffered severe sunburn on my back later that day—an unfortunate oversight.

Following a leisurely late lunch at 2 pm, we found ourselves sitting on the porch of our chalet, gazing out at the sea. It was during low tide, and we noticed individuals venturing into the intertidal zone. Suddenly, a sense of worry washed over me as I contemplated the potential damage these unwitting visitors might inflict upon the fragile coral reef. This concern hadn't crossed my mind on our first day, but the firsthand experience of the reef's beauty had made me acutely aware of the necessity to protect and cherish these precious ecosystems that provide a haven for marine life.

Note 

We scuba dived during our Pulau Sibu trip. This was our first scuba diving trip, which exposed the weakness in our certification training for scuba diving, primarily the inability to keep ourselves buoyance neutral near the sea floor. We also descended and ascended too fast

White-Bellied Sea Eagles at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

When I set out to locate the resident white-bellied sea eagle's nest near the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve visitors center today, I was disheartened to find it missing. Was I searching in the wrong spot? I moved around, attempting to view it from different angles, but to no avail. Had the recent thunderstorm destroyed the nest? My worry and concern grew until, suddenly, a white-bellied sea eagle emerged from the trees! A sigh of relief washed over me as I realized that while the old nest may have been destroyed, the eagles themselves seemed to be unharmed and thriving. 

A sea eagle carrying a prey

Continuing along the coastal trail, my excitement soared when I spotted a majestic sea eagle flying overhead, carrying its prey. Swiftly, I captured the remarkable sight with my camera. 

As the clouds dispersed and the sun emerged, my attention was drawn to three eagles gracefully gliding over the wetland. Two of them engaged in a spirited aerial display, putting on a short but spectacular show in the sky. They playfully chased each other, showcasing their agility and strength as they briefly clashed talons. 

It was exhilarating, and I couldn't help but be captivated by these magnificent creatures.