Birds are calling and I must go.

Birds are calling and I must go. Our Wildlife and Bird Watching Adventures

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker ♂ (Dicaeum cruentatum)••This male Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker also arrived at the same tree ...
22/07/2025

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker ♂ (Dicaeum cruentatum)
•
•
This male Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker also arrived at the same tree where the cuckoos where foraging. It was making a chirping sound that’s why I noticed it. Took some quick photographs as it perched just infront of us with a clean background and it even looked into my camera.
•
Local Status: Very common resident.
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/400 sec at ƒ/6.3, ISO 200, 840mm, Handheld
•
•

























Little Bronze-Cuckoo ♂ (Chalcites minutillus)••This male Little Bronze-Cuckoo arrived at the same time as the Horsfield’...
21/07/2025

Little Bronze-Cuckoo ♂ (Chalcites minutillus)
•
•
This male Little Bronze-Cuckoo arrived at the same time as the Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo, which was thrilling since they look very similar. However, the Little Bronze-Cuckoo lacks the dark stripe through the eye seen in the Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo and has a prominent red eyering.
•
Local Status: Common resident
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/250 sec at ƒ/5.6, ISO 200, 600mm, Handheld
•
•

























AS280: Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites basalis)••Finally, we found some free time and was able to visit the spot wh...
20/07/2025

AS280: Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites basalis)
•
•
Finally, we found some free time and was able to visit the spot where the Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo had been sighted. It had already been a week since the initial report, and I was just hoping it would still be around — this would be a lifer for me.

After finishing our morning chores, we arrived late in the morning and went straight to the location. A few photographers were already there, and I asked one of them if the bird had been seen. He told me it was spotted just 30 minutes before we arrived. I thought we had missed our chance, but I still hoped it hadn’t had its fill and would return to the insect-laden tree.

After waiting for about 30 minutes, a pair of Little Bronze-Cuckoos showed up. We got excited, thinking the Horsfield’s might be with them. It seemed to disappear again — until someone suddenly said, “It’s here!” We started shooting right away and managed to get a few decent shots, though it mostly stayed high up in the tree.

The Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo is one of five Australian species in the genus Chalcites (formerly Chrysococcyx) — a group of parasitic birds that primarily target fairy-wrens to raise their young.

Happy to reconnect also with fellow birders on the field.

This makes it my 19th out of 19 cuckoo species (family Cuculidae) that can be found in Singapore!
•
Can be found in Indonesia and across much of Australia (including arid inland areas).
•
Local Status: Very rare migrant
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/1250 sec at ƒ/5.6, ISO 320, 840mm, Handheld
•
•

Lowland White-eye (Zosterops meyeni)••Another endemic bird we saw was a pair of Lowland White-eyes. They were busy forag...
09/07/2025

Lowland White-eye (Zosterops meyeni)
•
•
Another endemic bird we saw was a pair of Lowland White-eyes. They were busy foraging, and I thought I wouldn’t be able to get any shots of them, as they typically search for food behind thick vegetation and high up in the canopy.
•
Locally known as Matang Dulong (Tag)
•
Local Status: Endemic (common)
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/200 sec at ƒ/4, ISO 250, 600mm, Handheld
•
•























Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus maculatus)••Found this female Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker foraging on the trees ...
08/07/2025

Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus maculatus)
•
•
Found this female Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker foraging on the trees around the park.
Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker from the Philippines and an endemic species.
•
Also known as Philippine Woodpecker.
•
Locally known Ta-ta-li-lik (Pil); Karpintero-maliit (Tag); Balalatok (Vis); Anluage (Kapampangan)
•
Local Status: Endemic - Fairly common and widespread resident (absent Palawan, Sulu archipelago)
•
Technical Details: Manual Exposure, 1/400 sec at ƒ/4, ISO 400, 600mm, Handheld
•
•





















AP108: Philippine Pied Fantail (Rhipidura nigritorquis)••After many encounter I finally managed to get an open shot of t...
07/07/2025

AP108: Philippine Pied Fantail (Rhipidura nigritorquis)
•
•
After many encounter I finally managed to get an open shot of the Philippine Pied Fantail.

Philippine Pied Fantal was formerly considered conspecific with the Malaysian pied fantail.

The most significant difference is their geographic distribution. One is found only in the Philippines, while the other is found across a wider range in Southeast Asia. 

The Malaysian Pied Fantail has a cream-colored belly, while the Philippine Pied Fantail has a white belly.

It is known to be very aggressive against potential predators, diving on humans, cats, and dogs when breeding
•
Other names by which this bird is referred to are Maria Capra (Luzon), and Tarerekoy (Visayas, Philippines).
•
Local Status: Endemic - Common and widespread resident.
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/125 sec at ƒ/4, ISO 200, 600mm, Handheld
•
•






















Philippine Hanging Parrot ♂(Loriculus philippensis)••We came across this male Philippine Hanging Parrot foraging while w...
05/07/2025

Philippine Hanging Parrot ♂(Loriculus philippensis)
•
•
We came across this male Philippine Hanging Parrot foraging while we were looking for birds. I immediately pointed my camera at it before it flew off.
•
Fun facts: Philippine Hanging parrot is the smallest parrot in the Philippines (Kennedy, et.al); can be found in most islands of the Philippines except Palawan.
•
Local Names: Colasisi (Pil); K**i, Kolansi, Kolasisi (Vis); Bulilising.
•
Local Status: Common Endemic
•
Conservation status: Least Concern (Population decreasing)
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/125 sec at ƒ/4, ISO 200, 600mm, Tripod
•
•






















Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)••Meet “Girlie,” the majestic Philippine Eagle on display. She was illegally cap...
04/07/2025

Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
•
•
Meet “Girlie,” the majestic Philippine Eagle on display. She was illegally captured in Talakag, Bukidnon in October 1982 (probably older than me) and was later turned over to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Girlie was raised at the Philippine Eagle Center in Davao City as part of their breeding stock but was eventually designated as an exhibit bird for public education and became an ambassador for her species.

In 2009, she was transferred to the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center for continued public display and educational efforts.

I still hope to see Philippine Eagles in the wild someday.
And yes—she is, sadly, blind in her right eye.
•
Local Status: Rare and local resident (Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Samar)
•
Conservation Status: Critically endangered.
•
Technical Details: Manual Exposure, 1/125 sec at ƒ/4, ISO 200, 600mm, Tripod
•
•






















White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)••I decided to visit a local wetland, and from afar, I could already see two t...
03/07/2025

White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
•
•
I decided to visit a local wetland, and from afar, I could already see two terns flying over the green rice fields. Like other “marsh” terns (Chlidonias), and unlike the “white” terns (Sterna), these birds do not dive for fish. Instead, they fly slowly over the water, surface-picking items and catching insects in flight. They mainly eat insects and small fish.

I had seen White-winged Terns in their non-breeding plumage a few years ago in Singapore, but this was my first time seeing them in their breeding plumage.
•
Also known as white-winged black tern.
•
Local Status: Scarce visitor, common and widespread passage migrant
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/1000 sec at ƒ/5.6, ISO 800, 840mm, Handheld
•
•






















Orange-bellied Flowerpecker ♂ (Dicaeum trigonostigma)••A pair of Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers arrived just before lunch ...
25/06/2025

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker ♂ (Dicaeum trigonostigma)
•
•
A pair of Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers arrived just before lunch and kept us entertained while we waited for activity at Singapore Quarry. The male and his mate took turns sampling the sweet fruits from the plants surrounding the quarry.
•
Can be found in Bangladesh, Brunei,Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
•
Local Status: Common resident.
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/400 sec at ƒ/5.6, ISO 320, 600mm, Handheld
•
•

























Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker ♂ (Dicaeum cruentatum)••While walking towards Singapore Quarry, we spotted a small group of ...
24/06/2025

Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker ♂ (Dicaeum cruentatum)
•
•
While walking towards Singapore Quarry, we spotted a small group of birders aiming their cameras at a mulberry tree along the pathway. Curious, we asked if there was anything interesting, and they mentioned that a couple of flowerpeckers were active. So, we decided to wait and have a look.

We soon saw a female flowerpecker perched calmly on one of the branches. Then, when this male Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker arrived, it immediately caught my attention. I took this shot when it briefly paused against a mostly green background while searching for the best fruit to peck.
•
Local Status: Very common resident.
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/250 sec at ƒ/5.6, ISO 200, 600mm, Handheld
•
•

























Grey-headed Fish-Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus)••Another photograph of the resident Grey-headed Fish-Eagle before it us...
22/06/2025

Grey-headed Fish-Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus)
•
•
Another photograph of the resident Grey-headed Fish-Eagle before it uses its sharp talons to capture its prey.
•
Local Status: Common resident.
•
Conservation Status: Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
•
Technical Details: Manual, 1/1600 sec at ƒ/5.6, ISO 400, 600mm, Handheld
•
•

























Address

Singapore

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Birds are calling and I must go. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category