28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - SCLATER'S CROWNED PIGEON (Goura sclaterii)

Sclater's crowned pigeon (Goura sclaterii ) is a large, terrestrial pigeon confined to the southern lowland forests of New Guinea. This pigeon was previously considered as conspecific with Scheepmaker's crowned pigeon (Goura scheepmakeri ) with the English name "southern crowned pigeon".

It has a bluish-grey plumage with elaborate blue lacy crests, red iris and very deep maroon breast. Both sexes have a similar appearance. It is 66–73 cm (26–29 in) in length and weighs 2.00–2.24 kg (4.41–4.94 lb).

Being tame and heavily hunted for its meat and plumes, Sclater's crowned pigeon is evaluated as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed in Appendix II of CITES.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - ECLECTUS PARROT (MALE) (Eclectus roratus)

The Papuan eclectus, red-sided eclectus, or New Guinea eclectus (Eclectus polychloros) is a parrot species which is native to New Guinea. Larger than the Moluccan eclectus, the green plumage of the male only has a slight yellow tinge and the tail is tipped with a half-inch yellow band. The central tail feathers are green and lateral ones blue and green. It is widely distributed from Kai Islands and western islands of the West Papua province in the west, across the island of New Guinea to the Trobriands, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Louisiade Archipelago, Bismarck Archipelago, and Solomon Islands to the east, and south to the northern Cape York Peninsula of Australia. It has also been introduced to the Goram Islands, Indonesia.

The Papuan eclectus nests in tree cavities and breeds from April to September. Two eggs are typically laid.

The Papuan eclectus nests in tree cavities and breeds from April to September. Two eggs are typically laid.

The Papuan eclectus is a popular pet parrot and there is a large avicultural population. Many Papuan eclectus in captivity in Australia are apparently hybrids between subspecies E. p. polychloros and E. p. solomonensis, as Taronga Zoo Sydney had a flock of these two subspecies in a large aviary many years ago. Specimens of the Australian subspecies E. p. macgillivrayi have only recently entered the aviculture market in Australia and are more expensive.

The World Parrot Trust recommends that the Papuan eclectus be kept in an enclosure with a minimum length of 3 metres (9.8 ft). It may live for up to 50 years in captivity.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - CRESTED PIGEON (Ocyphaps lophotes)

The Crested pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) is an Australian species of pigeon. Only two Australian pigeon species possess an erect crest, the Crested pigeon and the spinifex pigeon. The Crested pigeon is sometimes referred to as a Topknot pigeon, a common name shared with the reddish crested Lopholaimus antarcticus of Eastern Australia. Common names for the species, aside from crested or Topknot pigeon, characterize them as a 'bronzewing' or 'dove' that is likewise distinguished by the crest.

Crested pigeons are found throughout mainland Australia except for the far northern tropical areas. They live in lightly wooded grasslands in both rural and urban areas, and can also visit watercourses, homestead gardens, grain farming areas, pastoral areas, sports grounds, and golf courses.

Crested pigeons are highly social birds and often gather in flocks of varying sizes. They are active during the day but prefer to forage in the morning and in the evening. They forage in small to large groups, which also gather to drink at waterholes. The most distinctive behavior of Crested pigeons is the beating and whistling sound their wings make when they take off. This is most likely to draw the attention of predators to birds on the wing, and away from any birds remaining on the ground, and as an alarm call to other pigeons. When the birds land, their tails tilt upwards and the flight patterns are similar to those of the Spotted turtle dove. If startled, Crested pigeons take to the air producing a distinctive whistling 'call'.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - PERUVIAN PELICAN (Pelecanus thagus)

The Peruvian pelican (Pelecanus thagus ) is a member of the pelican family. It lives on the west coast of South America, breeding in loose colonies from about 33.5° in central Chile to Piura in northern Peru, and occurring as a visitor in southern Chile and Ecuador.

These birds are dark in colour with a white stripe from the top of the bill up to the crown and down the sides of the neck. They have long tufted feathers on the top of their heads. It was previously considered a subspecies of the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis ). The Peruvian pelican is considerably larger, ranging from about 5 to 7 kg (11–15 lb) in weight, 137 to 152 cm (4.5–5.0 ft) in length and with a wingspan of about 228 cm (7.5 ft). Compared to the brown pelican, it also has proportionally longer crest feathers, as well as differences in the colours of the gular pouch, beak, scapulars and greater wing coverts.

The main breeding season occurs from September to March. Clutch size is usually two or three eggs. Eggs are incubated for approximately 4 to 5 weeks, with the rearing period lasting about 3 months.

Its status was first evaluated for the IUCN Red List in 2008, being listed as Near threatened.

This bird feeds on several species of fish. Unlike the brown pelican, it never dives from a great height to catch it food, instead diving from a shallow height or feeding while swimming on the surface. On occasion it may take other food items, such as nestling of imperial shags, young Peruvian diving petrels, gray gulls and cannibalize unrelated chicks of its own species.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - WHITE CROWNED ROBIN CHAT (Cossypha albicapillus)

The white-crowned robin-chat (Cossypha albicapilla ) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae.It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Togo.Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.

The white-crowned robin-chat (Cossypha albicapillus) is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Togo. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.

It has typically been assumed to be monogamous. However, at least one instance of cooperative breeding and possible multiple paternity has been observed.

A large and colorful robin-chat with a black face mask that continues onto the chin. The color of the crown is pure white in the far western part of the range, and white with black markings elsewhere. A shy bird of dense thickets, gardens, and forest, often along rivers and streams. Similar to Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, but larger, usually with black markings in the white crown, and with a black rather than orange chin. Usually detected by song, a fast and complex mix of musical whistles.

White-crowned Robin-chat primarily feeds on a diet of insects, with a particular preference for termites and ants. It forages on the ground, flipping over leaves and debris to locate its prey. Its unique adaptation lies in its skilled hunting technique.

White-crowned Robin-chat typically inhabits a variety of wooded environments, ranging from thickets and gallery forests in regions receiving annual rainfall between 300–500 mm, to dry savanna-woodlands. Its preferred habitats also include dense riverine scrubs, overgrown plantations, and gardens with rich, shady undergrowth. White-crowned Robin-chat is adaptable and can be found from sea level up to an altitude of around 950 meters, with the race omoensis occupying woodland thickets in rocky hills, at approximately 1500 meters.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - VIOLET BACKED STARLING (FEMALE) (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster)

The violet-backed starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), also known as the plum-coloured starling or amethyst starling, is a relatively small species (17 cm) of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is the only member of the genus Cinnyricinclus. This strongly sexually dimorphic species is found widely in the woodlands and savannah forest edges of mainland sub-Saharan Africa. It is rarely seen on the ground, but instead found in trees and other locations away from the ground.

The violet-backed starling is a sexually dimorphic species with adults reaching a length of about 18 cm (7 in). The male has an iridescent violet head and back and pure white underparts. The female has a thrush-like appearance with brown, boldly-streaked upper parts and white, heavily-streaked underparts. Both sexes have yellow irises and black bills and legs.

 

The violet-backed starling is a common bird in Sub-Saharan Africa, occurring in most locations with the exception of the dense rainforest of the Congo Basin, and the more arid parts of southwestern Africa. It is found in open woodland, gallery forests, forest verges and clearings. In the Chyulu Hills of Kenya, it occurs at altitudes up to 2,100 m (6,900 ft).

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - VILLAGE WEAVER (Ploceus cucullatus)

The village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus ), also known as the spotted-backed weaver or black-headed weaver (the latter leading to easy confusion with P. melanocephalus ), is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae found in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It has also been introduced to Portugal as well as to the islands of Hispaniola, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Mauritius and Réunion.

This often abundant species occurs in a wide range of open or semi-open habitats, including woodlands and human habitation, and frequently forms large noisy colonies in towns, villages and hotel grounds. This weaver builds a large coarsely woven nest made of grass and leaf strips with a downward facing entrance which is suspended from a branch in a tree. Two to three eggs are laid. Village weavers are colonial breeders, so many nests may hang from one tree.

Village weavers feed principally on seeds and grain, and can be a crop pest, but it will readily take insects, especially when feeding young, which partially redresses the damage to agriculture. The calls of this bird include harsh buzzes and chattering.

The village weaver is a stocky 15–17 cm bird with a strong conical bill and dark reddish eyes. In the northern part of its range, the breeding male has a black head edged by chestnut (typically most distinct on the nape and chest). Towards the southern part of its range, the amount of black and chestnut diminish, and the breeding males of the southernmost subspecies only have a black face and throat, while the nape and crown are yellow. In all subspecies the breeding male has a black bill, black and yellow upperparts and wings, and yellow underparts.

The non-breeding male has a yellow head with an olive crown, grey upperparts and whitish underparts. The wings remain yellow and black. The adult female has streaked olive upperparts, yellow and black wings, and pale yellow underparts. Young birds are like the female but browner on the back.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - SILVER PHEASANT (Lophura nycthemera)

The silver pheasant (Lophura nycthemera ) is a species of pheasant found in forests, mainly in mountains, of mainland Southeast Asia and eastern and southern China, with an introduced population on Victoria Island in Nahuel Huapi Lake, Neuquén, Argentina. The male is black and white, while the female is mainly brown. Both sexes have a bare red face and red legs (the latter separating it from the greyish-legged kalij pheasant). It is common in aviculture, and overall also remains common in the wild, but some of its subspecies (notably L. n. whiteheadi from Hainan, L. n. engelbachi from southern Laos, and L. n. annamensis from southern Vietnam) are rare and threatened.

The Silver pheasant is a species of pheasant found in forests, mainly in mountains of Southeast Asia, with introduced populations in Hawaii and various locations in the US mainland. The male is black and white in color, while the female is mainly brown. Both sexes have a bare red face and red legs. The silver pheasant is common in aviculture, and overall also remains common in the wild, however, some of its subspecies are rare and threatened.

Silver pheasants are found on mainland Southeast Asia, and in eastern and southern China. They prefer forest edges with open areas and rarely occur in dense forests.

Silver pheasants are gregarious ground-dwelling birds that are usually seen in small flocks. Silver pheasants are active during the day and prefer to forage in the morning and in the evening. They spend most of their life on the ground and will fly only to escape danger. These birds communicate with the help of loud whistles, high-pitched chirping and during the courtship display, males produce cackles and grunts.

1-12-2015 ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA - GREAT MORMON BUTTERFLY (Papilio memnon)

Papilio memnon, the great Mormon, is a large butterfly native to southern Asia that belongs to the swallowtail family. It is widely distributed and has thirteen subspecies. The female is polymorphic and with mimetic forms.

Its range includes north-eastern India (including Sikkim, Assam and Nagaland), Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nicobar Islands, Andaman Islands (stragglers only), western, southern and eastern China (including Hainan), Taiwan, southern Japan including Ryukyu Islands, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Kampuchea, Malaysia and Indonesia (Sumatra, Mentawai Islands, Nias, Batu, Simeulue, Bangka, Java, Kalimantan and the Lesser Sunda Islands).

This species is common and not threatened. The cultivation of citrus all over Southern Asia provides an abundance of food plants.

30-11-2015 ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA - SULLIED BROWN SAILER BUTTERFLY (Neptis nata)

Neptis nata, the clear sailer or dirty sailer, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in south and southeast Asia.

 

Dry-season brood: Male and female. Upperside deep purpurescent-black; markings bluish-white, very prominent, and with sharply-defined edges; cilia alternated with white. Forewing with the cell-streak broadly truncate at end, the broad discocellular spot beyond elongated to an acute point; discal curved series of spots of moderate size, the subapical rather elongated and oval, the lower four disposed linearly-oblique, the upper one small, oval, and placed very near the submarginal lunules, the two lowest smallest and narrow, the second being broad; a submarginal row of small white lunular spots, which are narrowest in the female, an inner submarginal slender sinuous obscure pale line, and a marginal obscure lunular line. Hindwing with a somewhat narrow inner-discal band, which ends at the upper subcostal vein, and a narrower outer-discal macular band; a medial-discal obscure pale slender lunular line, and a marginal even line; base of costa in male broadly glossy silvery-grey, and with a duller grey medially disposed patch of scales from the costal vein to below base of the radial. Underside dusky olivescent purplish-brown; markings as above, prominent, all bluish-white, except the inner and outer marginal line on forewing, and the medial disoal and marginal line on the hindwing, as well as its two basal streaks, which are lilacine-grey. Body and palpi above black, thorax iridescent; abdomen above with a basal slight bluish-grey band; palpi and thorax beneath, forelegs, middle and hind femora bluish-grey; abdomen beneath, middle and hind tibiae and tarsi pale ochreous-brown. Wet-season hrood: Upperside with all the markings somewhat narrower; underside with the ground-colour reddish-brown; markings as above, except that on the hindwing the medial-discal white band extends anteriorly above the upper subcostal vein.

30-11-2015 ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA - GREY PANSY BUTTERFLY (Junonia atlites)

Junonia atlites, the grey pansy, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia.

 

J. atlites is found in Bangladesh, India, southern China, Cambodia, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, western and central Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Upperside of both sexes pale lavender brown, apical half of wings paler. Forewing: cell with, three transverse, short, sinuous black bands, the outermost defining the discocellulars; a similar short, somewhat broader band beyond the apex of the cell; two transverse discal dusky black fasciae, the inner highly sinuous and outward, angulate above vein 4, the outer straighter, somewhat lunular, bordered by a series of whitish ovals with dusky or black centers. The black-centered spots in the ovals in interspaces 2, 5, and 6 margined posteriorly with rich ocherous yellow. Beyond this series of ovals is a lunular, narrow, transverse dark band, followed by sinuous subterminal and terminal broad dark lines.

Apex of wing slightly fuliginous. Hindwing: a short slender black loop from veins 6 to 4 at apex of cell-area; two discal sinuous transverse dark, fasciae in continuation of those on the forewing: followed by a series of dark-centered ovals in interspaces 2–6, the ovals in interspaces 2, 5, and 6 with the dark centers inwardly broadly bordered with ochreous yellow; postdiscal, subterminal and terminal dark lunular lines as on the forewing.

Underside lilacine white markings as on the upperside but very delicate, slender and somewhat obsolescent. In the dry-season forms of the males the rows of oval ocelli are only indicated by the yellow-centered ovals. The most prominent marking is the inner discal fascia crossing the wings; this is much less sinuous than on the upperside and not angulated on the forewing. In the females the markings are all heavier and more distinct, the space between the various transverse fasciae tinged with ocherous.

2-12-2015 WAT AWEA, CAMBODIA - PEACOCK PANSY BUTTERFLY (Junonia almana)

Junonia almana, the peacock pansy, is a species of nymphalid butterfly found in Cambodia and South Asia. It exists in two distinct adult forms, which differ chiefly in the patterns on the underside of the wings; the dry-season form has few markings, while the wet-season form has additional eyespots and lines. It is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List.

The adult butterfly has a wingspan of 54–62 mm (2.1–2.4 in), and exhibits seasonal polyphenism.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - PAINTED STORK (Mycteria leucocephala)

The painted stork (Mycteria leucocephala ) is a large wader in the stork family. It is found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia south of the Himalayas in the Indian Subcontinent and extending into Southeast Asia. Their distinctive pink tertial feathers of the adults give them their name. They forage in flocks in shallow waters along rivers or lakes. They immerse their half open beaks in water and sweep them from side to side and snap up their prey of small fish that are sensed by touch. As they wade along they also stir the water with their feet to flush hiding fish. They nest colonially in trees, often along with other waterbirds. The only sounds they produce are weak moans or bill clattering at the nest. They are not migratory and only make short distance movements in some parts of their range in response to changes in weather or food availability or for breeding. Like other storks, they are often seen soaring on thermals.

Painted storks are large waders found in the wetlands of the plains of tropical Asia. Their distinctive pink flight feathers of the adults give them their name. These beautifully colored birds have a heavy yellow beak with a down-curved tip that gives them a resemblance to an ibis. Males and females appear alike but the males of a pair are usually larger than the female.

Painted storks are widely distributed over the plains of Asia. They are found south of the Himalayan ranges and are bounded on the west by the Indus River system where they are rare and extend eastwards into Southeast Asia. Painted storks are absent from very dry or desert regions, dense forests, and the higher hill regions. They prefer freshwater wetlands in all seasons, but also use irrigation canals and crop fields, particularly flooded rice fields during the monsoon.

Painted storks are not migratory and only make short-distance movements in some parts of their range in response to changes in weather or food availability or for breeding. These birds are highly gregarious and feed in groups in shallow wetlands, crop fields, and irrigation canals. Painted storks feed mainly on small fish which they sense by touch while slowly sweeping their half-open bill from side to side while it held submerged. They walk slowly and also disturb the water with their feet to flush hiding fish. They forage mainly in the day but may forage late or even at night under exceptional conditions. After they are fed Painted storks may stand still on the shore for long durations. Like other storks, they are mostly silent but clatter their bills at the nest and may make some harsh croaking or low moaning sounds at the nest.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - GREEN IGUANA (Iguana iguana)

The green iguana (Iguana iguana ), also known as the American iguana or the common green iguana, is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana. Usually, this animal is simply called the iguana. The green iguana ranges over a large geographic area; it is native from southern Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico, and has been introduced from South America to Puerto Rico and is very common throughout the island, where it is colloquially known as gallina de palo ("bamboo chicken" or "chicken of the tree") and considered an invasive species; in the United States, feral populations also exist in South Florida (including the Florida Keys), Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Green iguanas have also successfully colonised the island of Anguilla, arriving on the island in 1995 after rafting across the Caribbean from Guadeloupe, where they were introduced.

A herbivore, it has adapted significantly with regard to locomotion and osmoregulation as a result of its diet. It grows to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than 2 m (6.6 ft) with bodyweights upward of 20 lb (9.1 kg).

Commonly found in captivity as a pet due to its calm disposition and bright colors, it can be very demanding to care for properly. Space requirements and the need for special lighting and heat can prove challenging to the hobbyist.

Green iguanas are large beautiful looking lizards found in the Americas. Despite their name, Green iguanas can come in different colors and types. Their color may range from green to lavender, red, orange, black, and even reddish brown. They can also be bluish in color with bold blue markings. Green iguanas have a row of spines along their backs and along their tails, which helps to protect them from predators. Their whip-like tails can be used to deliver painful strikes and like many other lizards, when grabbed by the tail, the iguana can allow it to break, so it can escape and eventually regenerate a new one. In addition, iguanas have a well-developed dewlap, which helps regulate their body temperature. This dewlap is used in courtships and territorial displays.

The native range of Green iguanas extends from southern Mexico to central Brazil, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Bolivia and the Caribbean; specifically Grenada, Aruba, Curaçao, Trinidad, and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Útila. They have been introduced to Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These lizards inhabit tropical rain forests and are often found near water. They also can be found in other types of habitat including dry forest, gallery forest, and mangroves.

Green iguanas are diurnal, arboreal lizards. They are very agile climbers, and if the lizards fall up to 50 feet (15 m) they can land unhurt (iguanas use their hind leg claws to clasp leaves and branches to break a fall). During cold, wet weather, Green iguanas prefer to stay on the ground for greater warmth. These solitary lizards usually live near water and are excellent swimmers. When swimming, an iguana remains submerged, letting its four legs hang limply against its side. They propel through the water with powerful tail strokes. When iguanas sense danger, they will usually freeze or hide.

Green iguanas have a polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system. This means that both males and females mate with multiple partners. The breeding season occurs in the dry season. During this time males tend to display more dominant behaviors, such as head bobbing and tail whipping. They also tend to develop a taller dorsal crest than females, as well as taller dorsal spines (or spikes). Females lay clutches of 20 to 71 eggs once per year during a synchronized nesting period. They give no parental protection after egg-laying, apart from defending the nesting burrow during excavation. The hatchlings emerge from the nest after 10-15 weeks of incubation. Once hatched, the young iguanas look similar to the adults in color and shape, resembling adult females more so than males and lacking dorsal spines. Juveniles stay in familial groups for the first year of their lives. Males in these groups often use their own bodies to shield and protect females from predators which makes Green iguanas to be the only species of reptile which do this. In general Green iguanas become reproductively mature when they are 2-4 years old.

Historically, Green iguana meat and eggs have been eaten as a source of protein throughout their native range, and are prized for their alleged medicinal and aphrodisiac properties. Hides of these lizards are also used producing leather. Green iguanas also suffer greatly from the international pet trade and the loss of their native habitat due to development and land conversion for grazing.

According to IUCN, the Green iguana is locally common and widespread throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

These beautiful lizards play a very important role in the ecosystem they live in. Due to their diet, Green iguanas are very important as seed dispersers. They are also a prey species to the local predators and human. Green iguanas can also indicate changes in the environment because reptiles are more sensitive to environmental changes than humans. So if to watch their responses, people can be warned about possible problems before they become too large.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - SINGAPORE - DALMATIAN PELICAN (Pelecanus crispus)

The Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is the largest member of the pelican family, and perhaps the world's largest freshwater bird, although rivaled in weight and length by the largest swans. They are elegant soaring birds, with wingspans that rival that of the Great albatrosses, and their flocks fly in graceful synchrony.

Dalmatian pelicans have stunning silvery-white plumage during the breeding season, which contrasts with the orange-red rubbery pouch beneath its bill and the purple-to-yellow bare skin around its eyes. On their napes, the birds have a thick silver crest of feathers. Over the breeding season, their pouches fade to a yellow color, and in winter their plumage loses its sheen of silver and appears whitish or gray instead. The bare skin around their eyes can vary from yellow to purplish in color.

The range of Dalmatian pelicans ranges across much of Central Eurasia, from the Mediterranean in the West to the Taiwan Strait in the East, and from the Persian Gulf in the South to Siberia in the North. The birds usually migrate short distances with varying migration patterns during the year. Dalmatian pelicans are found in lakes, rivers, deltas, and estuaries. They usually return to a traditional breeding site year after year unless it becomes completely unsuitable. During the winter, Dalmatian pelicans usually stay on ice-free lakes in Europe or jheels (seasonal lakes) in India. They also visit, typically during winter, inshore areas along sheltered coasts for feeding.

These pelicans are social birds and live and travel mainly in flocks. On land, they are not graceful, but they fly well and swim strongly. When flying, they rest their heads on their shoulders with their bills resting on their folded necks, and usually, they need to flap their wings only once or twice each second. They are diurnal birds, sleeping at night with heads twisted back, tucked into their feathers.

 All species of pelican are careful groomers, and a large part of an individual’s time is spent resting or preening. An individual will clean itself through splash bathing, preening, and rubbing its head over its body to help distribute waterproofing oil through its feathers. Dalmatian pelicans often hunt alone or in small groups. They normally swim along, placidly and slowly, until they quickly dunk their heads underwater and scoop the fish out, along with great masses of water. They are nomadic outside of the breeding season, traveling some distance in search of food. Dalmatian pelicans are often silent, as most pelicans tend to be, although they can be fairly vocal during the mating season, when they may engage in a wide range of guttural, deep vocalizations, including barks, hisses, and grunts.

12-8-2016 OLIVA MARJAL, VALENCIA - LITTLE EGRET (Egretta garzetta)

The little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a species of small heron in the family Ardeidae. It is a white bird with a slender black beak, long black legs and, in the western race, yellow feet. As an aquatic bird, it feeds in shallow water and on land, consuming a variety of small creatures. It breeds colonially, often with other species of water birds, making a platform nest of sticks in a tree, bush or reed bed. A clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs is laid and incubated by both parents for about three weeks. The young fledge at about six weeks of age.

Its breeding distribution is in wetlands in warm temperate to tropical parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. A successful colonist, its range has gradually expanded north, with stable and self-sustaining populations now present in the United Kingdom.

30-11-2015 ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA - EURASIAN TREE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer montanus)

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus) is a passerine bird in the sparrow family with a rich chestnut crown and nape and a black patch on each pure white cheek. The sexes are similarly plumaged, and young birds are a duller version of the adult. This sparrow breeds over most of temperate Eurasia and Southeast Asia, where it is known as the tree sparrow, and it has been introduced elsewhere including the United States, where it is known as the Eurasian tree sparrow or German sparrow to differentiate it from the native unrelated American tree sparrow. Although several subspecies are recognised, the appearance of this bird varies little across its extensive range.

The Eurasian tree sparrow's untidy nest is built in a natural cavity, a hole in a building, or the disused nest of a European magpie or white stork. The typical clutch is five or six eggs which hatch in under two weeks. This sparrow feeds mainly on seeds, but invertebrates are also consumed, particularly during the breeding season. As with other small birds, infection by parasites and diseases, and predation by birds of prey take their toll, and the typical life span is about two years.

The Eurasian tree sparrow is widespread in the towns and cities of eastern Asia, but in Europe, it is a bird of lightly wooded open countryside, with the house sparrow breeding in the more urban areas. The Eurasian tree sparrow's extensive range and large population ensure that it is not endangered globally, but there have been large declines in western European populations, in part due to changes in farming practices involving increased use of herbicides and loss of winter stubble fields. In eastern Asia and western Australia, this species is sometimes viewed as a pest, although it is also widely celebrated in oriental art.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - SUPERB STARLING (Lamprotornis superbus)

The superb starling (Lamprotornis superbus ) is a member of the starling family of birds. It was formerly known as Spreo superbus.

This species is 18 to 19 cm (7.1 to 7.5 in) long. These small short-tailed starlings have a long narrow bill, robust bodies, strong feet and a distinctive plumage pattern. Adults have black heads and iridescent blue-to-green back, upper breast, wings, and tail. The belly is red-orange, separated from the blue breast by a white bar. The undertail coverts and the wing linings are white. Juveniles have duller plumage with no more than a suggestion of the white breast band. Their eyes are brown at first, later grayish white.

The superb starling has a long and loud song consisting of trills and chatters. At midday it gives a softer song of repeated phrases. There are several harsh calls, the most complex of which is described as "a shrill, screeching skerrrreeee-cherrrroo-tcherreeeeeet."

The appearance of the superb starling is very similar to Hildebrandt's starling, also found in East Africa. The superb starling is distinguished by having pale creamy-white eyes, as opposed to red eyes in the Hildebrandt's. Moreover, only adult superb starlings have a white breast band.

The superb starling feeds primarily on the ground, often below, or in the vicinity of acacia trees. These birds mainly feeds on insects (grasshoppers, beetles, termites, ants and flies) and worms, but also on grains, fruits and small berries. They are gregarious and are generally rather tame and unafraid of people. The breeding season lasts from October to February in Ethiopia, from March to June in Somalia. Spherical nests of grasses and twigs are built in bushes, in trees of medium height and also in rock crevices. Females lay 3-4 eggs which are incubated for twelve days. Both the male and the female take care of the offspring.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - SPECKLED PIGEON (Columba guinea)

The speckled pigeon (Columba guinea ), or (African) rock pigeon, is a pigeon that is a resident breeding bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara. It is a common and widespread species in open habitats over much of its range, although there are sizable gaps in its distribution. It is sometimes referred to as the Guinea pigeon due to its similar coloring to some species of guineafowl.

This is a large pigeon at 41 cm in length. Its back and wings are rufous, the latter heavily speckled with white spots. The rest of the upperparts and underparts are blue-grey, and the head is grey with red patches around the eye. The neck is brownish, streaked with white, and the legs are red. Sexes are similar, but immatures are browner than adults and lack the red eye patches. The call is a loud doo-doo-doo.

The speckled pigeon is frequently seen around human habitation and cultivation. Most of its food is vegetable, and it gathers in large numbers where grain or groundnuts are available. This species builds a large stick nest on protected rocky outcrops and in urban areas often atop covered pergola pillars and on flat roofs under deep eaves and lays two white eggs. Its flight is quick, with regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings that are characteristic of pigeons in general.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)

The Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is a gregarious wading bird of the ibis and spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae. It is a resident breeder in both South and North America. Plume hunting in the 18th and 19th centuries almost drove these beautiful birds to extinction.

Adult Roseate spoonbills have a bare greenish head and a white neck, back, and breast (with a tuft of pink feathers in the center when breeding), and are otherwise a deep pink. The colors can range from pale pink to bright magenta, depending on age, whether breeding or not, and location. Unlike herons, spoonbills fly with their necks outstretched, and they alternate groups of stiff, shallow wingbeats with glides.

Roseate spoonbills are resident breeders in South America mostly east of the Andes and in coastal regions of the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, the Gulf Coast of the United States, and from central Florida's Atlantic coast at least as far north as South Carolina's Myrtle Beach. These birds inhabit coastal marshes, bays, lagoons, mangroves, and mudflats. They usually nest and roost in trees and shrubs near water.

Roseate spoonbills are gregarious birds and prefer to feed and fly in groups. They are active during the day spending many hours foraging in shallow fresh or coastal waters. The birds feed by swinging their bill from side to side as they steadily walk through the water, often in groups. Their spoon-shaped bill allows them to sift easily through mud feeling and looking for prey. The bill has sensitive nerve endings and once the birds feel the prey touch their bill they snap it closed. Roseate spoonbills roost in colonies often with other waders. They sleep standing, often on one leg with their head hidden under a shoulder. These birds are usually silent but when alarmed they will produce a low-pitched 'huh-huh-huh'; when feeding they may utter a very low, guttural sound.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - RED WINGED STARLING (Onychognathus morio)

The red-winged starling (Onychognathus morio ) is a bird of the starling family Sturnidae native to eastern Africa from Ethiopia to the Cape in South Africa. An omnivorous, generalist species, it prefers cliffs and mountainous areas for nesting, and has moved into cities and towns due to similarity to its original habitat.

The male of this 27–30-centimetre (11–12 in) long starling has mainly iridescent black plumage, with chestnut flight feathers, which are particularly noticeable in flight. The female has an ash-grey head and upper breast. The juvenile resembles the male, but is less glossy than the adults, and has brown rather than dark red eyes. The Ethiopian subspecies O. m. rupellii is longer-tailed than the nominate form and intergrades with it.

This species has a number of whistled calls, but the most familiar is the contact call, cher-leeeoo.

This starling may be confused with other similar starling species, such as its sister species the pale-winged starling. The difference between the two is that the red-winged has rufous primaries while the pale-winged has whitish primaries edged with orange. The pale-winged has a bright red or orange eye, while the red-winged's is dark, almost black. Only the female of the red-winged has a grey head.

28-11-2016 JURONG, SINGAPORE - GREAT MYNA (Acridotheres grandis)

The great myna (Acridotheres grandis ), also known as the white-vented myna, is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. It is found in Northeast India, through Bangladesh to Southeast Asia.

It is black with elongated forehead feathers, forming a frontal crest that may curl backwards. Its beak and feet are yellow. It has white from the vent to the tip of the tail and a white wing patch.

The Great Myna is found in Northeast India, through Bangladesh to Southeast Asia whereas the Javan Myna used to be endemic to Java and Bali but has been introduced in other parts of South East Asia (like Singapore).