Olive-Backed Sunbird nesting

Early Jan 2020, a pair of sunbirds came to my house and started to build a nest. It took 6-7days non-stop effort from the female bird to complete the nest. It took another 4-5days for the laying and incubation of eggs.

After hatching, it took 2weeks of growing before the chick is able to fly away from the nest.  During the 2 weeks, the male and female kept feeding the chick almost non-stop during daylight. The female will sit inside the nest during night time protecting the chick.

Here are some photos of the nesting and the chick has fledged today. A youtube video of the full cycle is as attached (videos and photographs)

Full Cycle of Nesting

Little Pups Series (Otters)

During the months of March & April 2018, I was blessed to have opportunities to follow 2 families of Otters in Singapore. Namely the less famous Siglap Otters and the Pasir Ris/Changi Otters.

I was informed by a few Otters watchers who I knew on the locations. I usually go to these place during the early hours of the day before my work. Armed with a Nikon D7000 or D90 with 300mmF4, I will observe and shoot these otters behaviours.

During this project, there are many sad moments where I witnessed the otter's pups being attacked by wild animals (Monitor Lizards) and recently 2 sub adults otters being killed after being trapped by the fishermen cages.  The Siglap Otters recent 6 newly born pups, only 2 are left now.

Every time I see these pups and otters, my heart melts and wanted to capture their moment. 

The life of the Otters in Singapore is not as rosy as most people thought.  They have to also constantly moved to avoid other families of otters as fights will occur between different families.

With this series, I hope that if you happened to come across a family of otters, do keep a safe distance as they are wildlife (although they may look cute and harmless). Their set of teeth can tear a live fish head with one bite! And learn to share the sea/ water ponds with them.

The followings shots are from my Nikon D7000  and AF-S 300mmf4. I recently replace the d90 and old AF-300mm (screw-mount) with the "newer" tech equipment.

Siglap Otters with 4pups. They began with 6 pups but currently left 2 pups. Due to death and predation. The family here is a small family with 3 adults. Not easy to care for 6 pups. The area they stay are not abundant with fishes too unlike the famous Bishan Family.

Pups learning to swim on their own without the parent's supervision. They slipped and fall is a common sight during this period.

One of the adult otters from Siglap family hunting for fishes in a canal. Fishes are hard to find here.

2 pups under the Threat of the Monitor Lizard. The 3 adults from this Siglap family were outing hunting for fishes when this happened. 

Pasir Ris/Changi Otters-Loving care displayed by the Otters. This is the sweet moment after waiting for them to come out after 2-3 hrs of waiting.

5-weeks old pup

Pups closely protected by parent

Pasir Ris Pup, learning to swim guided by attentive parents

A split second moment captured when the baby pup was about to trip and fall, the mum grap hold of him:-0

A almost 9 weeks old pup- Growing up well


A pup carried by his sister.

4 pups with mum during the early hours of monring. Shot with RAW setting and High ISO

Singapore Air Show 2018

This bi-yearly airshow started this week. I was at the Changi Beach area to capture some of the Aerial Display. This year is also our Singapore Air force 50th year anniversary.

 The one complaint I have for our airshow is the lighting is bad. The Air display timing is in the middle of the day and the lighting is harsh.

Nevertheless, I shot these shots with a D90 and 300mmf4 IF-D

Singapore Airforce F-15 SG 50years anniversary painting. with 2 F-16s.

From Indonesia

Bishan Otter Pups

Since the last few encounters of this otter family, the shooting opportunity is low due to the difficult environment they are at.

This time, I was lucky to see them again at the opposite end of Gardens by the Bay East.

Finding the otters is quite a challenge as they do not go to the same place every day. The places they explore daily are random. The areas they cover are from Bishan park down to Kallang/ Marina Bay area.

So for me to look for them, I will either carry my Fuji XT1 w 55-200mm lightweight setup which I kept into my small running backpack. I will do a morning jog or cycle around the Gardens by the bay around the Kallang basin to spot the otters. Many of times, I will not see them and take it as a morning exercise.

However, once they are spotted, it is always a joy to observe their ever interesting behaviour.

Fortunately, I came to know some Otters watchers at the route and share info with them too.

This time, managed to get better action and better environment shots. The little ones are really cute and expressive. The otters family is a close-knit family. All by Fuji Xt1 and 55-200mm.

Otter Pups at Marina Bay

These young pups of the otter family in Marina Bay. From the news, they are out in the open since Nov 2017. Today, I have a chance to meet them up-close. Remember they are wild animals and they are quite aggressive this period due to the presence of the pups. Keep a safe distance. Photos are Shot by 55-200mm (equil 300mm focal length (fullframe) ) and cropped.