eagle showtime @ the esplanade - June 2012

The pair of white-bellied sea eagles were flying about the marina basin at about 6.30pm when one swooped down to the water surface and caught a large fish (probably a tilapia) in the light of the setting sun. It flew higher and higher in a spiral  before gliding across the Padang towards its regular perch to start on dinner.

eagle showtime @ the esplanade - June 2012 from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

I expected to see the eagle get dive-attacked by the area's resident peregrine falcon but this did not happen this evening as the falcon was nowhere to be seen. It was only much later that the falcon showed up at the same place atop the Riverwalk as I had seen it the day before. It flew off close to 7.30pm.

falcon @ riverwalk - June 2012 from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

check out these links from earlier in the week :

http://sgbeachbum.blogspot.com/2012/06/eagle-v-kamikaze-high-street-june-2012.html

http://sgbeachbum.blogspot.com/2012/06/kamikaze-riverwalk-june-2012.html

the kamikaze? @ the Riverwalk - June 2012

The skies around the High Street were quiet this evening. No aerial acrobatics. This time, the lone eagle must have approached its favourite perch away from the eyes of the kamikaze as there were no sorties by the kamikaze. It was nowhere to be seen. 

A little guesswork extrapolating the appearance of the kamikaze from the left may have proved fruitful. Atop a nearby building to the left of the acrobatic arena was a dark form. It was stationary for a long time and I though it was part of the corner of the building.

 It was only much later that I realised that the dark form was no longer at the corner. 

Could this be the Peregrine Falcon's choice perch? Quite possible! It was the perfect spot to keep watch on the eagles returning with their catch and from which to launch itself. ... or maybe it was just a crow.

check out the action the day before :
http://sgbeachbum.blogspot.com/2012/06/eagle-v-kamikaze-high-street-june-2012.html

eagle v kamikaze @ high street - June 2012

The white-bellied sea eagle was flying back past the unflying saucer towards Fort Canning when it suddenly swerved as a dark form sliced through its flight path in a sweeping almost vertical downward sweeping arc at great speed. The dark form can be seen setting itself up for the dive at the start of the clip as it rises quickly at the top left corner ofthe frame before making its rapidly calculated dive.

As the eagle regained its composure in the air above High Street-Funan, the dark form dived again narrowly missing the eagle.
(the dark form appears as a double image in the clip due to its high speed).

Time : about 1830 hrs

eagle v kamikaze @ high street - June 2012 from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

An unedited clip (sans slowmo) showing the few seconds where the dark form was able to dive twice at rapid speed.

zeaglekamikazedII from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

[There was a considerable distance between the scene of the action and my observation point from the esplanade bridge and unfortunately, there is no other good vantage point offering an unobstructed view of the area.]

Similar behaviour had been been observed the preceding week when an eagle had a caught something snake-like and was flying across the sky with its dinner in its talons. It was suddenly dive-bombed by a speedy kamikaze bird (probably a peregrine falcon) which tried more than once to unnerve the eagle (probably for an easy snack).

Find out more about the possible kamikaze :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peregrine_Falcon
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/792858/falcon_spotted_in_heart_of_city.html
http://www.besgroup.org/2009/02/04/peregrine-falcon-in-singapore%E2%80%99s-heartland/
http://besgroup.blogspot.sg/2006/12/peregrine-falcon-feasting-on-black.html

blue-throated bee-eater on road @ turut track - June 2012

Came across this bee-eater sitting on the road. It seemed to be grooming itself but i saw little reason for it to expose itself in the open as it did when it could have done so in the safety of a tree branch.

spectacular aero-nautical eagle show @ marina bay ~ June 2012

Why wait for the annual air-show at far-away Changi when you can see a spectacular one daily at the Marina Bay Reservoir?

The eagle had been flying circles beyond the Benjamin Sheares Bridge with its partner but flew towards the Esplanade at about 6.30pm. It suddenly swung into a steep dive with its legs extended swooping close to the surface before snatching what was most likely a fish from the surface. 

It then began flapping its wings flying up in a tight spiral. It kept doing this until it reached well above the Esplanade durians before flying off across the Padang. It soon settled on its favourite perch atop a building and started consuming its skillfully caught dinner. Evening showtimes are between 6pm and 7pm. Best vantage point is from the Esplanade Bridge. Spectacular and free....right in the heart of the city!

Find out more about Singapore's white-bellied sea eagles :

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/birds/Haliaeetus_leucogaster.htm

http://singaporebirds.net/npassers_04/white-bellied_sea_eagle.html

http://www.besgroup.org/2010/01/09/white-bellied-sea-eagles-catch-sea-snakes/

http://www.besgroup.org/2008/05/18/white-bellied-sea-eagle-foraging-in-monsoon-drain/

http://www.besgroup.org/2007/03/24/white-bellied-sea-eagle-fishing/

http://www.besgroup.org/2006/05/13/white-bellied-fish-eagle-fishing-a-rat/

http://besgroup.blogspot.sg/2006/09/white-bellied-sea-eagle-not-just.html

http://besgroup.blogspot.sg/2006/10/white-bellied-sea-eagle-in-action.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-bellied_Sea_Eagle

http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_579_2005-01-05.html

http://www.mas.gov.sg/currency/currency_info/notes/bird_series/Singapore_Circulation_Notes_Bird_Series__10000.html

http://www.sicc.org.sg/sicc_crest.asp

Festival of Biodiversity - Singapore 26May2012

Videos of the various talks from the inaugural
Festival of Biodiversity

held on 26 May 2012
at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Video 1 - The Welcome Address 
by NParks CEO, Mr Poon Hong Yuen

Video 2 - the Keynote Address 
by Nature Society of Singapore President, Dr Shawn Lum

Video 3 - Presentation by Ms Tan Beng Chiak, Raffles Girls' School 
on "The cowshed that became a WELL"

Video 4 - 'Community Efforts in Biodiversity -1,000,000 native plants @ South West' 
by Mr. Tiew Chew Meng





Video 5 - Presentation by Mr Liak Teng Lit, Group CEO - Alexandra Health 
on "Enhancing Biodiversity at a Hospital Project - the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital's experience"

Video 6 - Presentation by Mr Ching Youyi, Keppel Singmarine
on "Keppel Volunteers - Diving for Biodiversity"

Video 7 - Presentation by Mr N. Sivasothi, National University of Singapore
Co-ordinator for International Coastal Cleanup Singapore on 
"Trash on the Beach - 21 years of Community Action on the shores of Singapore"

other video clips of talks by the other presentors 
will be made available over the next week.



Find out more about the Festival of Biodiversity :
http://festivalofbiodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/
http://festivalofbiodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/programme/

http://festivalofbiodiversitysingapore.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/first-festival-of-biodiversity/

http://iyb2010singapore.blogspot.sg/2012/04/26-27-may-sat-sun-festival-of.html