Tag Archives: Singapore Quarry

New Year’s Eve hiking

I was having a day off on New Year’s Eve and I decided to go hiking to Singapore Quarry in the afternoon. The sky was overcast and I was a bit worried that rain would fall before I made it to the site. Sure enough, around 100 meters to the site, it started pouring. Thankfully I managed to make a quick dash to the shelter without getting drenched.

Waiting for the rain to stop, I set up my camera gear in preparation for taking pictures of the Little Grebes that I had previously photographed. Scanning my surrounding, I heard a bird calling and pointed my camera to get a clearer picture.

It was a Tiger Shrike, calling out in the rain. I took some pictures, and the turned on my camera’s video. My apologies for the wind blowing sound in the video. I need to sort this technical issue out.
 
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vph6EXG2_aw&fs=1&hl=en_US]

 
Soon, the rain subsided. And after a little while, the Little Grebes appeared at their usual spot. Bobbing in and out of water catching their prey.

First, there is one.
Little Grebe - IMG_3367

The pair together
Little Grebe - IMG_3411

Another view
Little Grebe - IMG_3424
 
While concentrating with these, I noticed far in the distance, a raptor was circling the pond and then proceeded to perch. It was a juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle.

Front view
White-bellied Sea Eagle - IMG_3545

Back view
White-bellied Sea Eagle - IMG_3638

Last picture
White-bellied Sea Eagle - IMG_3668

 

Evening time came much too soon and I had leave. While I was packing up, the Sea Eagle proceeded to circle round the pond searching for it’s own meal. Mine was still a hike back away.

A pair of Little Grebes

Little Grebes are pretty common water birds in many parts of the world. In Singapore however, there are only a few pairs left due to habitat destruction.

As far as I know, the disused Singapore Quarry near Dairy Farm Road is the only place you can easily observe these small duck like creatures. I was there on a Saturday afternoon looking for them. For 15 minutes I stared at the pond and only found swallows flying around. Only upon closer look did I manage to see the grebes, as they were very far away, and I did not expect them to be so small!

 

A pair of Little Grebes sharing a photo with Pacific Swallows

A pair of Little Grebes and some Pacific Swallows

 

A closer look (the pink bubble gum like packages are eggs of the apple snails)
A pair of Little Grebes

 

Another shot
A pair of Little Grebes