'Night' heron

Grey heron fishing by the nocturnal glare of Johor's nightlife. I took this picture early last year when we were enjoying a night out on the road that runs between Lower Seletar Reservoir and the Johor Straits. It's posted for the benefit of the  Bird Ecology Study Group's thread on the habits of urban herons.

Cattle egrets are already a common sight in parts of Singapore (especially the western sections). Sometimes I can see entire flocks of them foraging in fields right between industrial blocks. And those who frequent Jurong East MRT can hardly miss the sight of these adaptable herons congregating in the open green area surrounding the station. And if one looks closer, a couple of purple herons might also be spotted, standing still in search of small prey.

By canals, especially those which receive a daily inflood of tidal flows or are linked to the reservoirs and parks, little herons are common but rarely noticed birds. They typically skulk by the water's edge, their necks hunched motionless in patient stalking. When disturbed, they hug the water's surface in a short flight of escape. Some canals, such as those around Clementi, even play host to visiting terns, which dance in mid-air glides and dive with arrow precision. Even closer to the heartlands, one can still find graceful fishers in white plumery. Lone little egrets plow the waterways along Dunearn Road and Bishan Park for livebearing pickings, and whilst walking with a city monkey recently, I saw one ascend from the drain to perch by an overhanging tree right in front of Sim Lim Square.

Comments

[YC Wee]

Thanks, Budak. I have linked your 'Night' heron to my post on Grey Heron foraging at night in Bedok canal? YC

[ted]

A point of interest: Singapore's medical mission to East timor was codename 'Operations Blue Heron'.

[Hai~Ren]

The cattle egrets have reached Tampines as well. They've become such a common sight, especially in NUS, that I hardly notice them anymore.

It's nice to see egrets and herons still doing pretty well even in urbanised Singapore.

[budak]

NUS and the Kent Ridge area also has a fair population of magpie robins!! In Kent Ridge Park there are also gangs of Himalayan laughing thrushes (escapees) which cackle their way through the undergrowth and are quite bold.