Rojak Librarian +

Beyond my postings of Bukit Brown, this is my web blog on flora and fauna, my travels, food, and maybe even musings of vintage prints, photos, etc. In short, still very Rojak !

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Women working in toy factory in Toa Payoh in the early 1970s

October 03, 2026

1970s RetroSingapore

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Rojak Librarian

My posts of flora and fauna and my travel logs are shared here. This blog complements my thoughts and discoveries already shared on my main blog, Rojak Librarian. (https://mymindisrojak.blogspot.com/)

Monk Parakeet colony (Pasir Ris Park)

I been to Pasir Ris Park many times and on the way there, i will pass the Pasir Ris Sports Centre's swimming complex (if you use the park connector). Up the light tower, there is a huge nest. For the longest time i thought the nest was made by Grey Heron. Recent posting on the various bird groups of Singapore facebook pages, it was highlighted that this were the nest of Monk Parakeets also known as Quaker Parrots. Monk Parakeets like many parrots and parakeets were introduced to Singapore as pets. Some this parakeets have thrived over the years and spread all over Singapore and have been also added in the Singapore Bird Checklist. At the moment, Monk Parakeet is not in this list..but who knows one day it might. Reading further about Monk Parakeets, i found out that Monk parakeets have interesting nesting behaviour. – they are the only known parrots in the world that builds nests out of branches rather than nesting in cavities. Their nest unlike the usual nest we see are fully...

The owls of Pasir Ris Park

Pasir Ris Park often plays second fiddle to the big parks and nature reserve in Central. West and North West of Singapore, but i am pretty glad there are some green spaces left in the East. Hopefully the new "East Coast Plan" entails planting of more and different species of trees that are suitable to sustain a more diverse bird life in the East. Pasir Ris Park is also nearer to my home and i am fortunate enough over the years able to spot 3 different type of owls (do note not all on the same trip). So if you not had the chance to spot an owl yet, you may want to try Pasir Ris Park. Even if you don't catch sight on any owls, there are still other birds you may observe . Buffy Fish Owl ( Ketupa ketupu) Often seen at Carpark C, look up at the rain trees surrounding the carpark area and you might spot them. The famous resident is Mr. One-eye Buffy Fish Owl, a local resident seen by many over the years. I wrote an article about the very same Buffy Fish Owl in 2015 . Buffy F...

Birdwatching in Dairy Farm (Blue-winged Leaf Bird and Blue eared Kingfisher)

Dairy Farm Nature Park is one of the places which i seldom venture due to the distance, but today i decided to pay a visit especially the part of the Wallace Education Center. The place can get crowded during the weekends with joggers, hikers and mountain bikers, hence i decided instead to go on a weekday. That decision paid dividends as i manage to see the uncommon Blue-winged Leaf Bird and a Blue eared Kingfisher. Further down the Wallace Education Center, there is a Mulberry Tree that attracts many birds including the Blue-winged Leaf Bird. I manage to get glimpse of both the male and female Blue-winged Leaf Bird. The spotting of the Blue eared Kingfisher was also special as i was making my way back when i met another birder who mentioned the blue eared was spotted at the pond nearby a resting hut. Blue-winged Leaf Bird (Male) Blue-winged Leaf Bird (Female) Blue eared Kingfisher Will post the rest of the bird and nature pictures of my Diary Farm trip in anothe...

Sunda Scops Owl (Pasir Ris Park)

Owls are always a delight to see and in Pasir Ris Park, if you are very lucky you might be able to see two species of owls in broad daylight. The first is of course the spotted wood owl and the other is the Sunda Scops Owl (Otus lempiji). I will not write about the location where i took picture of this pair of Sunda Scops Owl for worry of more people disturbing its habitat, but here is a picture i took of them. The male Sunda Scops Owl is the one "winking". Pair of Sunda Scops Owl Reading iNaturalist bird post about this owl's, there is another owl, called the Oriental Scops Owl which is similar in nature. The difference is that Oriental Scops Owl have yellow eyes and are listed as migrant birds and not residents.

Mangrove Pit Viper / Shore Pit Viper (Pasir Ris Park)

Mangrove Pit Viper or Shore Pit Viper has became relatively easy to spot recently or maybe it was just plain luck. Along the mangrove board walk trail, there were at least 2 mangrove pit vipers when i was there on 1st November 2020. My objective was to try to look for the Mangrove Pitta , but instead received consolation in the sightings of the Viper's instead. Nevertheless it was a good outing. Mangrove Pit Viper / Shore Pit Viper Mangrove Pit Viper or Shore Pit Viper at Pasir Ris Park Not easy to spot unless you are looking for them

Raffles' Banded Langur (Thomson Nature Park)

It was my first time visiting the Thomson Nature Park and the main reason was try to catch sight of the Raffles' Banded Langur (formerly known as the Banded Leaf Monkey) and reported sighting of the Red Crowned Barbet at the same park.. The keyword was hopeful, as nature is sometimes fickle and sometimes you may or may not catch sight of them. So the long story short, i was very fortunate to see a pair of Raffles' Banded Langur (along the Langur trail - aptly name the trail i must say) and as for the Red Crowned Barbet, spotting it was much more difficult. There was a fruiting fig tree with a lot of birds (mostly starlings) feeding on ripen figs but catching sight of the Red Crowned Barbet proved a bit more difficult until i heard a distinct barbet call. More about that in my next blog post, let's get back to the Raffles' Banded Languar who were busy feeding that it wasn't bothered by the attention of people passing by. I had the opportunity to observe them feeding...

Laced Woodpecker taking turns to built nest (Pasir Ris Park)

The urgent sound of knocking or pecking on wood was the give away on the presence of a woodpecker nearby. Following the sounds of it, i saw a female Laced Woodpecker busy at work. I not only have time to take photos but also video of it. After exploring other parts of Pasir Ris Park, i came back to the same spot and this time i spotted the male Laced Woodpecker at the very same tree and hole, pecking away. The difference between the male and female is of course the distinct red crown of the male Laced Woodpecker. Are they making a nest together, that is my guess for now. Female Laced Woodpecker Male Laced Woodpecker

Mangrove Pitta at Pasir Ris Park (March 2021)

I am very fortunate to bump into the Mangrove Pitta today. This time it wasn't fearful of the crowds trying to take its picture from the mangrove boardwalk. The mangrove pitta, probably first spotted last year, seems to be still around and it seems that Pasir Ris Park Mangrove habitat is proving to be a suitable place for it to replenish its energy and stock up, before it flies back or who knows, maybe continue staying here. Whatever the case, its just great to enjoy spotting this rare migrant and hope to see more mangrove pittas for many years to come instead of just one in Pasir Ris Park.

Birds and mammals of Perth (Nature Travel blog)

This is a long, long overdue nature travel log that actually took place in 2017! It was our first ever maiden trip to Perth, Australia in May 2017 and flew there using Jetstar which proved an inexpensive yet comfortable 5 hour 20 minute flight time. We didn't rent a car for our maiden trip there and travel around using public transport during our 55 nights stay there. I booked my accommodations via Agoda and stayed at Baileys Serviced Apartments which was pretty good as it allowed us also to cook at "home" if we wanted to.The weather was perfect for us coming from sunny Singapore, and it only gets chilly when windy. There is plenty of things to do within and outside of Perth, with many great websites offering fantastic advice. If you plan to explore outside Perth more, renting a car will be the best option. As this is a travel log with a twist, my focus is on the birds and mammals i manage to see during my visit here, mostly taken at the beautiful King's Park and R...

Oriental Pied Hornbill feeding on locust and garden snail

Oriental Pied Hornbills have become a common sight in many places. If you have observed them you will know they are omnivores and often seek little birds and other lizards for source of protein. On 1st November i manage to record an Oriental Pied Hornbill feeding on a locust and shortly after tried to eat a garden snail at Pasir Ris Park. Oriental Pied Hornbill with a garden snail on its beak

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