Saturday, January 10, 2026

4378. PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE GREAT WHITE PELICANS AT SINGAPORE ZOO

27 Jun 2025

Great White Pelicans in Singapore Zoo. Groups of pelicans may come together to feed cooperatively, “corralling” fish together to take turns scooping up.

  

 
 


Canon R5
tv mode, 105mm, 1 over 2000 sec, f over 4.5, ISO 1000
Above images show that the Great White Pelicans worked as a team to herd the fishes closer
to the waterway bank by swimming in a semi-circular formation.
Then, each bird will scoop up the fishes in its beak. 
 
 
 

TRAVELS SINGAPORE


WILDLIFE SINGAPORE - The Great White Pelicans.



Friday 27 June 2025 around 10am. Many local families and tourists visit the Singapore Zoo 

during weekends and school holidays. Warning signs advise visitors to stay 1 metre away from them. 


The great white pelicans swimming in a semi-circular formation nearer to the bank of the 

waterway. They are working as a team to herd the fishes together so that each

one will be able to catch the fish for a meal. 

 

 

 

 

 


BLOG:


This action is not seen in this video but photos are in the blog as follows: 

 https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2010/04/21-79-year-old-war-veteran-with-agile.html



TO BUY PHOTOS:


www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets



MORE EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS AT:


www.youtube.com/c/99pups


 
 

 
 
8 Jan 2026. 3.15pm  Singapore Zoo
Great White Pelican. This make is in breeding season as he has pink facial skin and a yellow breast. The colours are not so prominent yet. 

Canon R5, 75-300mm.
120mm
1 over 1000 sec
f over 5
iso 500
 
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Male Great White Pelicans are generally larger than females, with males weighing up to 15 kg and females up to 9 kg. Males also have a longer bill, measuring 35-47 centimeters, compared to the female's 29-40 centimeters. Both sexes exhibit white plumage with black flight feathers, and during breeding season, males develop a pinkish facial patch while females have a yellowish-orange patch. 
Here's a more detailed look at the differences:
  • Size:
    Males are significantly larger, with a body length of up to 175 centimeters and a wingspan up to 3 meters, while females are around 148 centimeters long with a similar wingspan, according to the Creatures of the World Wikia. 
  • Bill Length:
    Males possess a longer beak, which is a key distinguishing feature, according to the Exotic Heritage Group. 
  • Breeding Plumage:
    During the breeding season, males develop a pinkish facial patch, while females have a yellowish-orange patch. 
  • Other Characteristics:
    Both males and females have white bodies with black flight feathers, a large throat pouch, and short, pinkish legs with webbed feet. They also share a bare pink/yellow facial patch around their eyes. 

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

4377. Lentor Loop houses - photography av mode

 
 



 
Canon R5, 101mm, 1/100 sec, f/16, ISO 320. Av mode
2 Jan 2026. 9 am.  
 


 


4376. Bouquet of flowers photography

BOUQUET.
 an attractively arranged bunch of flowers, especially one presented as a gift or carried at a ceremony.

 

 



3 Jan 2026. 6pm. Pei's School of Dance, Outram.

Canon R5 33mm. 1/80 sec, f/16, iso 12800

 

This bouquet for Pei's School of Dance looks predominantly red and orange. The orange Heliconias (lobster-claws) at the top are very healthy and attractive. Pure large white lilies will give contrast and make the bouquet more attractive, in my opinion.

 ---------------------------------

 

 

 SINGAPORE - 3 JAN 2026: A bouquet with pink flowers bordered by a large leaf, a balloon with the text "Pei School of Dance" instead of a sender's card, together with a heartfelt congratulation message to Ms Pei, make this floral gift a great piece of artwork. 

Canon R5, AV mode, 40mm, 1/30sec, f/5.6, iso 400

 

 


 

 


 

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

4375. Abscess below left ear- Syrian hamster

 

 

 A facial abscess in a hamster is a painful pocket of pus from a bacterial infection, often seen as a lump on the cheek or face, caused by bites, scratches, or sharp cage debris getting into wounds or pouches. Symptoms include swelling, redness, pawing at the face, reduced appetite, or discharge, requiring prompt vet care for drainage, flushing, and antibiotics to prevent serious complications like spread of infection or vision loss, with prevention focused on solo housing and safe bedding.

 

 

SINGAPORE - 6 JAN 2026: This 16-month-old Syrian hamster has a swelling under the skin of the left ear canal opening. It is a developing abscess due to bacterial infection under the skin. The hamster needs veterinary treatment urgently. 

 


 

Monday, January 5, 2026

#wildlife #singapore stories. An Angry Brown #anole lizard intimidated me.

 

 

 

Have you ever seen an angry lizard in the Bird Paradise? The Bird Paradise is for birds, not lizards. I was surprised to see one reptile.

WILDLIFE SINGAPORE - AN ANGRY BROWN ANOLE INTIMIDATED ME.
Doctor Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow)
Educational Video created: 4 Jan 2026

20 Oct 2025 was a warm bright sunshine blue skies morning to connect with Nature. Many tourists posed for photographs at the Orchid Waterfall Garden with the orchids as a backdrop.

Some were less than two feet away from this lizard lying on a low tree stump amid the orchid flowers.

This Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) was a small brown lizard lying on a low tree stump amid the orchid flowers. Since he stayed put, I photographed and videoed him from a distance of six feet.

Head-bobbing up and down. It looked like he was doing push ups to appear bigger. His red dewlap which is skin below his throat ballooned out 3 times in succession and then once more.

I knew he was intimidating  me based on similar four previous encounters with the Oriental Garden Lizard during my past decade of Nature journalling.

This is a rare video footage of the Anole's communication to make himself look bigger and more intimidating or stronger to attract the female. 

UPDATE:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/01/4372-anole-lizard-intimidated-me.html


#travelshorts Singapore #Lentor Modern Mall opens in Jan 2026

Sunday, January 4, 2026

4372. An Anole lizard intimidated me.

SCRIPT FOR VIDEO 

 

Have you ever seen an angry lizard in the Bird Paradise? The Bird Paradise is for birds, not lizards. I was surprised to see one reptile.

WILDLIFE SINGAPORE - AN ANGRY BROWN ANOLE INTIMIDATED ME.
Doctor Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow)
Educational Video created: 4 Jan 2026

20 Oct 2025 was a warm bright sunshine blue skies morning to connect with Nature. Many tourists posed for photographs at the Orchid Waterfall Garden with the orchids as a backdrop. 

Some were less than two feet away from this lizard lying on a low tree stump amid the orchid flowers.

This Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) was a small brown lizard found usually in the Caribbean. He was introduced into the Bird Paradise via plants imported by the nurseries.

Since he stayed put, I decided to photograph and video him from a distance of six feet.

Head-bobbing up and down. It looked like he was doing push ups to appear bigger. His red dewlap which is skin below his throat ballooned out 3 times in succession and then once more.

I knew he was intimidating  me based on similar four previous encounters with the Oriental Garden Lizard during my past decade of Nature journalling.

This is a rare video footage of the Anole's communication to make himself look bigger and more intimidating or stronger to attract the female. 

UPDATE:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/01/4372-anole-lizard-intimidated-me.html

 

 


 


 

------------------------------------------ 

WILDLIFE SINGAPORE - AN ANGRY BROWN ANOLE INTIMIDATED ME.
Doctor Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow)
Educational Video created: 4 Jan 2026

Have you ever seen an angry lizard in the Bird Paradise?

The Bird Paradise is for birds, not lizards. I was surprised to see one reptile. 

20 Oct 2025 was a warm bright sunshine blue skies morning to connect with Nature. A gentle breeze wafted the fragrance of the orchids at the Orchid Waterfall garden to my nose.

Many tourists posed for photographs with the orchids as a backdrop. Some tourists were less than two feet away from this lizard. They posed, laughed and took selfies. If they were predators, this Anole would be eaten in a flash. 

But the humans didn't faze him. "Faze" is a word that means "to frighten away". 

"These ladies want to look pretty besides the orchids," he thought. "One man did point at me. But people would not spot me as my brown colour camouflaged me on the brown stump!"

He was nonplussed about the posing tourists, as he had become accustomed to them over the weeks.

This Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei) is a small brown lizard found usually in the Caribbean. He was introduced into the Bird Paradise via plants imported by the nurseries.

He was alert, eyeing me and fully aware of my presence as I was setting up my Canon R5 camera and positioning my tripod on the soft soil some six feet away. 

I knew he was intimidating  me based on similar four previous encounters with the Oriental Garden Lizard in the past decade of Nature journalling.

 This is a rare video footage of the Anole's communication to make himself look bigger and more intimidating or stronger to attract the female. 

UPDATE: https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/01/4372-anole-lizard-intimidated-me.html

--------------------

I focused on his eyes and shot several images. He was not disconcerted. He did not scurry away unlike most lizards.

Since he stayed put, I decided to video him. This video is a rare footage of a lizard intimidating me!During the past decade, I encountered such behaviours around four times, researched the internet and hence knew what the behaviour meant. 

Head-bobbing up and down. It looked like he was doing push ups to appear bigger.

His red dewlap ballooned out 3 times. I did not back away. He expanded his dewlap once more making him stronger and larger. I knew he was intimidating  me based on similar four previous encounters with the Oriental Garden Lizard in the past decade of Nature journalling. 

This is a rare video footage of the Anole's very short communication as I usually don't have time to video its action.

 
P.S
Why do anioles have a dewlap?

The dewlap is a longitudinal flap of skin that hangs below the neck. Anoles are not very vocal, so the dewlap provides a communication tool that can be waved like a flag. 
 
When an anole is angry, he flashes his dewlap repeatedly and may perform push-ups and head bobbing to make himself look bigger and more intimidating. 
 
A male displays this behaviour to a female to look stronger and appealing.

UPDATE:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/01/4372-anole-lizard-intimidated-me.html

------------------------------------------ 

 This is a rare video footage of the Anole's very short communication as I usually don't have time to video its very short duration of head bobbing, push-ups and dewlap ballooning during my past 10 years of Nature journalling.UPDATES, VIDEOS AND IMAGES AT

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/01/4372-anole-lizard-intimidated-me.htmlshutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets
youtube.com/@99pups

 Anole lizards in Singapore are primarily the non-native Brown Anole (Norops sagrei), an invasive species accidentally introduced via plant shipments around 2012, now widespread in parks and gardens, known for males flashing orange dewlaps and shifting color. While native Green Anoles exist, the Brown Anole population is growing, raising concerns about competition with native species, though they serve as food for some local birds, notes Nature in Singapore. 

 Brown anole "push-ups" are displays of dominance, territorial defense, and mating signals, where males rapidly lift and lower their bodies, often with head bobs and dewlap (throat fan) extensions, to intimidate rivals or attract females, showing off their strength without needing a physical fight. These movements are a key part of their communication, telling other males "back off" and signaling fitness to females. 

 

 




















 

 

Saturday, January 3, 2026

4371. PHOTOGRAPHY MESS HALL SENTOSA

SINGAPORE - 1 JAN 2026: Originally built as a military recreational club for soldiers in 1904, the Mess Hall at Sentosa is a restored two-storey colonial building housing food and beverage outlets and luxurious accommodation.

Canon R5 97mm tripod
1/100 sec, f/14, ISO 200 

 

 From Hidemasa by Hide Yamamoto’s refined Japanese cuisine, to Royal Taj’s curries and biryani, and Quentin’s Bar and Restaurant’s sophisticated Eurasian dishes, here is our guide on the 3 restaurants at Mess Hall that you have to dine at.

 






 

4370. Heliconia flowers Mess Hall Sentosa 1 Jan 2026