4805. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300mm. Gular Pouch of a pelican

 

A pelican's gular pouch is a highly flexible, distensible sac of skin attached to the lower mandible, used primarily as a fishing net to scoop up fish and water. It can hold up to 3 gallons (11 liters) of water—significantly more than the bird's stomach capacity—and serves to drain water before swallowing prey. 

 

 

25 Jan 2026. 4.35pm
Canon R5 300mm, 1/1250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600 

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details about the gular pouch:

• Feeding Mechanism: It acts as a scoop rather than a storage container; pelicans use it to trap fish, drain water, and then consume the fish immediately.
• Temperature Regulation: Pelicans use "gular fluttering," shaking the pouch to evaporate moisture and cool down in heat.
• Structure: Composed of specialized, highly elastic, fibrous skin that stretches to accommodate large, struggling prey.
• Hygiene & Maintenance: Pelicans may turn the pouch inside out to clean debris or keep the skin pliable.
• Breeding Displays: In some species, the skin color may change during the breeding season to attract mates. 

The pouch is a crucial, specialized adaptation for efficient foraging and survival. 

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 The great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) is a massive, highly social waterbird found in African, Asian, and European swamps and lakes. Known for its immense, yellow-orange throat pouch capable of holding over 13 liters of water, it is specialized for catching fish. These powerful, migratory birds often hunt cooperatively and travel in large V-formations. 

4804. PHOTOGRAPHY WITH LENS 24 - 104mm. Common Mormon caterpillar

caterpillars of the butterfly Papilio polytes Romulus, commonly known as Common Mormon, on a Curry Leaf (Bergera koenigii) plant in the back area. 

5th-stage instar caterpillar of Common Mormon butterfly
27 Jan 2026. 9.53am. Lentor Plain potted curry leaf plant
105mm, 1/500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 640

Lens 24 - 105 mm 

 

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caterpillar of Common Mormon butterfly
27 Jan 2026. 9.42am. Lentor Plain potted curry leaf plant
100mm, 1/1250 sec, f/4.5, ISO 3200

Lens 24 - 105 mm 

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 Both the Lime Butterfly and Common Mormon caterpillars feed on Citrus sp and Clausena. To distinguish them, look at the spots joining the false eyes. If there is a brown - black band, it is a Lime. Common Mormon is clean. Also Common Mormon has white tails. Common Mormon may also be found on Curry Leaf.

 

 

 

 

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Curry leaf caterpillars are the larvae of the Common Mormon butterfly (Papilio polytes) or sometimes the Lime butterfly (Papilio demoleus), which feed voraciously on young, tender curry leaves, often leaving only the midribs. They start as dark brown, bird-dropping-like caterpillars, turning green/white as they grow before forming chrysalises. 

Key Facts & Management

• Appearance: Early instars are dark brown with irregular white markings; later stages are green with black, white, or red spots.
• Behavior: They are solitary, feeding on young shoots and, if threatened, may display an organ called an osmeterium that releases a strong, defensive odor.
• Damage: They can quickly defoliate young or small potted curry leaf plants.
• Manual Control: The most effective control is to hand-pick the caterpillars and remove them, or place them in soapy water.
• Natural Remedies: Spraying neem oil or applying Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can manage them.
• Lifespan: They turn into beautiful black and white butterflies in roughly 10 days after pupation. 

While they are pests, they are also a sign of a healthy, pesticide-free garden, and many gardeners choose to share their leaves with them. 

 

 

4803. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300mm. The Control Tower.

 

The official name of this “golf ball” is the Radome. The Radome contains a surface movement radar that tracks the movement of aircraft within the aerodrome, and its sphere protects the radar equipment from the weather and environment.

The old Radome was replaced by a new one in 2015.

 

 

 Canon R5, 75-300m, 75mm, 1/2000 sec, f/4.5, iso 200

20 Jan 2026. 12.12pm. From inside my car 

 

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Canon R5, 75-300m, 180mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5, iso 160

20 Jan 2026. 12.13pm. From inside my car 

 

 

 

 

4802. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300 mm lens. Pilot cap badge

 SINGAPORE - 20 JAN 2026: 12.50pm. A Singapore Airlines pilot cap with an embroidered badge featuring a wreathed bird in flight logo. The badge is made with gold bullion threads. It is a professional identifier and a mark of accountability for certified pilots. The cap and luggage were at outside the Departure Gate, Terminal 2, Changi Airport.

 

 

4801. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300mm. The Pussy Willows.

 Pussy willow is a name given to many of the smaller species of the genus Salix (willows and sallows) when their furry catkins are young in early spring.

 

 

Pussy willows are

fast-growing deciduous shrubs or small trees (typically Salix discolor) known for their soft, silvery-grey, furry flower buds called catkins that appear on bare stems in late winter or early spring. Native to North America and wetlands, they are prized for early-season floral arrangements and as a crucial, nectar-rich food source for early bees. 

Key Characteristics and Uses: 

• Fuzzy Catkins: The "pussy" refers to the soft, fur-like texture of the male flower buds, which resemble tiny cat paws.
• Habitat: They thrive in moist to wet areas, including riverbanks and marshes, and are effective at controlling soil erosion.
• Appearance: They are often found as multi-stemmed shrubs, reaching
  

  $15$
  -
  

  $25$
  feet in height, with green leaves that appear after the catkins.
• Reproduction: The plants are dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Only male plants produce the classic, large, fuzzy silver catkins.
• Uses: Widely used in decorations, dried arrangements, and sometimes in religious ceremonies, such as Palm Sunday in Eastern European traditions. 

Cultivation: 

• Growth: They are easy to grow, often from cuttings, but require ample water and sun.
• Pruning: Annual pruning is recommended to encourage the growth of new, vigorous, and straight branches for future catkins. 

4800. Telehealth care by Dr Sing Kong Yuen - online medical examination (OME) for pets

 

 

 

 

 

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Telehealth care by Dr Sing Kong Yuen - online medical examination for pets in 2026

25 January 2026.

Telehealth is defined as the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, health administration, and public health

1. SINGAPORE PET OWNERS:
Online medical examination (OME) for pets is offered by Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow), 75, of Toa Payoh Vets, Singapore in 2026.

It helps shorten time taken to examine pets and reduces costs of house-calls. Most of the vet's working hours  will be spent driving during house-calls. The OME reduces travel time and allows the vet to treat the pet's illnesses quickly.

Pet owners from Singapore or overseas WhatsApp images and videos to Dr Sing via +65 9668-6468.

In most cases, the pets will need to be physically examined and subjected to laboratory tests at Toa Payoh Vets for diagnosis and treatment.

Fees payable varies from US$60 depending on time needed to do the OME. 

WhatsApp +65 9668-6468 for more information.

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2. OVERSEAS PET OWNERS:
Overseas pet owners needing a 2nd or 3rd opinion on their small animal pet's health. 

Please WhatsApp Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow) +65 9668-6468 or email 99pups@gmail.com the information about their pet health or other conditions. Consultation fee of S$100, payable to PayPal for short consultations via WhatsApp +65 9668-6468. 

 

UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/01/4800-telehealth-care-by-dr-sing-kong.html
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12 January 2026.
A telehealth case for a 16-year-old female Syrian hamster with a large left ear abscess.
Pending veterinary examination at Toa Payoh Vets by Dr Daniel Sing, I advised the following treatment.
Dr Daniel offered the same advice. The owner did not accept this advice as she deemed it invasive.

 

 

 

 

 SINGAPORE - 17 JAN 2026: This female 16-month-old Syrian hamster has a large swelling below the left ear lateral canal due to bacterial infections accumulating pus inside the swelling. This veterinary condition is known as EAR ABSCESS. She is being treated at the veterinary surgery. 

4799. VET CASE STUDY: Syrian hamster's large right forearm wound. 24 Jan 2026. Telehealth consult by Dr Sing Kong Yuen.

24 Jan 2026. 5pm. Saturday.
Phone discussion with owner over the video sent by her.

16-month female Syrian Hamster, 180 g.

1. Telehealth consultation on 6 January 2025, with Dr Sing Kong Yuen earlier for
left nose swelling which had subsided after treatment by Dr Daniel at Toa Payoh Vets.

2. 12 Jan 2025, she had large left ear swelling, likely abscess. Owner did NOT want surgery

to treat abscess and remove left ear canal. Medication continued.

Around 22 Jan 2026, abscess subsided 90%.
At the same time, a small black right forearm wound was noticed.

It enlarged to present size.

3. 24 Jan 2026, large right forearm wound. Looked black,

likely flesh-eating bacteria, self-inflicted biting and bleeding.

Owner had not applied any liquid onto this wound. Hamster is still active and eating.

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TREATMENT OF A LARGE BLACK INFECTED WOUND.

24 Jan 2026 advices via telehealth conversation:


Left forearm black wound and swelling for over 10 days.
Keep biting the wound.
Hamster is on 20th day antibiotics, antihistamine, anti-inflammatory from vet

at Toa Payoh Vets.
Still active and eating.
"Wound drier now", said owner today.

MY ADVICES:
1. Den. Hamster squeezed inside "house den", storing things.

Entrance too narrow, causing right forearm wound to be traumatised on going in and out.

Hygiene. Owner cleans it every 4 days.

Change to bigger den with wide entrance or widen entrance to den.

2. Green Christmas tree to be removed to prevent accidental contact with wound.

3. Feed bowl small is OK. Hamster cannot get inside to take the seeds, traumatising wound.

4. Water bowl. OK. Hamster drinks. No space for water bottle, hence bowl.

5. Exercise wheel. Still using.

6. Generalised hair loss abnormal but present for some months.

I suspect hormonal imbalance.

7. Paper. No litter now, hence no trauma to wound.


8. HYGIENE. Use boiled water cooled it. Soak right forearm into container

of water to rinse off saliva and dirt from large wound. Tissue to dry forearm and wound.

Once daily.
Owner had used Normal saline to clean wound, but hamster keeps licking

off the saline. "Ït is not normal for the hamster to smell and taste saline,"I said to owner.

CONCLUSION:
In veterinary cases, large wound treatment may need veterinary

review every 5 - 7 days, but few owners in Singapore have time to do it.

UPDATE:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/01/4799-vet-case-study-syrian-hamsters.html

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 24 Jan 2026Syrian hamster, F, 16 months

WOUND Right forearmBig, black, irregular shapePresent over 14 days

ActiveEating

PAST 20 DAYS

Antibiotics

Anti-histamine

Anti-inflammatory

4798. #wildlife Singapore #photography Asian #koel and Little #heron in #yish...

4797. #wildlife Singapore. The Asian #koel and Little #heron #photography

 

 

 

 This female Asian Koel perched on a small tree
in the Botanic Garden of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

A Garden so small, you will walk through in 5 minutes.

A bird so big and far, you will need zoom lens to
photograph it. Your smartphone will be useless.

 

 After visiting a hospitalised grandmother, I hoped to
photograph uncommon birds in this Garden.

A flurry of winds rustled the leaves.    
This big patterned bird appeared for a few seconds.
She was hidden amongst the leaves. I got one good shot.

She came back. 
To give me a SECOND CHANCE.

 

 This short WILDLIFE SINGAPORE video
documents two amazing birds seen in
the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. 

You just saw the first bird - the female Asian Koel
with patterned plumage. If you see the male, he
has only glossy black feathers.

The second is what I believe to be the Little Heron
He was seen on 2 consecutive days.
 

Standing still, like a statue.
Eyes and long beak at one fixed spot in the water.

A sudden extension of his neck to snap the little fish or insect
Inside the clear waters of the Yishun Pond.

He lifted one foot very slowly, put it down
without rippling the waters, to move forward.

To stalk swimmers
But it was a time of famine for him.

I took photos but forgot video on the first day.

 The next morning, he was present in the 
same cul-de-sac part of Yishun Pond.
A second chance to take a video which
is much better than still images.

I thank Mr Brian Peck for sharing his
beautiful white-headed munia and sparrow
photos which add interest to this video. 

  

In conclusion, when life gives you a SECOND CHANCE
in living, in love or in better health, you should have 
been prepared - not to waste the opportunity.

A photographer should have his camera at all times
to capture the shots or video.

This wildlife video is dedicated to my grandchildren, the
oldest is 7 years old. She is 68 years younger than me!