Looking back at my previous years coverage on World Migratory Bird Day – WMBD 2021, WMBD 2023 (May 13th), WMBD 2023 (October 14th), WMBD 2024 (11th May), WMBD 2024 (12th October) and WMBD 2025 (10th May). My birding journey has seen some great adventures visiting various nature reserves, parks and coastal areas for my birding photography, curating and uploading them into my Flickr photography collection – Bird/Wildlife Photography in Singapore.

WMBD 2025 Theme – Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities & Communities

Although Singapore is a very small country by land size, we are a hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway, making it a major migratory bird hub/stopover destination. Singapore now can play a bigger and wider international role in the migratory birds journey with those 2 major flyways, a transit hub for migratory birds. 

Singapore is part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, migratory birds making a pitstop in Singapore, giving bird photographers here in Singapore many opportunities to photograph them in action, the diversity and beauty of those migratory bird species. 

Recent research findings over the past few years have also indicated that Singapore’s status as a major migratory bird hub has grown in stature, Singapore now has become the intersection of 2 major flyways, adding the Central Asian-Indian Flyway to the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

For more information on Singapore has a hub for migratory birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway, please check out the following articles below:

• NParks article – Feathered Global Ambassadors: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparksbuzz/issue-42-vol-3-2019/conservation/feathered-global-ambassadors 
• Mothership article – New study shows Singapore is a pitstop for migratory birds from 2 major flyways: https://mothership.sg/2020/12/migratory-bird-central-asian-flyway-singapore/ 
• Nature Portfolio Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-77897-z 
• Straits Times article on 1st April 2024 – New Initiative to protect migratory birds and habitats: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-initiative-to-protect-migratory-birds-and-habitats

Visiting the various nature reserves, parks and coastal areas in Singapore for my birding photography, we can see Singapore playing their small part in creating bird-friendly cities & communities, through the protection, conservation and preservation of nature areas, parks, green belt connectors.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore is a hotspot (internationally important) for migratory birds. It’s a must visit for bird photographers, nature and wildlife lovers. If you are an international visitor planning bird photography visits in Singapore, check out NParks Birdwatching at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for more information. 

Flickr Photography Collection – Bird/Wildlife Photography in Singapore

I am continuing to work on curating and uploading more bird photographs in Singapore, showcasing the importance of Singapore as a bird hub for migratory birds. Although I haven’t reach the level of photographing all the bird species listed in Singapore by Birds of Singapore website by Bird Society of Singapore, 

I would still be actively planning my trips to nature reserves, parks, coastal areas for bird photography (local and migratory) in Singapore, revisiting those parks and coastal areas that I don’t visit as often over the years, and I can update bird photography from those locations inside my bird photography collections on Flickr.

Migratory Bird Photography October 2025 to March 2026

Migratory bird photography season from October 2025 to March 2026 started slightly earlier for me in September 2025. Although it’s not peak bird migratory season yet here in Singapore, I would be planning and keeping a lookout for migratory birds arriving in Singapore in October and November 2025.

Meanwhile, I would also continue with photographing local birds that I have yet to be photographed, that has been eluding me over the years that I have been doing bird photography. 

To fellow bird photography friends out there, have a good migratory bird photography season ahead! 

The post World Migratory Bird Day 2025 (11th October) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

My Wildlife Photography (birds/otters/animals) Explorations in Singapore

That’s no doubt that Singapore has a very small land size, yet we have our fair share of nature and green areas, sometimes not too far away from our neighbourhoods. My wildlife photography (birds/otters/animals) explorations in Singapore brings me outdoors, nature and photography therapy, all coming together.

Whenever I visit outdoor areas in Singapore, nature parks, beaches, gardens, nature reserves, while I would usually photograph more birds, I do keep a lookout for other wildlife in Singapore, otters being one of them that I keep a lookout for whenever I am outdoors with my wildlife photography gear. 

Otters Sightings in Singapore

I still recalled ten years or more back, we don’t get to spot many otters in Singapore, it was quite exciting to spot them in our nature areas and waterways. When I first photographed them at Lorong Halus, Marina Barrage/Marina Reservoir, that was really exciting!

Slowly and gradually over time, the otters in Singapore had expanded their numbers and presences at many more locations in Singapore. I managed to spot and photographed them at many more different locations in Singapore over time.

• Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
• West Coast Park, Sungei Ulu Pandan Kechil, Sungei Ulu Pandan, Pandan Reservoir 
• Pasir Ris Park
• Jurong Lake Garden 
• Labrador Park / Berlayer Creek
• Bishan-AMK Park
• East Coast Park
• Singapore River, Kallang River, Marina Bay/Marina Reservoir/Marina Barrage/Marina East Drive (Gardens By The Bay & Gardens By The Bay East)

From solo otter, a pair of them, small family size to big family of otters, I have managed to photograph them. However, I have yet to photograph those very young otters (just born or a few months old), I hope to spot and photograph young otters one day when I am in the outdoors and nature areas of Singapore.

There are a number of different otter family groups in Singapore residing at various locations in Singapore. I have photographed a number of them, maybe a few more otter families and also new otter families that started their new tribe in recent years. 

My Nature/Bird/Wildlife Photography in Singapore

For my nature/bird/wildlife photography in Singapore, I upload them into my Flickr photography collections, doing my part to share photos (with OtterCity) and help spread the message of nature and wildlife conservation and protection, this is also a great form of outdoors and photography therapy for me too. 

• Bird/Wildlife Photography in Singapore – https://www.flickr.com/photos/tangenghui/collections/72157632742488230/ 
• Otter Sightings in Singapore – https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBs6an 

While otters have their fair share of being in the media limelight in Singapore, I sincerely hope that otters can co-exist well (along with other wildlife species) with human beings here in Singapore, a City In Nature.

The post World Otter Day – 28 May 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Looking back at my previous years coverage on World Migratory Bird Day – WMBD 2021, WMBD 2023 (May 13th), WMBD 2023 (October 14th), WMBD 2024 (11th May) and WMBD 2024 (12th October). My birding journey has seen some great adventures visiting various nature reserves, parks and coastal areas for my birding photography, curating and uploading them into my Flickr photography collection – Bird/Wildlife Photography in Singapore. 

WMBD 2025 Theme – Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities & Communities

Singapore, while a very small country by land size, they are a hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway, making it a major migratory bird hub/stopover destination. Singapore now can play a bigger and wider international role in the migratory birds journey with those 2 major flyways, a transit hub for migratory birds. 

Singapore is part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, migratory birds making a pitstop in Singapore, giving bird photographers here in Singapore many opportunities to photograph them in action, the diversity and beauty of those migratory bird species. 

Recent research findings over the past few years have also indicated that Singapore’s status as a major migratory bird hub has grown in stature, Singapore now has become the intersection of 2 major flyways, adding the Central Asian-Indian Flyway to the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

For more information on Singapore has a hub for migratory birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway, please check out the following articles below:

• NParks article – Feathered Global Ambassadors: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparksbuzz/issue-42-vol-3-2019/conservation/feathered-global-ambassadors 
• Mothership article – New study shows Singapore is a pitstop for migratory birds from 2 major flyways: https://mothership.sg/2020/12/migratory-bird-central-asian-flyway-singapore/ 
• Nature Portfolio Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-77897-z 
• Straits Times article on 1st April 2024 – New Initiative to protect migratory birds and habitats: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-initiative-to-protect-migratory-birds-and-habitats

Visiting the various nature reserves, parks and coastal areas in Singapore for my birding photography, we can see Singapore playing their small part in creating bird-friendly cities & communities, through the protection, conservation and preservation of nature areas, parks, green belt connectors.

Flickr Photography Collection – Bird/Wildlife Photography in Singapore

I am working to curate and upload more birding photography in Singapore, showcasing the importance of Singapore as a bird hub for migratory birds. Although I haven’t reach the level of photographing all the bird species listed in Singapore by Birds of Singapore website by Bird Society of Singapore, I would still be actively visiting nature reserves, parks, coastal areas for bird photography (local and migratory) in Singapore.

Here’s a view of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Kranji Coastal Nature Park from the other end of Kranji industrial estate TimMac @ Kranji, not too far from the upcoming Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park that is slated to open in 2028.

Also a photograph of the peregrine falcon, an uncommon migrant and rare visitor, perching on the ledge of an industrial building at TimMac @ Kranji.

Looking back at my migratory bird season from around October 2024 to March/April 2025, this was a very fruitful birding adventure (both local and migratory), and I hope to continue on this momentum when the new migratory bird season begins around September/October 2025 in Singapore.

With the rising bird photography community in Singapore, I hope that we can help to raise the awareness, publicity, knowledge and learning about birds, wildlife, nature, conservation and preservation of nature reserves, parks, and coastal areas in Singapore.

The post World Migratory Bird Day 2025 (10th May) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Marking World Wildlife Day 2025, I decided that I would share more photographs of Singapore’s wildlife biodiversity that I took during my bird photography and nature treks, that are not bird photographs that I have been sharing quite a fair bit over the years. 

Singapore, even with its small land size, is home to a rich biodiversity of wildlife, from mammals to birds, insects, reptiles and many more. This is also the time to remind myself that I would need to photograph more of Singapore’s biodiversity besides my bird photography adventure in Singapore (on local and migratory birds) during my nature and outdoors treks. 

From Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, to Jurong Lake Gardens, Pasir Ris Park, West Coast Park, Labrador Park, Bidadari Park, Fort Canning Park, these are just some of the locations that the different wildlife biodiversity that I shot in the last one year period. 

I am continuing to upload and share more photographs into my Nature Reserves/Parks/Park Connectors in Singapore and Wildlife in Singapore collections on Flickr, showcasing and sharing Singapore’ biodiversity, a truly City In Nature.  

The post World Wildlife Day 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Bird Migratory Season (October 2024 to March 2025) in Singapore

I am sharing some of the birds that I photographed during the past few months across various parks/nature areas in Singapore. Let’s see how many more #bird species that I can add in March 2025, round up and adding on to my Birds in Singapore collection on Flickr – https://flic.kr/s/aHsjBnNjyL. 

Wildlife photography and Nature Parks/Parks/Park Connector in Singapore

Over the years, I have been visiting various nature parks/parks/park connector networks in Singapore. While I have been actively visiting photographing birds, wildlife, landscapes (nature and urban), I haven’t been doing that well on uploading more photographs and writing my local Singapore travel visual stories on Singapore’s wildlife and City In Nature biodiversity and beauty.

In 2025, I would be working on uploading more photographs into the two Flickr collections below:

• Nature Reserves/Parks/Park Connectors in Singapore – https://www.flickr.com/photos/tangenghui/collections/72157664291934979/ 
• Wildlife Photography in Singapore – https://www.flickr.com/photos/tangenghui/collections/72157632742488230/ 

Next up would be writing travel visual stories + easy to use guides on visiting Nature Reserves/Parks/Park Connectors in Singapore, the wildlife photography opportunities, that would be useful for both international visitors and fellow Singaporeans. 

This would keep me busy in the content creation segments on Singapore’s travel, nature, parks, biodiversity and wildlife photography. 

TGH Photography x Canon EOS R6 Mark II Explorer Series

My bird photography adventures were shot with Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens. I am enjoying this photography setup/combination, until I decide to change my lens for something else.  

A fruitful and fun bird migratory season from October 2024 to February 2025 in Singapore, what would the last month of migratory birds season in March 2025 be like for me? 

* A TGH Photography x Canon EOS R6 Mark II Explorer Series Production *

The post Bird Migratory Season (October 2024 to March 2025) in Singapore appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

What is Amazônia?

Amazônia is a major exhibition by the legendary world-renowned and award-winning photojournalist Sebastião Salgado. This exhibition spotlights on the Amazon region and its ecosystems coming under the threat of deforestation and climate change. 

The Amazon is known as the “the lungs of the world”, a title that is not taken lightly, the whole world has to protect and conserve this very crucial and important region on planet Earth. Through Amazônia exhibition, visitors can view, feel, learn and understand the natural beauty, and majesty of the Amazon region. 

This exhibition also features the Indigenous communities who live in Amazon, with the Amazon, the largest rainforest on the planet, which many of us around the world would not know too much about or heard of them before.

Amazônia is making its highly anticipated debut in Asia-Pacific at the National Museum of Singapore from 22nd November 2024 to 2nd March 2025. This travelling exhibition transports visitors on a walk into the heart and soul of the Amazon rainforest, one of the world’s greatest ecosystems. 

Sebastião Salgado first showing at the National Museum of Singapore was in 2014, titled Genesis. A decade later, Amazônia continues conversations on the important topic of environmental conservation through Amazônia, a major new body of work arising from his decades-long engagement with the Amazon region.

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “The National Museum is proud to bring to Singapore the latest internationally acclaimed exhibition of works by Sebastião Salgado. The Amazon is deeply connected to the world’s climate and affects all of us, even in Singapore. Amid a heightened awareness and urgent call for greater climate action today, we hope that visitors will be inspired by Salgado’s remarkable photos and the exhibition’s message to appreciate and take action to protect our natural world while respecting and learning from the Indigenous peoples who live in, and with, the rainforest.”

Amazônia  – An Immersive and Meticulously Curated Exhibition

Amazônia is a multi-sensory, immersive and meticulously curated exhibition, curated and designed by Lelia Wanick Salgado. There are over 200 photographs on display, there is a beautiful  soundtrack by Jean-Michel Jarre, that makes your visit to Amazônia very soothing and therapeutic. 

Further more, there are two projection rooms, video testimonies from Indigenous leaders, a special segment known as Amazônia Touch that allows the visually impaired to appreciate the Amazônia exhibition, through tactile image plates. 

There is a space dedicated Instituto Terra, it’s the reforestation non-governmental organisation founded by the Salgados. 

Lélia Wanick Salgado, Curator and Exhibition Scenographer of Amazônia said, “Immersion is a big part of the curatorial process of this exhibition. By integrating visitors into the lush greenery of the rainforest and raw portrayals of the everyday lives of its Indigenous people, I hope to present a multidimensional look at the beauty of the Amazon, and impress on visitors the human and ecological elements at stake if we don’t take action to protect it.”

Take a walk into the Amazon rainforest

A visit to Amazônia brings you on a majestic journey through the lands of the Amazon, through the breathtaking photographs on display, you can see and also feel the natural wonders and phenomena of the Amazon rainforest in its own unique nature, stature and importance to planet Earth.

The Amazon region complex ecosystems such as freshwater archipelagos and “flying rivers”, are presented through more than 200 evocative black-and-white photography prints. Moreover, there are slide projections, documenting its vibrant landscape and the lives of people living within Amazon region. 

It’s more than just a majestic visual spectacle of Mother Nature’s natural wonders, it also shows the fragility in the same measure. Salgado hopes that this serves as an important call for everyone of us on planet Earth to conserve the “lungs of the world”.

Salgado said, “The Amazon rainforest is full of life, and is in itself an important lifeline for our world. The exhibition is a record of what remains of this vast and vulnerable heritage amid an uncertain future. It is our shared responsibility to conserve it and I hope that the exhibition will inspire the community to take action to prevent this exhibition from becoming a testimony of a lost world 50 years from now.”

Tulsi Naidu, CEO Asia Pacific of Zurich Insurance Company Ltd – the main global partner of Amazônia – said, “Zurich’s longstanding global partnership with Sebastião Salgado reflects our commitment to climate action and a sustainable future. Through the Zurich Forest project, launched in 2020 in collaboration with the Salgados, we’ve helped restore parts of the Brazil Atlantic Forest by planting one million trees with Instituto Terra. We are now also supporting Instituto Terra in the acquisition of additional land for nature restoration and the construction of a new, larger nursery. In the Amazônia exhibition, Sebastião Salgado’s powerful photography – beautifully curated by Lélia Wanick Salgado – is a striking reminder of the urgent need to protect the natural world and its communities.”

Aerial View: The Amazon Seen from Above: A bird’s eye view of the Amazon. Experience sweeping aerial panoramas of majestic waterfalls and storm-laden skies.

Flying Rivers: Watering the Continent: Where water vapour from trees forms massive aerial rivers that are even bigger than the Amazon River, it’s Amazon’s unique atmospheric phenomenon. 

Tropical Storms: When It Rains in the Rainforest: When it rains in the rainforest, the amount of heavy tropical downpours/storms can be dramatic when you see brooding clouds looming above the horizon.

Mountains: Unexpected Uplands in the Lowlands: View Brazil’s mist-draped peaks rising above the rainforest canopy on the lower slope. 

The Forest: A Source of Fear and Inspiration: The rainforest can be very daunting (if you have visited before), it’s sometimes known as the “Green Hell”. However, it is now seen as an extraordinary natural treasure that must be protected. 

Anavilhanas: Island in the Stream: View breathtaking images of the archipelago of 350 to 450 islands of every imaginable shape rising from the waters of Rio Negro. 

Learn and understand more about the diverse Indigenous communities in the Amazon

You can also discover and learn more about the diverse indigenous communities in the Amazon, which many of us around the world would not know too much about or heard of them before. 

Keep a lookout for the three structures modelled after traditional Indigenous homes called ocas. Within that space, visitors can explore 100 photographs of the 12 Amazonian communities that Salgado engaged. There are also video interviews with the Indigenous leaders that complement this exhibition segment.

Immersive and therapeutic audio experiences at Amazônia

Enter into a soothing and therapeutic experience with an immersive audio experience by French composer Jean-Michel Jarre when you are visiting Amazônia, they bring you into a sensory experience of the Amazon through a symphony of natural sounds – rustling trees, animal calls, bird songs and gushing waters from the mountain tops, as well as voices and songs of the communities, drawn from the Museum of Ethnography’s sound archives in Geneva.

Continue your journey into two projection rooms where you can watch forest landscapes and portraits of Indigenous people, accompanied by soundscapes by Brazilian composers Heitor Villa-Lobos and Rodolfo Stroeter. 

Amazônia Touch

A special section, the first photographic volume specifically designed for the blind and visually impaired visitors to Amazônia, in partnership with Visio Foundation, an institution dedicated to promoting cultural inclusion of blind and visually impaired persons. There are a series of tactile images rendered on brass plates and complemented by 21 panels made of acrylic resin and natural minerals, for visitors to engage with.

Instituto Terra

Visit this dedicated space featuring the work of Instituto Terra, the reforestation non-governmental organisation founded by the Salgados. 

Our own Singapore Story on Environment and Sustainability 

The National Museum of Singapore aims to encourage and engage visitors to Amazônia to respond to the themes of the exhibition in relation to Singapore’s local environmental landscape through the Eco Sanctuary.

Eco Sanctuary – Themed Interactive Space 

A themed interactive space furnished with elements inspired by the rainforest, engaging visitors on touch, hearing and smell through the following below:

Touch and Feel: Interact with a series of artworks created by local artist Justin Lee. Check out the laser-cut wooden model of a Terrapin and a clay mould of a Custard Apple, inspired by the flora and fauna from the National Museum of Singapore’s William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.

Can you hear me?: Listen to the evocative sounds of Amazonian instruments such as the Pica-Pau and Bacururu de Palha, and compare them to instruments such as the angklung and guiro.

Scents and Sensibility: Immerse yourself in nature-inspired scents e.g. rain forest wood and grass.

Reflection Zone: At the end of your visit to Amazônia and Eco Sanctuary, take some time to reflect and write down your thoughts, feelings and ideas on conservation and sustainability on magnetic leaves, how we can come together to advocate for and to take action towards the protection of the Amazon rainforest and also Singapore’s natural environment. 

My personal reflections from exploring Amazonia at National Museum of Singapore 

When I visited Amazônia exhibition, I immediately felt a close connection to the black and white landscapes of Amazon rainforest as I have also have my own black and white landscapes collection too.

As a self-taught photographer, I wasn’t formally trained in visual storytelling/photography. My learning were through reading National Geographic Magazines (when I was in primary school), as well as photography books on photography and photojournalism in my later years. Sebastião Salgado was one of those legendary photojournalists/visual storytellers that I looked up to in my own visual storytelling learning journey.

My love for nature and great outdoors, built upon my Scouting roots and heritage, along with my visual storytelling, I have been documenting changes to natural and urban landscapes, history, heritage, conservation, culture, not forgetting nature, great outdoors, trekking etc.

The rallying call to protect and conserve the “lungs of the world”, how can everyone of us play a part, no matter how big or small? How can everyone of us also play a similar role in our home country or other key nature areas in other parts of the world that also plays a role in the world that we live in? How can we further elevate the rallying call to the whole world on environmental protection and conservation, on Amazon, and also other key natural habitats and wonders of the world?  

Amazônia is deeply inspiring and getting me to think deeper and further on how everyone of us on Earth can do more for the home planet that we are living in. The time is now and upon us, the current generation to step up, be counted, take actions and make the crucial changes to save our precious home that we all live in – Earth.

I sincerely hope that I am able to inspire and encourage you (to also bring your family and friends) to come down and visit Amazônia at the National Museum of Singapore. View, feel, touch and experience Amazônia, and discover why everyone of us has a role to play in our world environmental conservation. 

Amazônia – An exhibition of photographs by Sebastião Salgado

Date: 22 November 2024 – 2nd March 2025

Timing: 10am – 7pm daily (last admission at 6:30pm)

Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Exhibition Gallery 1 and 2

Admission fee:

Visitor Advisory

Amazônia is about Amazon rainforest and its Indigenous people way of life. This exhibition features photography artworks that have male and female nudity, as well as contents that visitors might find challenging e.g. images of dead animals.

Visitor discretion is advised. 

Discount Code for Amazônia

For my readers, I have a discount code for Amazônia! 20% off All Access tickets purchased on National Museum of Singapore website.

Discount code: NMSxAmazonia [Maximum number of tickers per purchase is 10]

* Information courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore and Tate Anzur *

The post Take a walk into the Amazon rainforest in Amazônia at National Museum of Singapore  appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

WMBD 2024 Theme – Insects

The WMBD 2024 theme – Insects, might not seem that directly linked to WMBD at a start. However, insects are important for migratory birds. The 2024 theme also highlights concerns on decreasing population of insects and natural environments.

A recent Straits Times article published in May 2024, “Migratory bird declines point to large scale ecological changes across Southeast Asia”. Since Singapore is a hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and it’s also a pitstop for birds migrating along the Central Asian Flyway as well. This would definitely be of interest to wildlife scientists and researchers in Singapore and in Southeast Asia region.

Birds play crucial roles in the natural environment, from pollination and pest control. In the context of a lack of insects, the ecosystem would be affected. If certain insects are overpopulated, and without the presence of birds as natural predators, that can also disrupt the ecosystem, causing outbreaks that damage plant health and agriculture.

Singapore – A hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway

Just like Singapore is a global air transit hub for the world with our iconic internationally famous Changi Airport, Singapore is also a hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, as well for birds migrating along the Central Asian Flyway as well. Singapore is indeed a major migratory bird hub/stopover destination. 

Singapore is part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, migratory birds making a pitstop in Singapore, giving bird photographers here in Singapore many opportunities to photograph them in action, the diversity and beauty of those migratory bird species. 

Recent research findings over the past few years have also indicated that Singapore’s status as a major migratory bird hub has grown in stature, Singapore now has become the intersection of 2 major flyways, adding the Central Asian-Indian Flyway to the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Singapore, a small country by land size, now can play a bigger and wider international role in the migratory birds journey with those 2 major flyways, a transit hub for migratory birds. 

For more information on Singapore has a hub for migratory birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway, please check out the following articles below:

• NParks article – Feathered Global Ambassadors: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparksbuzz/issue-42-vol-3-2019/conservation/feathered-global-ambassadors 
• Mothership article – New study shows Singapore is a pitstop for migratory birds from 2 major flyways: https://mothership.sg/2020/12/migratory-bird-central-asian-flyway-singapore/ 
• Nature Portfolio Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-77897-z 
• Straits Times article on 1st April 2024 – New Initiative to protect migratory birds and habitats: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-initiative-to-protect-migratory-birds-and-habitats

Kickstarting my migratory bird photography adventures 2024 on World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (12th October)

It’s the start of a new migratory bird season in October 2024, I am kickstarting my migratory bird photography adventures 2024 on World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (12th October) with a rare migrant bird – Northern Boobook at Healing Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens, photographed on 12th October 2024.

There are still a number of migratory birds and local birds as well, that I haven’t managed to photograph. Along with my migratory bird photography adventures, I would continue to do so, updating and uploading my bird photography collections into this Flickr photo album. 

I am combining bird photography and outdoors/nature photography in nature reserves, parks, coastal areas. Outdoors, nature and bird/wildlife photography, always great therapeutic visual storytelling adventure for me. 

Like this gaze and look from this Crested Goshawk (shot at Healing Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens on 12th October 2024) telling you (my followers and readers) on my behalf, “Come follow me on bird/wildlife photography, outdoors and nature visual storytelling adventures!”

The post World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (12th October) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

I have been visiting and exploring Pulau Ubin since my scouting days. Pulau Ubin is a pretty accessible destination from mainland Singapore, it’s great and ideal for a lot of our outdoors recreation activities. We can do hiking, cycling, watching the beautiful sunset, exploring Chek Jawa Wetlands, wildlife and nature photography. 

It’s been some years since I last visited Pulau Ubin, I think this would be a great time for me to go for Pesta Ubin 2024, soaking in the Pesta Ubin festivities, activities and programmes, enjoying the great outdoors on Pulau Ubin, wildlife and nature photography, and hope to capture another gorgeous sunset from Pulau Ubin again. Here are some photos that I took at Pulau Ubin during my visit in 2016 when the Singapore Heritage Festival 2016 was held at Pulau Ubin!

What is Pesta Ubin all about?

Pesta Ubin is a kampung-style open house held on Pulau Ubin. This is an annual highlight of celebrating Ubin, they are organised by the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN), with the support of the National Parks Board (NParks).

Pesta Ubin 2024 – Live. Love. Learn at Pulau Ubin from 8-23 June

Pesta Ubin 2024 is the 9th edition, it’s about Live, Love, Learn at Pulau Ubin from 8th to 23rd June, with an exciting, immersive and diverse lineup of activities and programmes that showcase the essence of a sustainable and conservation-driven “Live Kampung” in harmony with nature. 

The focus of Pesta Ubin extends beyond celebrations, they also foster deeper affection and appreciation for Pulau Ubin’s heritage and ecosystem, while offering enriching educational experiences for all ages, ideal for family bonding and learning activities. 

Pesta Ubin 2024 exciting lineup of activities include wildlife photography, cycling trails and guided walks around Pulau Ubin. Most of these programmes are free to attend, they provide a valuable and wonderful opportunity for both locals and international visitors of all ages to explore Pulau Ubin’s lush biodiversity, uncover and learn about Pulau Ubin’s rich heritage while guided by experts in the field. Visitors to Pesta Ubin 2024 can also enjoy the beautiful and rustic landscapes that the island has to offer!

Pesta Ubin 2024 Activity Highlights

Here are some of Pesta Ubin 2024 Activity Highlights that might be of interest to you and your family! 

For the full list of activities, please visit  https://pestaubin2024.wordpress.com/#Activities 

Information and details on Pesta Ubin

For more details on Pesta Ubin, please visit 

• Pesta Ubin website: https://pestaubin2024.wordpress.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pulauubinday
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pesta.ubin
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pesta.ubin
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pestaubin

For more information on Pulau Ubin, please visit https://www.nparks.gov.sg/pulau-ubin.

If you are looking for outdoors programmes and activities for your family during the June holidays, or if you are an international visitor in Singapore during this month of June 2024, check out Pesta Ubin 2024, come on down and visit Pulau Ubin, for a fun and exciting time outdoors and a trip back in time to 1960s Singapore! 

* Information courtesy of NParks *

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Canon EOS R1

The Canon EOS R1 is geared towards professionals, bringing together Canon’s cutting-edge technology and combines top-class performance with the strong durability and high reliability sought in a flagship model. This camera will dramatically improve (1) the performance of both still images and video, meeting the high requirements of professionals on the frontlines of a wide range of photography fields/genres including sports, news reporting, and video production.

This camera employs the newly developed image processor DIGIC Accelerator in addition to the pre-existing processor DIGIC X. The new image processing system,  composed of these processors and a new CMOS sensor, enables large volume of data to be processed at high speeds and delivers never-before-seen advancements in Auto Focus (AF) and other functions.

Canon EOS R1 New Image Processing and Deep Learning Technology

By combining the new image processing system and deep learning technology to an advanced degree, Canon has achieved high-speed and high-accuracy subject recognition. For example, subject tracking accuracy has been improved so that in team sporting events where multiple subjects intersect, the target subject can continually be tracked even if another player passes directly in front of them. In addition, the AF “Action Priority” function recognises subject movement by rapidly analysing the subject’s status. In moments during a sports game when it is difficult to predict what will happen next, this function automatically determines the player performing a certain action, such as shooting a ball, as the main subject and instantly shifts the AF frame, thereby helping to capture decisive moments of gameplay.

The combination of the new image processing system and deep learning technology will help to improve image quality. Canon implements the image noise reduction function, which has been previously developed and improved as part of the software for PCs, as a camera function to further improve image quality and contribute to user creativity.

Canon is working on field tests for this camera, and will support capturing definitive and impactful moments at international sporting events to be held in the future.

Going forward, Canon will continue to expand the EOS R SYSTEM lineup of fascinating cameras and RF lenses, thereby continuing to meet the demands of a wide range of users and contribute to the development of photography and video culture.

Notes:

(1) In comparison to EOS R3 (released in November 2021)

* Information and picture courtesy of Canon Singapore and Gloo *

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Birds at Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Singapore Botanic Gardens has shown to be an important habitat for both resident and migratory birds. There are over 180 species of birds that have been recorded at the Botanic Gardens, almost half of over 400 species of birds that have been sighted in Singapore. Many of these sightings were contributed by community of bird watchers  that have provided sighting information as well as records of the activities of some of the birds and the duration they spent at the Botanic Gardens. 

The valuable source of information on the habitats and conditions preferred by the birds, as well as the observations help to inform NParks on their conservation strategies and plans, allowing them to better enhance the Botanic Gardens for both birds and visitors as Singapore is transformed into a City in Nature.

Conservation of key habitats in the Singapore Botanic Gardens supports bird diversity 

The conservation of key habitats is one of the main thrusts of Singapore’s Nature Conservation Masterplan. Within Singapore Botanic Gardens, there are 5 locations identified as nature areas for habitat conservation and enhancement. They are the 

• Primary Rain Forest
• Southern Forest of the Learning Forest
• Keppel Discovery Wetlands
• Natural freshwater stream at the Gallop Extension
• Eco-Lake

The diversity of habitats, both terrestrial and wetlands, and the long-term ecological research and horticultural works undertaken by the Gardens in conserving and restoring natural habitats and flora of Singapore have contributed to the diversity of bird species that have been sighted in the Botanic Gardens.

As for the birds, both resident and migratory, they in turn also contribute to the Gardens by enriching the habitats, playing their roles in the complex food web system that underpin our urban and forest ecosystems. 

Community partnerships enhance monitoring and conservation efforts

The community plays an invaluable role in the efforts to conserve Singapore’s natural heritage. Under NParks Garden Bird Watch (GBW), a Community in Nature initiative, citizen scientists help to survey birds at various green spaces across Singapore. The Singapore Botanic Gardens has been one of the the GBW locations since the launch of GBW in 2015. 

The 5 year data collected from the GBW showed that the Botanic Gardens is one of the top 10 sites for species richness. The insights from such surveys, as well as information on sightings from bird photographers, help guide NParks conservation and management measures, ensuring that the Gardens is conducive not just for visitors, but to avifauna as well.

Dr Tan Puay Yok, Group Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, said, “Interest in the bird life present in the Gardens is not new. As far back as 1898, the Gardens’ then-director H.N. Ridley wrote a paper on the birds of the Gardens published in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in which he shared about the monitoring of a White-bellied Sea Eagle which had built a large nest on a big tree within the Gardens. It is heartening that our avian visitors and rich natural heritage continue to be appreciated and treasured by Singaporeans today, and they also contribute to our conservation efforts through their observations. Through this exhibition, we hope to share with our visitors the joy and pride of our bird watching community, the role of the Gardens in avian biodiversity conservation and the role of our avian friends in maintaining the ecology of our natural habitats, and to inspire more people to join us to transform Singapore into a City in Nature.” 

My birding and wildlife photography adventures in NParks GBW 

I am also playing my small part in NParks GBW through my birding and wildlife photography, helping out my friend Belinda who has been very active in NParks GBW Community in Nature initiative. 

My personal birding and wildlife photography adventures at Singapore Botanic Gardens over the years had been enriching and exciting, trying to spot and photograph the birds (both resident and migratory) in action, or somewhere inside the dense green nature areas or perched high up the tall trees at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Just part of my birding photography adventures (and playing small part in NParks GBW) across different locations in Singapore. 

Here are two photos of birds that I photographed at Singapore Botanic Gardens in 2023. I look forward to photographing and documenting many more different birds (residents and migratory) at Botanic Gardens. 

If you would like to find out more about NParks citizen science programmes and how you can get involved, please visit – https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/community-in-nature-initiative/citizen-science-programmes 

“A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition

The “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition received more than 830 community submissions, of which 160 photographs from 49 photographers have been selected for this community photography exhibition, made possible with the support of CDL.

This exhibition features numerous resident and migratory bird species, a curated selection of photographs shard by the enthusiastic birding community who come to Singapore Botanic Gardens to observe, admire, study and research the remarkable diversity of birds found in Singapore Botanic Gardens. 

Through the photographs, illustrations and interactive displays, this exhibition showcases the vibrant bird diversity of the Gardens, conservation and habitat enhancement efforts, and the role of green spaces like Botanic Gardens to support Singapore’s biodiversity conservation efforts. 

At the upcoming Festival of Biodiversity (https://fob.nparks.gov.sg) taking place on 25th and 26th May at One Punggol, visitors can find out more about Singapore’s rich natural heritage and how they can contribute.

Information on “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition

Venue: CDL Green Gallery, Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Photographs from the exhibition are also displayed at the People’s Gallery exhibition spaces near the Visitor Services Counters at Botany Centre, Nassim Gate, Tyersall Gate, Gallop Gate and Bukit Timah Gate (MRT Station Exit A).

Date: 7th May to 31st October 2024

Time: 

CDL Green Gallery

• Opening hours: 9am to 6pm daily
• Closed every last Tuesday of the month, if the closure falls on a public holiday, the closure will be moved to the following working day

People’s Gallery exhibition spaces

• Opening hours: 5am to 12am daily

Entry Fee: Free Admission

For more information on “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition, please visit https://www.nparks.gov.sg/sbg/whats-happening/calendar-of-events/exhibition-birds-of-sbg-2024 

* Information courtesy of NParks *

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