Upper Seletar, Simpang 10Jan10

From Danny

The video recorded on 10 Jan 2010 of a male Masked Finfoot at Upper Seletar Reservoir.

The Finfoot was found within a little cove in a comfort zone at the right side of the cove, about 30 ft across was a area of coastal Reeds, in between 20 ft back was a small patch of sandy shore and about 15 ft back a group of excited birders and photographers.

The video started at a point after the Finfoot had crossed diagonally from right to left approx. 40 ft away from the Reed field. The length of the video has been shortened to 4 min. The Finfoot was about 40 ft from the Reed field, for the next 2 min, he made probing zig-zag runs to the shoreline and out in the open but gradually towards the target Reeds, and the group of birders.

Just after he fed on his first water snail, when he was at the edge of the Reeds field, a small plane flew over, notice the instinct reflex action, a full U turn in double quick time! For the next 1.5 min he fed on the water snails. Not recorded in the video but seen by many, he fed on insects in flight by snapping them up in quick neck stretching actions.

The last ten seconds or so, the Finfoot swam across the cove in his typical head jabbing manner like a boat paddler. This stretch of open water exposed the Finfoot at his most vulnerable moments. Notice how he tilted his head up, sides, keeping wary eyes on possible predator and the group of birders.

Apologise on the video and audio qualities. It was a memorable day for me and I am sure for fellow birders on site, after all, there is not one too many Finfoot seen or photographed in one's birding career.

Masked Finfoot ©Tan KH

From KH

After the Masked Finfoot, I headed to Simpang and saw these raptors: 1 Japanese Sparrowhawk and 2 Oriental Honey Buzzards.