No CF card (again!!!)

Someone reported sighting of a milky stork in Japanese Garden. The first I heard about the news was on Monday (?)...anyway, I was very excited and looking forward to Saturday so that I could shoot the bird. (my seminary students were shocked when I said I want to shoot the birds....had to explain my "shooting" is using the camera, and not guns! guns are illegal here anyway..ha ha..)

Anyway, on Friday, i couldnt contained my patience and brought my camera gear to seminary (just the 300mm lens). Headed to Japanese Garden and did a couple of shoots - I didnt like the turnout as I was shooting with short lens and without a tripod.

So, Saturday morning came - I woke up early, and started packing my camera gear. I was a bit kiasu that day, i wanted to bring my 300mm as well as my 500mm lens...my camera bag was so heavy that I decided to take a taxi to japanese garden. Cost me $10 (oh dear)...a train ride would only be in the region of $1.50 i think.

I reached the place where the stork has been sighted - but there was no stork to be found. Undaunted, i set up my equipment - all ready, a thought came to my head - "did I put a memory card into the camera??" Guess what???? I did not!! I have all the equipments ready, and without a camera memory card, I might as well not have any equipment at all....i could kick myself that day!!!

After half an hour (texted a few photographers but none was shooting in Jap Gdn that morning), I packed up and leave - on my way out, I met another photographer - and was very glad that he had spare memory card. Great - I turned back and head back to the original spot. No great photos opportunity that day - well, it is just another adventure and experience for me to learn to check my equipment before heading out for an important shoot. Sharing a pic shot that day....The milky stork didnt turn up ....left the place at about 10am plus and head to Botanical Gardens to join my ward singles' picnic.

Little Heron

Panti forest Johor Malaysia

Image is courtesy of Mike Wong

Just to share a capture by Mike Wong of a group of us photographing a whiskered treeswift high in the tree top....The desire to get keeper shots do require drastic action such as climbing on top of the car to get some vantage point...Ha ha...

Another of birding days...

The following week (1 Aug 2009), I made my way to the spot where the Stork-billed Kingfisher was - I went very early, hoping that I would be able to take my shot before the group arrived, so that I wont be disturbing them...But the SBKF didnt turn up until much later. It turned out to be a blessing as I get time to know the photographers more and even more amazing, when the bird did turn up, the guys let me take my shot first before they took up position.

Stork-billed Kingfisher

I also took many shots of the more common kingfisher here - Collared Kingfisher. The parent (first image) was more difficult to take because it flew away before I can get close, but the juvenile was more easy to approach.

Collared Kingfisher (adult)

Collared Kingfisher (juvenile)

And yesterday (8th Aug 2009) I was very privileged to follow a group of photographers to Panti forest in Johor. Usually, I would just walk along the main road looking for subjects to shoot, but Con, a very seasoned photographer, took me into the forest when he heard the calling of the Rufous-collared Kingfisher. I had difficulty handling my equipment in the thick of forest, but I did ok, and it was a great experience! Con has six leech bites, I was glad that I wore leech socks and could get away with zero leech accident..ha ha...Not a great image, but it is priceless as this is on many photographers 's wish list. :-)

Rufous-collared Kingfisher

Just a bit of update in my life - I changed my mind (two days ago..ha ha..) and decided to continue to live in Singapore for the time being, and try to search for a job to sustain my living expenses. I am still working it out in my mind whether to move out of my comfortable flat for a cheaper place or even downgrade to a room....I will think it over and hopeful that my Heavenly Father will give me the guidance to make the right choices.....As I was quite stressed a bit on trying to make decisions, I finally said to myself - just enjoy the month of september....and park the rest of the problems aside for a while - things will turn out fine. That helped a lot to wash away the anxiety bit, so let's see.......