CLOSE TO HOME
'Close To Home (2022)' is a personal project that I undertook over the course of 5 years, documenting the less commonly seen wildlife that reside in the Pemimpin Estate (Singapore), where I live. The aim of this project is to raise awareness to fellow residents of the estate about the critters that share our space.
When many of us think about urban wildlife in Singapore, we think of mynahs, crows, sparrows, pigeons, the occasional otter that steals someone's koi fish or the Oriental-pied hornbill that seems to enjoy perching anywhere. Our abundance of small green spaces within urban areas actually hosts a variety of wildlife that have adapted to this environment, and a lot of them go by unnoticed. If we'd slow down when we take our walks through our own neighbourhoods, listen keenly for a rustle in the bush, or a chirp in the tree, we may be surprised to see many of our animal friends living harmoniously amongst us.
All photos below taken by myself within the estate of Pemimpin, which includes Pemimpin Place, Pemimpin Drive, and Jalan Pemimpin.
SPOTTED WOOD OWL
Status: Visitor
This is the largest species of owls in Singapore, and I was fortunate to see this individual early one morning when a resident alerted me about it. Unfortunately that same morning a tree pruning session was going on, which scared the owl away shortly, but nevertheless it was heartening to see such a rare bird grace my neighbourhood for those minutes.
WHITE-THROATED KINGFISHER
Status: Pemimpin Resident
With its unmistakably loud call, the white-throated kingfisher is hard to miss when it zips through the air - a streak of brown and blue. It is often seen during hot sunny days, perched on a platform, such as a lamppost, or a fence, looking out for food.
ORIENTAL DOLLARBIRD
Status: Visitor
The dollarbird sports a bright red beak and greenish-blue plumage, and perches on open branches. It has both resident and migrant populations in Singapore, and during the migratory season between October to April, other dollarbirds from north of Singapore arrive to join their local counterparts.
CHANGEABLE LIZARD
Status: Pemimpin Resident
This common garden lizard is actually an introduced species to Singapore. It stays in low shrubs and bushes, and is very shy - scampering away when approached. It feeds on small insects (as seen in this photo), and is harmless to humans.
COMMON FLAMEBACK
Status: Pemimpin Resident
A local species of woodpeckers, the common flameback can sometimes be seen with its antics of pecking away at reflective surfaces. The male (bottom photo) wears a bright red crown, while the female (top photo) has a white-streaked black crown.
LARGE-TAILED NIGHTJAR
Status: Pemimpin Resident
The nightjar, a nocturnal bird, makes a loud 'chonk chonk chonk' sound. In the day, it rests on the ground or on low perches and is very well camouflaged with its surroundings, making it virtually impossible to spot.
COMMON PALM CIVET
Status: Pemimpin Resident
If you (a resident) ever found that the fruit tree you planted has bite marks in its fruits, then it probably is the work of this elusive critter.
Civet cats are not related to cats, but are more close to mongooses. Being nocturnal creatures and extremely shy and stealthy, they are rarely seen. They are adept climbers and I have observed them climbing vertical pipes, roof rafters, and trees. If they are trapped in your roof, or cause recurring damage to your fruits, it is not advisable to catch them yourself, but instead call NParks or ACRES.