What is your favorite bird species?
I have no favorite bird species. To me, every bird species is worth studying and conserving.
Straw-headed Bulbul
What is your name, and where do you live?
My name is Lim Kim Seng but you can call me Kim. I live in Woodlands, in the north of Singapore.
What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?
I do bird tours all over Singapore including its offshore islands.
How long have you been a bird guide?
About 30 years.
How did you get into bird guiding?
I grew up on a family farm in the countryside of Singapore. I have always been curious about nature. I guess the “moment” birding got me hooked was when I saw a kingfisher I couldn’t identify. That turned out to be Stork-billed Kingfisher. I got into bird guiding as I wanted to show people that Singapore is not just a city but a place where nature is an integral part of the country and where you can find some exciting birds.
What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?
Like: Meeting like-minded people and sharing my love for birds.
Dislike: Waking up at 4 am!
What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that you think are the most interesting for visiting birders?
I guess the top 6 from Singapore will be the critically endangered Straw-headed Bulbul, Jambu Fruit Dove, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Buffy Fish Owl, Oriental Pied Hornbill and Stork-billed Kingfisher. They are all either rare, quaint, beautiful, or all of the above!
Oriental Pied Hornbill
Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip
For a first-timer to Singapore, Singapore Botanic Gardens is highly recommended. It is centrally located with easy access and has a variety of habitats ranging from forest and parkland to lakes and scrub. It offers a great introduction to the birds of Singapore and Southeast Asia. Sunbirds, pigeons, and parakeets are easy to find. Occasionally, you may find a rare visitor or migrant, e.g. Great Slaty Woodpecker and White’s Thrush. Allow yourself 2-3 hours in the early morning or late evening. You won’t regret it!
If you have a whole day, you could start with a trip to Dairy Farm Nature Park for 1-2 hours to see a selection of rainforest birds. It is mostly secondary forest abutting primary hill forest on the site of an old dairy farm. Highlights would include Banded Woodpecker, Red-crowned Barbet, Asian Fairy-bluebird, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, and the critically endangered Straw-headed Bulbul. Next, a trip to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in the north. This was a former prawn pond but is now a protected reserve. You can look for a variety of mangrove and wetland species such as Lesser Adjutant, Milky Stork, Great-billed Heron, several shorebird species, and mangrove residents such as Ashy Tailorbird and Copper-throated Sunbird. After lunch, you can head for nearby Kranji Marshes. This is situated on the western boundary of Kranji Reservoir, formerly a river that has been dammed to provide drinking water. The marshes are accessed by several trails, hides, and an observation tower. Highlights here include Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Changeable Hawk Eagle, Red-wattled Lapwing, Ruddy-breasted Crake, and Grey-headed Swamphen. Lastly, a trip to Jurong Lake Gardens, a large regional park with landscaped water bodies and large figs bordering Japanese and Chinese Gardens. This park is a magnet for migrants such as Tufted Duck, Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo, Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Black Bittern, and Black Paradise Flycatcher. The entire trip should take about 6-8 hours.
What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?
Singapore is warm and humid throughout the year. Wear breathable clothing, a cap, and of course your binoculars, camera, and spotting scope. Bring some water as well.
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you?
You can contact me at my website, https://www.birdingsg.com, or my email, ibisbill@yahoo.com
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