2007 January 2 - West Coast Park

On the morning of 2 Jan 2007, at West Coast Park, near the fitness corner, opposite the bicycle obstacle course.
A lone bird in the shade under a coral tree.
My first thought was it is one of the many mynas in the area. But it seems smaller and shorter.
Anyway, use the bino to ID it.
What a surprise?! A pitta!!!
It has a dark brown/chestnut crown, black mask around the eyes till the back of neck (somewhat like that of the Black-naped Oriole), light green body, green wings with a tinge of luminous blue on the primaries, red vent.
Quick check of the guide book confirmed it to be Hooded Pitta.
It pulled out a worm from the ground. With its body in the upright position, worm in its beak, the worm was long enough to touch the ground.
In a gulp and the worm was consumed.
The bird did not seem bothered by the soil on its beak and continued digging for more food.

At the pond near carpark 1, a man was throwing bread into the pond.
Almost immediately, a Black-crowned Night-heron flew into the water to scoop out the bread and started eating at the edge of the pond. A Great Egret and a Grey Heron also flew down from a tree and started eating while in the water. A Striated Heron flew across the water without getting any bread. They were all within 2 meters from the man.
The Black-crowned Night-heron lingers on after the man has left, while the others flew up to the trees once they have finished the food.
At another end of the pond, a Common Kingfisher was perched at the bank and flew into the water every now and then to catch small fish.

Found an Atlas Moth on a Willow tree.