White-bellied Rat Snake
Singapore
 

Black-bearded Tomb Bat
Ipoh, Malaysia
 

Malesian Frog
Singapore
 

Malayan Brown Snake
Singapore
 

Rufous-bellied Swallow
Ipoh, Malaysia
 

After 2 to 3 years of restricted travel the world is finally opening up again as the Covid-19 pandemic recedes. Nature lovers are also revelling in the opportunity to visit other countries and territories.

In 2022 I made long, overdue visits to Peninsular Malaysia and the United Kingdom; finally a chance to get away from the overcrowded, urban habitat that most of Singapore has become. I visited the historical island of Pulau Pinang, off Malaysia's west coast, where I searched out the islands bats including Black-bearded Tomb Bat, Glossy Horseshoe Bat and Horsfield's Fruit Bat - these are common species but all are a delight to see.

In the United Kingdom my visit coincided with the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Let's hope her son, King Charles III, is able to quietly advance the causes of nature and the environment, despite being constitutionally unable to comment on political matters.

Here in Singapore I recently chanced upon a Malayan Brown Snake (Xenelaphis hexagonotus) hunting for prey in a forest stream; it's an elusive snake that I had not seen for many years. Forest cover in Singapore appears to be in constant decline now, with even the smallest patches of forest outside its modest protected areas under threat of development, however some efforts have been made recently to strengthen the process of Environmental Impact Assessment, which is good news but rather too late, I think.

June 2022 saw the passing of Mr. Charles Currin, a retiree who enjoyed his final years living in Phetchaburi province, Thailand. Charles would send me his wildlife photos, which appeared in my Inbox in great abundance during the pandemic. We learned so much together as we attempted to identify his finds. If you search my website you can view his images. Rest in peace, Charles.

To all my readers ... enjoy your travels !

 

Thanks to : Sophia Sak Baker, Andie Ang, Chiok Wen Chuan, Marcus Chua, Charles Currin, Vilma D'Rozario, Graeme Guy, Law Ingg Thong, Law Ing Sind, Benjamin Lee, Leong Tzi Ming, Joseph Lim, Kelvin Lim, Lim Kim Seng, Norman Lim, Celine Low, Shawn Lum, Ulrich Manthey, Terry McNeice, Ng Bee Choo, Tony O'Dempsey, Alan Owyong, Timothy Pwee, Pipat Soisook, Morten Strange, Serin Subaraj, Tan Heok Hui, Robert Teo, Noel Thomas, Yeo Suay Hwee, Yong Ding Li  ... I get by with a little help from my friends.