BTNR 23, 26Sep06

From Danny on 23Sep

Started late to avoid the crowd at Hindhede. It has been awhile since last visit to the nature trails in BTNR. Took the cyclist trail next to the car park, reached the junction with Sanapang Road. Took the left turn & along the trail was this tall fruiting tree where the two species of green pigeons were spotted (when I left those pigeons were perched quietly waiting to feed again whenever the urge desired - paradise couldn't be better). Further along another cluster of fruiting trees (smaller fruits) where I witnessed a fight between a male GG Leafbird & an AG Starling, which eventually ended in favour of the starling when reinforcement arrived. Further along the trail, parallel to it was a nicely done up stream providing safe passage away from the cyclists & shady rest for pedestrians. Here, there were blossoming flowers providing food & space for the sunbirds & spiderhunters. Stopped where the PUB pipelines crossed the trail. Certainly a pleasant walk.

1) Black-naped Oriole
2) Myna
3) Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
4) Asian Glossy Starlings
5) Pink-necked Green Pigeons
8) Thick-billed Green Pigeon
9) Greater Green Leafbird - Male
10) Common Tailorbird
11) Ashy Tailorbird
12) Tiger Shrike
13) Asian Paradise Flycatcher - Female (didn't spot the male)
14) White-bellied Sea Eagle - Juvenile
15) Crimson Sunbird
16) Olive-backed Sunbird
17) Little Spiderhunter
18) Common Iora
19) Dollarbird
20) Striped Tit-babbler
21) Banded Woodpecker
22) Common Flameback
23) Asian Fairy Bluebird

From KH on 26Sep

Following more reports on the fruiting trees are BTNR, Danny and I went to the summit after work to check it out. As we were ascending the steep slope, we met Sree and my brother heading back down. They told us we were late, the long-tailed macaques have taken over the tree... Oh well, since we were here, we might as well go take a look. While climbing the staircase leading directly to the summit, we heard a whistling call. After calling back for a few mins, a GRT drongo flew out into the open, but it was not the one whistling away. Moments later, a female Asian fairy bluebird came out and perched high up.

At the summit, true enough only macaques were around. However, a male thick-billed green pigeon did fly in to console us. Other than that, there were no other birds! Disappointed, we headed downhill. Along the way, we heard a far away raptor calling, brown hawk owls hooting, a silhouetted flycatcher hawking for prey, and mysterious calls around us. Alas, it was too dark. Even if we could attract the birds by imitating their calls, we wouldn't be able to see them. Giving up, we carried on downhill. At the steep slope, we could hear the rhinoceros and great hornbills' noisy 'duet'. My brother had been waiting for me and he gave me a lift home. :)