Changi 27Nov10

Today, Danny and I went to Changi and got 10 raptors, including a Jerdon's Baza. The LP149 barriers was not lock although it was wired together. Hence, we were able to let ourselves in. The weather was hot and lighting harsh.

Raptors

1) Jerdon's Baza (1 juvenile)
2) Black Baza (3)
3) Common Buzzard (1 perched at LP190 today)
4) Oriental Honey-buzzard (2 - 1 thermalling with 3 Brahminy Kites, 1 dark morph flying from tree to tree)
5) Chinese Sparrowhawk (1 juvenile - chased Jerdon's Baza away)
6) Eastern Marsh-harrier (1 male hunting)
7) Brahminy Kite (>5)
8) White-bellied Sea-eagle (2 adult)
9) Black-winged Kite (>5)
10) Changeable Hawk-eagle (4 - 2 dark morph perched, 2 pale morph circling)

Others

1) Ruddy-breasted Crake (2)
2) Red-wattled Lapwing (2)
3) Black-capped Kingfisher (1)
4) Red-whiskered Bulbul (1)
5) Ashy Minivet (>5)

1 immature Jerdon's Baza was hanging around the same vicinity as last week, but now on the opposite side of the canal. It was on a high perch, just like the two last week.

Then a Chinese Sparrowhawk flushed it! I did not notice that I've capture the sparrowhawk in my LCD until I reviewed the photos!

The other star bird today was a male Eastern Marsh-harrier hunting close to the construction area.

We had 4 Changeable Hawk-eagles today - 2 dark and 2 pale. The first dark morph was on a tree stump beside the canal early in the morning. The other was at the usual site at the dead end close to Tanah Merah Coast Road. The 2 pale morphs were thermalling.

As usual, when Con is not around, the Ruddy-breasted Crakes would come out strutting along the path!

There was also a pair of Red-wattled Lapwings in the grassland. By the way, the Giant Weaver nest was destroyed. :( Could it be due to the rain?