Changi, SBWR 09Oct10

From KH

Con, Danny and I started off hoping to enter Changi via KTC, but no luck. Nevertheless, we got our lifer escapees - 3 Monk Parakeets ©Tan KH.

Moving on to Tanah Merah grassland, we had the usual suspects, including migrants like Oriental Reed Warbler (heard only), Barn and Red-rumped Swallows.

The Eastern Marsh-harrier has also arrived. A juvenile was flushed from the bush about 10 m from us! Too bad I was too slow and could only get the far away back shot ©Tan KH.

Next, in Changi via LP149, there were no migrant raptors nor any unusual birds, but Con had his 'lifer' Giant Weaver Nest ©Con Foley.

We also got the guardian of the giant nest - a leucistic Red Collared-dove ©Con Foley.

There were also local raptors - 5 juvenile Brahminy Kites and 2 BWK, as well as an Asian Brown Flycatcher.

Soon it was close to high tide and we headed for SBWR. Here's the count of uncommon waders:
- Broad-billed Sandpiper 8
- Red-necked Stint 14
- Terek Sandpiper 1
- and the usual sandpipers (curlew, marsh, common), greenshank, redshank, whimbrel, LSP, PGP.

LSP ©Danny Lau

LSP ©Con Foley

Finally, still hoping to see the Little Ringed Plover that we missed last season, we dropped by NSRCC. No plovers, but there were good number (>30) of Yellow Wagtails.