Our birding trips

Chinese Garden, Mousedeer Trail, Sarimbun 18Nov06

We welcome Yamane back, albeit just for the weekend. He was back for work and he has slimmed down a lot! Beside our NSSG 'members' (Danny, Con, Peck Chan, Robert, Sree, I), Soo Yen and his colleagues were here to join in the fun. While getting ready at the carpark, 2 Pied Imperial Pigeons flew by - free-ranging birds from the bird park.

We met up with Sree at the Black Bittern spot. The bird was doing its stuff while all of us zoom in on it. After some time, it went hiding.

Black Bittern ©Con Foley

Black Bittern ©Danny Lau

Black Bittern ©Tan KH

Next, a Common Kingfisher was sighted by Danny. Then, we ran into Albert Low and while he was talking about his trip to India for the Bugun Liocichla, the rest of us were looking at Purple-backed and Asian Glossy Starlings, Pink-necked Green-pigeons, Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers and Asian Brown Flycatchers in the trees.

Asian Brown Flycatcher ©Lau SY

Con brought Albert to see the bittern while the rest of us moved on to look for other birds. Arctic Warblers were flying about giving us no chance to take a shot. An adult WBSE was flying high.

Soon we reached Chinese Garden and Robert saw a nightjar flew into hiding. In the middle of Jurong Lake was a Grey Heron with a big red plastic bag in its beaks. Fortunately, it managed to shake it off. A Great Egret was standing close by for size comparison. At this point in time, someone suggested going to the old Tang Dynasty side. So the bunch of us backtracked. A big raptor in the tree overhanging the lake caught my attention but was blocked by the leaves. Luckily, an Oriental Honey Buzzard and a Black Baza thermalling high up gave me good views. Jimmy Chew was at the black bittern spot. Next on the radar of attention were 2 juvenile Yellow Bitterns.

Thanks to Yamane for the human photos. And hence, he was not in any of the photos.

By now, we were at the old Tang Dynasty side of the lake. At the 'jetty' near the roundabout was a Common Kingfisher. Asian Brown Flycatchers and Pied Fantails were calling. Then 3 raptors appeared in the sky. A Brahminy Kite was high in the sky, while a juvenile WBSE was circling lower together with its 'tiny' relative - a Japanese Sparrowhawk.

Japanese Sparrowhawk ©Lau SY

Next destination was right within the old Tang Dynasty. However, Yamane had to leave, so we bid him farewell. Danny spotted a Stork-billed Kingfisher roosting in the trees.

Further down after the main entrance into the fortress was a pond. Robert was the first to spot a bittern there. It turned out to be a Schrenck's Bittern! A lifer for almost all of us, except for Albert, who helped us to positively identify it. After discussion with Albert, we think it is a subadult male due to the male features on the underparts and the juvenile speckles on the upperparts.

Schrenck's Bittern ©Con Foley

Schrenck's Bittern ©Danny Lau

Another interesting bird here was an Indian Cuckoo. Peck Chan was the first to locate it.

Indian Cuckoo ©Tan KH

After about an hour or so stalking this uncommon bittern, our bunch started dispersing.

1 Striated heron
2 Grey heron 1
3 Cattle egret
4 Great egret 1
5 Yellow bittern 2
6 Black bittern 1
7 Schrenck's bittern 1
8 White-bellied sea eagle 2
9 Brahminy kite 2
10 Black baza 1
11 Oriental honey buzzard 1
12 Japanese sparrowhawk 1
13 Collared kingfisher
14 White-throated kingfisher
15 Common kingfisher 2
16 Stork-billed kingfisher 1
17 Blue-tailed bee-eater
18 Rock pigeon
19 Pink-necked green-pigeon
20 Pied imperial pigeon 2
21 Asian koel
22 Indian cuckoo 1
23 Large-tailed nightjar 1
24 White-breasted waterhen
25 House crow
26 Black-naped oriole
27 Pied fantail 1
28 Common iora 1
29 Asian brown flycatcher
30 Asian glossy starling
31 Purple-backed starling
32 Javan myna
33 Common myna
34 Pacific swallow
35 Yellow-vented bulbul
36 Ashy tailorbird
37 Arctic warbler
38 Scarlet-backed flowerpecker
39 Olive-backed sunbird
40 Plain-throated sunbird

In the afternoon, Albert and Sree showed Danny and me the Mousedeer Trail at Old Upper Thomson Road. Lamppost 122. Last evening, Chestnut-winged Cuckoo was photographed here. Today, it was amazingly quiet. Besides the GRT Drongos and Siberian Blue Robins calling, there were only Thick-billed Green-pigeons and bulbuls in the fruiting tree at the steep slope. Walking to the other end of the drain, we saw a few people fishing and no birds. On the way back, A few Crimson Sunbirds were all there was. Nevertheless, we now know where the Mousedeer Trail is.