Keat Hong Camp 18-21May10

From JS

I have just reported home from camp, after spending 4 days at the live-firing area near Keat Hong Camp.

17/5: 2 Red-wattled Lapwings were seen at my camp's M203 live firing range - within 10 m from the target!

Prior to my field camp at the live-firing area, I saw two Scaly breasted Munias carrying long lalang grass to its nest that is located on a tree. This nesting behaviour reminded me of the Javan Munias' nest at Hutan Liput Panti and the White-rumped Munias' nest at 270.

18/5: A flock of 4-5 Javan Munias were seen in the live-firing area along Choa Chu Kang Road.

21/5: While doing my drills, I flushed a pair of snipes which were hiding in the lalang, along the track. Apparently, this sighting is almost a month later than the reported last sighting of all 3 snipe species.

Returning back to my camp (Pasir Laba, 21/5, est 3 pm), I saw a pair of circling sparrowhawks (My guess is Jap Sparrowhawk because of broadish wing, orangey breast and lack of black wing tip). They were unable to climb further up and circled at a height of around 5-6 stories.

The other notable species that I saw was a male Emerald Dove.