Mandai, BBNP, SBWR 04Sep10

From KH

We started off at Mandai Road. There were Asian Glossy Starlings and Pink-necked Green-pigeons on a fruiting tree. The first interesting bird was an Abbott's Babbler which was very vocal. We heard a Crested Serpent-eagle and later a Changeable Hawk-eagle.

Although a common bird, we decide to pay more attention to the juvenile Greater Racket-tailed Drongo because it has a nice tail pattern. ©Danny Lau

A Stork-billed Kingfisher flew in and perch above us. It looked very wet, probably just had a bath in the nearby stream. ©Tan KH

We saw Violet Cuckoos calling the familiar tee-wit in flight. There were also many woodpeckers here: Common Flamebacks, Rufous Woodpeckers, Laced Woodpeckers and Banded Woodpeckers.

Next stop was Bukit Batok Nature Park. A close scrutiny at the staircase reveal nothing. Fortunately, some 20 m into the path we spotted some movement close to the undergrowth - a pair of Sunda Scops-owls. The time was about 10+ am. We stayed with the owls for at least half an hour, but they never gave us any clear view. ©Danny Lau

After the owls, everything was rather quiet, except for a juvenile pale morph CHE which was gliding across the quarry and calling its familiar whi-whi-whi-whiii.

When we arrived at SBWR, we found that the frond holding the Olive-backed Sunbird nest has fallen off. Fortunately, according to the staff, the chicks have fledged a few days before the frond fell. The Ashy Tailorbird, on the other hand, was still incubating. We checked out the hides and only common waders were present: Common Redshanks, Common Greenshanks, Whimbrels, PGPs and LSPs.

Fortunately, Copper-throated Sunbirds were there to keep us company. ©Tan KH

So were the supporting cast of Common Ioras. ©Tan KH

Although the uncommon waders were nowhere to be found, we decide to try out luck at the Main Hide again. Bingo, a Ruddy Turnstone was there to console us.

Finally, an Oriental Whip Snake was our last wildlife encounter for today. ©Danny Lau