Mandai, Seletar Dam, Pulau Punggol 17Jan09

From KH

After going thru all my photos and Con's photos, I've no doubt there were at least 2 Sand Martins at Seletar Dam (aka Yishun Dam). Finally, we nailed this bird!

Sand Martin

Today was a 'raptorful' day. The star raptor was of course our trusted Booted Eagle which always show up on Pulau Punggol.

Mandai

1) Black Baza 3
2) Japanese Sparrowhawk 1
3) Brahminy Kite 1
4) CHE 1 dark morph
5) WBSE 1 adult

Dark morph CHE

WBSE

P Punggol

1) Booted Eagle 1 pale morph
2) Chinese Sparrowhawk 1 adult male
3) Japanese Sparrowhawk 1
4) Osprey 1 perched on ground
5) WBSE >4
6) Brahminy Kite >2

Booted Eagle

Male Chinese Sparrowhawk

Other birds at Mandai includes: Coppersmith Barbet, Asian Drongo Cuckoo, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Pacific Swallow.

As well as a juvenile Tiger Shrike

and a Banded Woodpecker.

There were also large Nephila spiders at Mandai. This  is the typical morph Golden Web Spider (N. pilipes).

The Black Wood Spider (N. kuhlii) is smaller. It is a female. Its mate or meal was hanging precariously near it (not in photo).

Photos from Con

Sand Martin

Juvenile Barn Swallow

From Yamane

We can see Sand Martin in Hokkaido of Japan. In Japan, they breed in only Hokkaido. But we can see also around my place, only in migration seasons.

In Japan, we can see Barn Swallow anywhere in summer. Of course they breed here. They make nests also around my place. Many of them make them beside houses & buildings. Some of them make it in a subway entrance. :-)