NTL2 11Nov06

Attendees: Danny, Con, Peck Chan, Chee Wai, Kok Hui

Today's trip is dedicated to Neo Tiew Lane 2. Right at the beginning of the trail at the barrier were Pied Trillers, a pair of Dollarbirds, mynas, orioles, doves on a single bare tree. Further down on another bare tree were a pair of Black Bazas, crows, starlings, a Chinese Pond Heron, bee-eaters. Long-tailed Parakeets flew by chattering away. A Black-winged Kite was harassed by a bunch of House Crows. Suddenly, a raptor flew by carrying a rat in its talons, too high and too fast to ID. Con was our advance party moving on way ahead of us. Chee Wai covered the end as he had to backtrack to grab his extra battery.

Immature Crow-billed Drongo ©Con Foley

Con alerted us to birds that he sighted while we took our time to slowly pick out each and every movement and bird call. Hence, he was the only one to see the Rufous Woodpeckers, while we were held back by a Sunda Woodpecker, ioras, tailorbirds, an Asian Brown Flycatcher, a Black-capped Kingfisher. After looking at the red bill of the black-capped KF, Danny came up with the Quiz of the day for PC: What is the bill colour of a collared kingfisher? She will find the answer when we reach the marsh. Suddenly, all the Cattle Egret took flight. Soon we realized a Brahminy Kite was in the vicinity.

We were surprised to see a pair of Blue-throated Bee-eaters with a pair of Blue-tailed Bee-eaters on the same tree in full comparison! Obviously, the Blue-throated Bee-eaters are over-stayers, as they are supposed to be here from Feb-Sep only. Soon we reached the marsh and Con was already there looking at coucals, a cuckoo and terns.

Female hepatic Plaintive Cuckoo ©Danny Lau

Female hepatic Plaintive Cuckoo ©Con Foley

We flushed a Yellow Bittern as we approached the water hyacinth pond. It has been a year since I was here and this place has indeed changed. Now there is a filtration pond right beside the hyacinth pond and there were some workers around too. No whistling ducks today. Catching up with Con, we hoped to wait for the swamphen, moorhen and white-browed crake to show themselves (like they previously did on April Fools' Day this year). However, there were none of these to be had this time. Two Collared Kingfishers showed up and right there was the answer to the quiz of the day - they have a mostly black bill.

Con told me there were only Yellow Bitterns and no swamphen, crake or moorhen along the bund. However, still hoping for the best, I walked on it anyway. On the bund were Paddyfield Pipits and Common Sandpipers. As I walked along, true enough, Yellow Bitterns were flushed. Also common were waterhen, terns, egrets and herons. An adult White-bellied Sea Eagle flew high. As it was a long walk to the end of the bund, I decided to u-turn without hitting the end, so as not keep the rest waiting and also because there were no unusual birds to expect.

Great Egret ©Tan KH

On the way back, a flock of 6 Black Bazas were circling right over my head. I only managed to capture 5 of them in the photo below.

Black Bazas ©Tan KH

By now Con was on his way back to the barrier and Chee Wai had left. However, good fortune awaits those who are patient! ;) A few minutes after I met up with Danny and PC at the marsh, a Purple Swamphen appeared in the water hyacinth pond. It would pop its head up once in a while. There was once, it popped up with a yummy morsel of snail in its beaks. Seeing that we were not going to get any photos from this bird we decided it was time to leave. While treading careful by the marsh, I saw 2 swamphen walking away from us! Fortunately, they remained in the open, offering clear views and a great photo opportunity.

Black-backed Swamphen ©Danny Lau

Black-backed Swamphen ©Tan KH