NTL2, Mandai Mudflat 01Apr06

From Danny (photos from Con unless otherwise stated)

It was meant to be another routine Sat birding event but it turned out to be a memorable weekend. Peck Chan did lead us to spot two Black-backed Swamphens which she counted during the last ABC (credit to her & her CNY cashew nuts).

One of the high-lite of the day was the display of the hunting skills of a "immature" WBSE (an understatement in relation to its fishing skill) right in front of us. It circled gradually down just off the Bund, about the last round, you could see it tilted its body like the F1 motorcyclist went round the bend, with both talons stretched, scooped out a big fish just below the turbid water surface. Just like what you see on N. Geographic channel (Sree did you manage to snap any precious moments?).

We thought it was a watercock (at least I thought so) but it turned out to be a White-browed Crake, lifer for most of us.

Yes it was a juvenile Common Moorhen, as I was able to track it on the scope with the typical cone shape upright tail and white fringes on both sides (back view) & the white markings on the flanks, other than its pale bill (after the event comments based on the video I had of the Common Moorhen I took at Marina South).

The sighting of the Rusty-breasted Cuckoo was sheer teamwork as we tracked it from tree to tree - it was nice to have someone who kept a perspective view on the bird movement while we try to view it thru' the cameras, binos/scope.

After the cuckoo on the way out, a WBSE was spotted hovering and suddenly a relatively smaller bird flew past with a distinct "kee" note call. The flying adult male Japanese Sparrowhawk picture Con took was wonderful (digiscope could never do it).

Further down the road where there was a side track, we came across a flock of about 25 to 30 mysterious long-tailed birds flying in big loop around a cluster of tall trees. The calls were like tri.tri...sisi... (sorry unable to reporduce in text) but definitely not parakeets or starlings.

Back to where we parked our cars, the faithful BSK was there on the same tree to wish us farewell and come back soon.

As Con left us to run some late errands for Marisol (welcome back, your breads were timely as most of us had little or no breakfast), we adjourned to the usual hawker centre at Kranji Loop for Pork ribs, Pork knuckers and Pig tails - Kok Hui not meant to make you homesick.

After lunch, both Sree and myself were to take a quick look at the Mandai mudflat track next to the Railway line (Yamane remember the canal bridge where the railway tracks cross over S. Mandai). While Sree waited along Kranji Loop as I send both Benjamin & Pat to Kranji MRT, he spotted a Large-tailed Nightjar perched on the roadside. We had wonderful time snapping pictures of the bird.

Lesser Whistling-ducks

Scaly-breasted Munia

Yellow-bellied Prinia

Large-tailed Nightjar from Danny