Poyan 22Apr06

From Danny

Couldn't resist going back to a place "lost" for last 3 years. Alone went early to end of Old Chao Chu Kang Road, found the Main Gate locked & the previously observed gap missing. Disappointed, trekked down along the road found an opening leading to a track which looked friendly - it turned out to be quite challenging, nevertheless managed to circumvent the locked gate & reached Poyan Hill. Thx to the authority the track is better & the old bridges are replaced by sturdy units which can take the loads of heavy vehicles. Not much changed except the graveyards gone.

I've spent the morning checking around & found more than 2 ways to gain access. Other than the hill, the terrains are quite similar to Orchidville though there are construction ongoing at the moment hence not exactly suitable for birding. Anyway did some birding & the star was the Buffy Fish-owl, similar to the Nightjar, no flash used, it could pose all day but in my haste to search my way to the Hill only took a few pics.

1. Common iora (juv & adults)
2. Yellow-vented bulbul
3. Olive-winged bulbul
4. Asian koel
5. Golden-bellied gerygone
6. Pink-necked green pigeon
7. Spotted dove
8. Peaceful dove
9. House crow
10. Greater racket-tailed drongo
11. Yellow-bellied prinia
12. Common flameback (>6)
13. Banded woodpecker (2)
14. Brown shrike
15. Long-tailed parakeet
16. Brahminy Kite
17. White-bellied sea-eagle
18. Changeable hawk-eagle pale morph (in flight)
19. Collared kingfisher
20. White-throated kingfisher
21. Asian glossy starling
22. Greater coucal
23. Black-naped oriole
24. White-breasted waterhen
25. Ashy tailorbird
26. Blue-throated bee-eater
27. Javan myna
28. Asian palm swift
29. Whiskered treeswift
30. Dollarbird
31. Buffy fish-owl
32. Olive-backed sunbird
33. Pacific swallow
34. Magpie robin
35. Pied triller
36. Scaly-breasted munia