Pulau Ubin 08Apr06

From Danny

Three of us namely Kong, Sree & myself went for Ubin West trip. Took cab from Jetty straight to Thai Temple. First bird was an unknown crake flushed out by the cab. While we prepared our gears 2 adult Hornbills were spotted within the Temple compound. Gathered from the Temple caretaker and the duty NPark officer, there is ongoing Hornbill Project - pretty successful. Later at another nesting site, I was able to get glimpses of the Hornbill chicks thru' the scope but no picture. Ask any cab driver & they will drive you to the few spots, after all they are former residents. Sighted a few new species but no picture though, didn't manage to spot or hear the elusive Mangrove Pitta. Lesson learned, use the cab as transport & the drivers are well-versed with bird sites - ask them for direction.

1. Olive-backed Sunbirds (nest & climbing Oriental Whip Snake big commotion among the sunbirds & us)
2. Plain-throated Sunbird
3. White-rumped Shama (2 spotted; known location but hidden in bushes)
4. Brahminy Kites (nesting near Thai Temple)
5. Oriental Pied-hornbill
6. Japanese Sparrowhawk (in flight)
7. Dollarbirds
8. Straw-headed Bulbuls (heard)
9. Olive-winged Bulbul
10. Dark-sided Flycatcher (flushed away by oncoming cab)
11. Mangrove Whistlers (2 spotted, flushed away by passing cyclists)
12. Common Sandpiper (rocks near Jetty)
13. Long-tailed Parakeet
14. Lesser Coucal
15. Rusty-Breasted Cuckoo (heard)
16. Black-naped Terns (6 spotted at close range behind passing tugboat)
(PS: Left out common birds.)

Brahminy Kite. Male Oriental Pied-hornbill

From Kong

When Danny, Sree and I were at Ubin we took a private cab to Thai Buddhist temple where hornbill habitat. Once we arrived, Danny quietly signaled to Sree and me before I could set up the scope. Wow a hornbill perched on the tree branch on top of us. It was an amazing sight to see a hornbill at such a near distance. Whilst Sree enjoyed looking another two hornbills at the other tree. A while later, probably the hornbills noticed us and flew away. Suddenly the place was quiet and no sight of any bird. Then Danny sighted a brahminy kite perching on the palm leave. Sree also sighted sea eagle carrying twig.

Brahminy Kite

While we were relaxing, NPark officer approached and told us a hornbill project is on going. We were sad to know that the 2 baby hornbills were killed by some predator. There was no sight of any bird and we were about to leave. Then a private cab with full load of devotees arrived. Surprisingly, Father and Mother hornbills also returned at the same time. The compound in front of the temple was very busy with activities. Devotees were praying, 2 hornbills were eating fruits on the tree and we were busy clicking our cameras to capture the hornbills above.

Female Oriental Pied-hornbill

Oriental Pied-hornbill nest

On the way back to jetty, we dropped by the Malay village to view the nest of the hornbills. It was a wonderful birding.