SBG, Poyan, CCK Cemeteries, SBWR 03Jan09

We started off at the drain beside Tyersall Avenue lot 33. The Botanic Gardens was pretty noisy with the morning crowd. Nevertheless, we could still see a juvenile Red-legged Crake dashing across the path and a Greater Coucal calling away.

Next up was Poyan. We came looking for the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo that Danny saw on 1Jan09, but not a single cuckoo was in sight. However, a pair of Blossom-headed Parakeets were sighted. If they breed successfully, we could have another bird added to the checklist! The male has a pinkish head, while the female a purplish one. They are really pretty birds indeed.

Male and female Blossom-headed Parakeet ©Danny Lau

Other parakeets present were 4 Rose-ringed Parakeets and >20 Red-breasted Parakeets.

The most exciting moment of the day was when a pale morph Booted Eagle flew across Lim Chu Kang Road <1m above Danny's car. It must have been perching in the cemetery area before our encounter. It then thermaled up and disappeared into the sky. This was the first time we saw the 'spotlights' on the shoulders of the Booted Eagle.

Booted Eagle ©Tan KH

Other raptors present in the vicinity were:
Oriental Honey-buzzard 2
Black Baza 3
White-bellied Sea-eagle 1 adult
Brahmny Kite 1 adult, 1 juv

Oriental Honey-buzzards ©Tan KH

The afternoon session was at SBWR. On the boardwalk from the carpark to the SBWR entrance, Danny spotted a large dragonfly (Epophthalmia vittigera). It's more than 7-8 cm long.

Epophthalmia vittigera ©Tan KH

Within SBWR, there wasn't anything special, just the usual waders. We tried the mangrove boardwalk near the SBWR entrance for the Mangrove Blue Flycatcher, but it was totally quiet. However, we did see the bird that we only heard in the morning - a Greater Coucal.

Final stop of the day was at the KNT boardwalk. We are glad to announce the arrival of the Black-headed Gull for this season. There was only 1 gull among the >10 Great Crested Terns.

Black-headed Gull ©Danny Lau

Great Crested Tern ©Danny Lau