SBWR 12Nov05

From Danny

Last Sat again was a wonderful birding day, the morning session hi-lites were the yellow legs/black legs we saw at SBWR Main Hide & as the group was small we had time and many helps to figure out various sandpipers, Godwit, Milky Storks (couldn't miss the loving pair) but no Great Knot. The best sight, however, were the returns of the Foleys - three long weeks!

After lunch break, only JS and myself continue with birding, first to Bollywood (usual BS Kites, Common Sandpipers, munias...) and then back to my favourite drain next to BBC open field where for more than half an hour we tracked the antics of 4 Pied Trillers. Beside the usual common birds, a Cinnamon Bittern was flushed out when we first approached the drain. Most of the time we simply sat below the shady tree, enjoying the afternoon breeze while we watched the flying patterns of the bee-eaters, Pacific Swallows, Yellow Bitterns, WB Sea-eagles and Little Terns. While JS stretched his legs running after a Little Egret, I stretched my neck over the horizon and saw the cormorant perching on the same float in the middle of Kranji reservoir. At this point the phone ringed and it was Kok Hui announcing his arrival at Kranji MRT (had been aroused from his siesta earlier to join us at SBWR evening bird watch). Driving along the Dam, we confirmed the cormorant location while on the way to pick up KH. Along Kranji Loop, passing over the bridge spanning the canal that runs toward the Johor Strait, caught a glimpse of receding shoreline. Quick decision made to return and recce after picking up KH.

We did a recce and found something new. It was about 4 pm the tide was more than 1 m (according to the tidal table) but yet there was more than 100m (length) of receding exposed mudflats where the canal ends in the Strait. First bird of interest was an Osprey perched on one of many standing poles. In the distance there were flocks of shorebirds and terns (couldn't clearly id due to the distance). We were unable to get nearer due to the muddy, soggy conditions (If only Kong was around with his wellington boots and scope; he did call earlier to inform us he couldn't make it in the evening). I will stop here and leave the details of our evening birding encounter to KH with a few supporting shots from JS.

Enjoying brunch!

Pied Triller ©Lau JS

From KH

In the afternoon, the first destination was the mudflat accessed via the canal under Kranji Loop. The first interesting bird to catch our attention was a raptor perching on a stilt in the water far away. As we walked along the narrow stretch along the canal to get closer to the raptor, a warbler caught our attention. Then JS called asking where we were, he was already standing at the edge of the mudflat. We hurried there and saw many waders again far away at the coast. Imagine at 1-m low tide the coast is already so far away, what lower tide would offer us. Now we could tell that the big bird is an Osprey, the diagnostic black band on the face. The bigger waders were Whimbrels and beside them were some terns, which were only slightly smaller than the Whimbrels. Seemed like Lesser Crested Terns. We need a scope! And booties to get up close and personal with them... There were also an Intermediate Egret, Little Egrets and Striated Herons. A died horseshoe crab entangled in an abandoned fishing net reminded us of Peck Chan's heroic rescue of horseshoe crabs at the Mandai mudflat.

When we reached SBWR, it was close to 4 pm. We went straight to the main hide hoping to see some action there and borrow a scope from the volunteer helpers. But we were disappointed as there were only a few of the usual waders and they won't lend us a scope. JS, please get qualified as a guide asap! :) So we decided to do the marine fish tour instead. The guide taught us that there are about 800 marine fish species found in Singapore and SBWR has more than 100 species. After a short narration at the display area, we proceeded to Sungei Buloh Besar for a field experience. We saw archerfish, halfbeaks, green mullets, needlefish and tilapias. Do you know tilapias were introduced here by the Japanese during WWII and are commonly known as 'Japanese fish'? While walking along the bridge over Sungei Buloh Besar, 3 raptors flew above us. They were flying in circles, riding each other's tail-wind and the thermals. Danny and JS did some research at home and believe they are Black Kites. The tour lasted a short 1/2 hr and at the end of it we saw Alan Owyang coming into the reserve. After exchanging a brief greeting, we parted, Alan went right, we went left.

The first interesting birds we saw were 3 Godwits mingling with Whimbrels. At first, I couldn't spot them (consequent of not attending morning's session...), then JS pointed out their exact location and there they were! They have super long pinkish bills. As we walked along we met up with Alan again. We exchanged sightings. "Chestnut-winged Cuckoo", he said. Off we went looking cuckoos! As we walked, we encountered an Emerald Dove. We tried to get closer and it took off but remained on the path. As we followed it, 3 more Emerald Doves appeared. That's 4 Emerald Doves for us!

Next up was a fully rufous bird. A Cuckoo! Not the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo, but a juvenile Plaintive Cuckoo. We followed it for quite some time. JS even recorded the foster parent's (tailorbird) call! There was a Large-billed Crow perching high up on the tree, some Little Egrets, a Yellow Bittern, an Intermediate Egret and then suddenly a raptor flew from our side of bank to the opposite bank. It was right above us all the while! From the triangular-shaped wings, we believe it was a Peregrine Falcon. As we went on we saw Pied Fantails, Common Flamebacks and an Oriental Magpie Robin.

Juvenile Plaintive Cuckoo ©Lau JS

Kranji Dam
1 White-bellied sea eagle
2 Great cormorant
3 Little tern

Mandai mudflat
4 Lesser crested tern
5 Osprey
6 Striated heron
7 Little egret
8 Intermediate egret
9 Whimbrel
10 Arctic warbler

SBWR
11 Grey heron
12 Godwit
13 Collared kingfisher
14 Common sandpiper
15 Marsh sandpiper
16 Common greenshank
17 Common redshank
18 Pacific golden plover
19 Large-billed crow
20 Blue-tailed bee-eater
21 White-breasted waterhen
22 Common flameback
23 Stork-billed kingfisher
24 Asian glossy starling
25 Pink-necked green pigeon
26 Emerald dove
27 Spotted dove
28 Javan myna
29 Yellow-vented bulbul
30 Pied fantail
31 House crow
32 Purple heron
33 Oriental Magpie robin
34 Yellow bittern
35 Plaintive cuckoo (juvenile)
36 Black-naped oriole