Seletar East 17-26Sep08

From KH

No migrant raptors like last year, but good news for the Grey Heronry.

Raptors

1) Juvenile pale morph CHE - 1 perched on 23Sep and 1 feeding on 26Sep (I believe this is one single bird)

I observed this CHE on 26Sep for 1/2 hr in the afternoon. It was first heard calling whi-whi-whi-whiii. When I located it, it was already midway through feeding on a bird. I couldn't tell from the dismembered body what it might be. The juvenile didn't waste any part of the prey, swallowing even its leg! Soon the prey was completely devoured and it took a 5-minutes break on its perch before lifting its tail and squirting a white jet of faeces. Isn't that a bit too fast?? ;p

It then dived on to the grass patch below its perch. I was wondering what it was up to when it lifted its head and a changeable lizard was in its beak. The lizard was swallowed in a single gulp. It then flew to a puddle of water on the trail. After 2 gulps, it dipped its underparts in the puddle. To wash up after the toilet break??

After a few more gulps and dips, it took flight to a more covered perch and remained there for the next 5 minutes, by which time I had to leave. I suppose it'll roost there before its next activity.

All this while the bird was within 10 m from my car and was calling on and off. The call ranges from whi-whiii to whi-whi-whi-whi-whiii, the notes lasting 2 to 5 times, with the last note being clearly long-drawn.

2) Adult pale morph CHE - 1 perched on 26Sep
3) Adult Brahminy - 2 in flight on 22Sep, 1 in flight on 26Sep
4) Adult WBSE - 1 perched beside the usual nest (which looks inactive) on 26Sep

Grey Heronry

The Grey Herons have once again shifted their nests to another tree. There are about 50 nests on a single tree beside the coast, a more secure location. Compared to the 15 miserable nests counted by the side of the road last year, it's a good sign that they are recovering well. They should be able to nest here for some years to come.

Parrots

1) 2 Eos/Pseudos Lories 22Sep
2) Rose-ringed, Red-breasted, Long-tailed Parakeets all in good numbers

Others Birds

1) 50 Coppersmith Barbets on a single bare tree! 23Sep
2) 3 Hill Mynas 22Sep
3) 15 Baya Weaver nests (inactive) on a single tree
4) 1 Oriental Magpie Robin
5) 1 Large-billed Crow
6) 3 Common Sandpipers - the only migrants this time!

Wild Pig

Also of interest was a wild pig running away from me on one of the days! This is the first time I see a wild pig here. I have always thought they can only be found on Tekong, Ubin and the Western Catchment.