Sime Forest, SBWR, Singapore Quarry 24Oct09

From KH

Today, we started at Rifle Range. There was a 100-km trail marathon going on, so we were not optimistic about rare birds. Besides the usual birds, there was also 1 OHB, 1 Indian Cuckoo, AB and YR FCs, 3 Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots and 1 Short-tailed Babbler.

The most interesting find was, however, a Blue Malayan Coral Snake.

Next stop, SBWR. While having our favourite SBWR lunch, a SBKF flew pass the pond - a tick we missed last Sun... 1 Grey-tailed Tattler, 4 juv BBSP, at least 4 RN Stints, at least 1 GSP were still around besides the usual waders. While leaving, 2 Ospreys soared in - another tick we missed during the race.

Danny: More on the GT Tattler. Refer pic on the left, clearer why it is called grey-tailed. Pic on the right shows the Tattler on the tree due to rising tide - possibly reason why you don't find it at Main Hide or 1C.

Danny: How many Broad-billed Sandpipers in the attached pic?

Danny: Below is another pic showing the same waders but cropped to focus on the essentials. There are total 3 Broad-billed Sandpipers, 2 juvenile (right and centre) and one non-breeding adult (centre top) as in the attached pic. One of the feature separating the BB from the Curlew Sandpiper as pointed out to me by JS but not mention in text in any reference books (note have 2 only) is color of the legs - Curlew Sandpiper has black legs but BB has grey greenish or light yellow legs (sometimes become black due to habitat). Size wise, Curlew Sandpiper is slightly bigger than LSP (usually black legs as in pic for comparison). The split supercilium of the adult bird is visible and the relatively straight bill (not sharp but apparent in the 1st pic). Based on the 4 features mentioned, think it is an adult BB.

Besides birds, there were also these mudskippers. The Giant Mudskipper (left) is very common at SBWR, while the Yellow-spotted Mudskipper (right) is less commonly seen. The Giant Mudskipper is the largest of the mudskippers, while the Yellow-spotted Mudskipper is medium-sized.

Finally, at Sg Quarry, no needletail, no fork-tailed swift, but it was nice to see these:
1 Osprey (flight shot: Kok Hui. perched shot: Danny)

Danny: Notice the yellow eyes and the eye band did not touch the eye - feature of male. Visible is the bluish grey tinge on cere and feet.

1 CHE (dark morph)

4 WBSE (1 juv, 2 subadults, 1 adult)
1 Black-capped KF and 1 Common KF
3 species of swallows
1 Straw-headed Bulbul
>6 Little Grebes