Changi, BTNR, Pulau Punggol 26Dec12

From JS

Yesterday, my father took leave and this means that we would be doing some birding. Expected, we started the morning at Changi (CC). The Short-Toed Snake Eagle was a gamble but still worthwhile to try. Santa must have kidnapped the bird, so we did not see it. Instead, we saw the wintering raptors and the usual residents. Nothing spectacular was seen. In fact, when we were there, I spent a significant amount of the time sleeping in the car.

Although pretty much everything was not in favor of us to continue birding, we still continued and of all places, at the Bukit Timah Summit (BTNR). (On hindsight, we were fortunate to decide against going to Seletar North.) This is what I call fool-hardy determination. If I am not mistaken, this would be my fourth hike in less than 2 weeks and it is not surprising that I saw different birds on each visit. Today, we saw a Chestnut-bellied Malkolha, a juvenile Changeable Hawk Eagle and an adult Dark-sided Flycatcher. While most birders would think that forest birding is best at dawn, late morning could be just as rewarding, if one is not looking for thrushes or owls. As the forest warms up in the late morning, traffic on the main road decreases, resulting in a counter-intuitive increase in bird activities. I am not sure if this phenomenon is the equivalent of Panti's birdwave in the middle of the day at the Shrine. Up on the summit, the most obvious bird is the swiftlet, followed by the vocal Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers. Without the appearance of the Yellow-Vented Flowerpecker, we left the site with much wanting.

Juvenile pale morph Changeable Hawk Eagle

After a late lunch, we headed back out into the field. The only place that I would want to visit then would be Seletar North (PP), so that would be our final birding destination for the day. Arriving, we saw zero cars at the gantry. That was our closest indication of the events in the morning. Still, we took our chances. Unfortunately, the birds did not show but fortunately, the LTA traffic warden did not show up either. While the pond is pretty much deserted, except for a lone Yellow Bittern, a couple of common sandpiper and a lone Little Ringed Plover, we took no chances. Alas, the day ended as how it started. The focal point of Seletar North went back to the raptors when my father pointed out to Mike Price a dark-morph Booted Eagle. Ever since the runway became more active, the timing of the raptors' gathering became later. Now, it appears that 6.30pm is the starting time and the location has shifted to the casuarina forests by the coast. While my father was busy spotting the raptors, I went to another 2 rain-filled ponds that were hidden in the mimosa field. Bashing around, I flushed 6 Common Snipes, a couple of warblers and grassland passerines. At one point of time, I was actually staring at 3 snipes before their natural reflexes took over them. Hopefully, we will get to see more freshwater waders in the near future.

Common Snipe

Dark morph Booted Eagle

Eurasian Sparrowhawk?

Here's the summary of the raptor sightings:
1) Brahminy Kite (>9, 2-CC, 1-BTNR, >6-PP)
2) Black Winged Kite (3, 2-CC, 1-PP)
3) Changeable Hawk Eagle (2, 2 adult pale-morph-on the way to BTNR from CC)
4) White-Bellied Sea-Eagle (5, 5-PP)
5) Booted Eagle (1, 1 dark-morph-PP)
6) Osprey (2, 2-PP)
7) Eastern Marsh Harrier (1, 1-CC)
8) Oriental Honey Buzzard (2, 2-CC)
9) Common Buzzard (2, 1 dark morph and 1 pale morph-CC)
10) Black Baza (>10, >5-CC, 5-PP)
11) Chinese Sparrowhawk (2, 1 adult female and 1 adult male-CC)
12) Eurasian Sparrowhawk? (1, 1-PP)
Accipiter sp. (3, 1-CC, 1-BTNR, 1-PP)
Unid Raptor (1, 1-PP)

12 of 15 Smooth Otters at Pulau Punggol ©Danny Lau