Changi, Pulau Punggol 29Dec12

From JS

On hindsight, when the dust has settled, we missed a couple of global lifers, only to find for my father and I a Singapore tick. The exchange is obviously skewed to the ignorant. But, for my father and I, to have the chance to see a true Aquila on Singapore's shore is actually a dream come true. Finally, I can proudly and truthfully claim to see an "Eagle" in Singapore. For my father and I, having this sighting on the same week as finding a new species, the Eurasian Sparrowhawk, for Singapore just make this week even more exciting - Santa must have been here on a raptor's back and chased back north by a pale morph Booted Eagle.

To make today even more remarkable is the fact that we had, finally, broken our personal record for the most number of raptor species seen in a day in Singapore. 15 is the new number to beat, a number that I hope would not take more than 2 years to overcome. Now, we are two shy of 17, the highest single-day total based on this year's raptor watch report. Throw in Pied Harrier at Cove and Grey-Headed Fish Eagle at Kranji, we could actually reach that total on paper. But, in the field...

In appreciation of two of Singapore's best raptor sites, I have decided to write a short account of the star raptor seen on each site. For Changi, it will be the Jerdon's Baza while for Seletar North, needless to say, the Greater Spotted Eagle.

Changi:

Closing in on noon, we were still without a good find at Changi, not even close to anything that we could delete the photos and give it an identity of a rarity/lifer. However, on our 2nd round of Changi, we struck gold at a rain tree. We found an odd-sized couple on a rain tree, taking cover from the sun's heat or the clouds. As usual, Kok Hui was the first to identify the birds as a Jerdon's Baza and an Oriental Honey Buzzard. This sighting came as a saving grace for the morning and a relief for the year. Over the years, we have gained some fame in spotting Jerdon's Baza and it was relieving to finally see our first Jerdon's Baza of the season on the third last day of the year. When the second bird flew across the road with a lizard in its talons, we were only hoping for more (more than our highest count of 11). Unfortunately, for a day of ones (or wants), two is better than none. With the Jerdon's in our bag, our spirits were lifted slightly but another round of search did not yield anything rare. Nevertheless, with hindsight, we had much to be grateful about as the morning could have been as bad as 26 Dec.

First Jerdon's Baza on perch and in flight ©Lau JS

Second Jerdon's Baza with Changeable Lizard in talons ©Lau JS

Seletar North:

After lunch, with hour hand of our watches pointing at one, we were in an awkward position of deciding on our next birding site. My father suggested heading over to Lr Halus and bird from the bridge. That's a viable option but we won't regret ditching that for Seletar North. Parking our cars at the road shoulder, located on the bridge between P. Punggol Barat and P. P. Kechil, we walked over to the clearing and were immediately rewarded. Above the casuarina forest were two thermalling raptors. As the birds were thermalling at different elevation, the size difference was not apparent.

Again, Kok Hui was near-instantaneous to identify the higher-flying bird as a pale morph Booted Eagle. Just as quick but not as accurate, I identified the lower-flying bird as a dark morph Booted Eagle. Staring at two thermalling booted eagles was a sight to behold and a rare sight too! Enjoying the moment for less than a minute, the higher-flying bird dive-bombed the lower-flying bird. That moment was liken receiving my exam script. I saw only my mistakes, the marks lost. Unlike my exam script, if I am quick to "realise" my mistake, I have a chance to redeem myself. Thankfully, with Kok Hui, I am sure to be quick. "Aquila!" was his immediate response. I am redeemed. Greater Spotted Eagle was my re-submission with correction made by Kok Hui. As the saying goes, good things don't last forever. Happily clicking away, the minutes that the bird had spent thermalling before us soon passes. Much to our dismay, the bird turned its back on us and sluggishly flew back to Malaysia. Just like that, my father and I nailed our much-awaited raptor. Number 16 for P. Punggol.

Pale morph Booted Eagle prior to diving at Greater Spotted Eagle ©Lau JS

Greater Spotted Eagle ©Lau JS

After chasing the GSE off, this pale morph Booted Eagle perched triumphantly on its tree! ©Danny Lau

Booted Eagle or OHB? ©Lau JS

Male Alexandrine Parakeet (below) with a pair of Rose-ringed Parakeets ©Danny Lau

Here's the summary of the raptors seen on 29/12/12:

1) Brahminy Kite
2) Black-winged Kite
3) Changeable Hawk Eagle
4) White-bellied Sea Eagle
5) Booted Eagle
6) Greater Spotted Eagle
7) Common Buzzard
8) Oriental Honey Buzzard
9) Jerdon's Baza
10) Black Baza
11) Chinese Sparrowhawk
12) Japanese Sparrowhawk
13) Eastern Marsh Harrier
14) Osprey
15) Peregrine Falcon

Raptors seen at individual sites:

Changi:
1) Changeable Hawk Eagle (1)
2) Japanese Sparrowhawk (1, including 1 adult female.)
3) Chinese Sparrowhawk (1)
4) Black Baza (>8)
5) Jerdon's Baza (2)
6) Oriental Honey Buzzard (>4, including 1 dark morph male.)
7) Common Buzzard (1)
8) Black-winged Kite (4)
9) Brahminy Kite (3)
10) White-bellied Sea-eagle (1)
11) Eastern Marsh Harrier (1, including 1 adult male.)

PP:
1) Booted Eagle (2, including 1 dark morph and 1 pale morph.)
2) Greater Spotted Eagle (1, including 1 juvenile.)
3) Brahminy Kite (>2)
4) Black-winged Kite (1)
5) White-bellied Sea-eagle (1)
6) Osprey (1)
7) Peregrine Falcon (1, including 1 juvenile.)
8) Chinese Sparrowhawk (1, including 1 adult male.)
9) Japanese Sparrowhawk (1, including 1 adult male.)
10) Black Baza (14)
11) Changeable Hawk Eagle (1, including 1 juvenile.)
12) Oriental Honey Buzzard (3, including 1 adult male and 2 juveniles.)