Tuas, Jurong Eco Garden, Pulau Punggol 27Dec14

From KH

Con, Danny, JS and I started the day at Tuas wetland. There were many egrets, a few Grey Herons and the common birds. In the woods, there was an immature Hodgson's Hawk Cuckoo. Raptor-wise, we had 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Japanese Sparrowhawk (juv), 1 Changeable Hawk Eagle (dark), 2 Brahminy Kites, 3 pairs of Black-winged Kite.

With nothing too exciting, we moved on to the new hotspot - Jurong Eco Garden. On arrival, we saw 20-30 photographers at the Violet Cuckoo place, and we were told there were double the number of people before we reached! And of course the cuckoo had come and gone, not just once, but three times. So we decided to take a walk instead of hang around with the crowd. The nature trail behind was quiet, so nothing to report here.

Following Alan Owyong's report of a Common Kestrel at Pulau Punggol, we headed there, only to find 3 Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Sandpiper and some Yellow Wagtails. Raptor-wise, we had 3 White-bellied Sea Eagle (1 pair building nest, 1 immature with Baya Weaver nest in talons), 1 Changeable Hawk Eagle, 1 Brahminy Kite (adult), missing the kestrel.

As Danny had to send JS off to his appointment, we called it a day.

Immature White-bellied Sea Eagle with Baya Weaver nest in talons ©Con Foley