Pulau Ubin 24Dec16

From KH

Danny was in Finland catching Northern Lights. Con, JS and I went Ubin to get JS his darter tick. Sure enough the bird was at Pekan Quarry hanging out with Grey herons.

Oriental Darter drying itself with a Grey Heron looking on ©Tan KH

Grey Heron in breeding plumage ©Tan KH

What's this Malayan Water Monitor doing so high up?! ©Tan KH

On the way to Chek Jawa, we encountered a few Ashy Minivets, an Arctic Warbler and some resident birds, including a Little Bronze-cuckoo.

Ashy Minivet ©Tan KH

Elongate Mudskippers on coconut husk ©Tan KH

Then I saw something crawling in the leaf litter. Upon further investigation, it turned out to be a Tioman Crab (Tiomanium indicum).

Tioman Crab hiding in leaf litter ©Tan KH

We checked out Frog Island, but no migrant eagle was in sight, only Grey Plovers and Whimbrels, plus a few Great Crested Terns. At the Chek Jawa mangrove boardwalk, we got a quiet Mangrove Pitta.

Mangrove Pitta ©Con Foley

At Chek Jawa, there were a group of Gold-spotted Mudskippers enjoying the receding tidal waves.

Gold-spotted Mudskippers ©Tan KH

Finally, along Sensory Trail, we had a Clouded Monitor basking in the sun.

Clouded Monitor sunning itself along Sensory Trail ©Tan KH

Seletar Dam, Pulau Punggol 17Dec16

From KH

Following yesterday's report of Amur falcon at Seletar Dam, Danny, JS and I met there to check it out. However, the bird was not around. As the tide was coming in, the waders and egrets were also leaving. So we left and went to nearby Pulau Punggol.

The dark morph Booted Eagle was still around. It'll probably winter here. From below, the square-cut and sharp-cornered tail is obvious. From above, the white shoulder patches (landing lights) and pale wing coverts are diagnostic.

From JS

Lesser Coucal

PRP, Halus, Pulau Punggol 10Dec16

From KH

Today, Con, Danny, JS and I started off at Pasir Ris Park. The owls nowhere to be seen, nor was the torquatus around, but we had a noisy Crow-billed Drongo at the carpark.

Crow-billed Drongo silhouette

Next, we went to Lorong Halus. The Little Grebes were still breeding in the old pond.

Juvenile Little Grebe

Finally, we went to Pulau Punggol for late morning birding. The dark morph Booted Eagle was still around. The other notable migrant is an immature Indian Cuckoo. We also flushed a few Pintail/Swinhoe's Snipes.

Immature Indian Cuckoo

There were also many local munias and introduced waxbills around.

Chestnut Munias

Scaly-breasted Munia, Crimson-rumped Waxbill and Common Waxbill, all on a single stalk.

Neo Tiew, SBWR, Pulau Punggol 3Dec16

From KH

I missed the Ruff last evening by 30 steps, so while Danny and JS were at Kranji Marsh, I went Sungei Buloh to try to redeem myself, but there were hardly any waders around due to low tide.

After joining the father and son team at the marsh, we headed to Turut Track to feed mosquitoes before heading to SBWR to join force with Con, the only one in this group who got the prized Ruff last evening.

At SBWR, we only got a Bar-tailed godwit and the usual redshanks, greenshanks, whimbrels and a few Common sandpipers. There were also a small flock of 11 OHBs migrating and 2 Black bazas.

After lunch, Con left and the three of us went to Pulau Punggol. Before that, at Neo Tiew Lane 3, Danny and JS spotted a small flock of 5 Black bazas.

At Pulau Punggol, we got the Booted eagle (dark morph) and 5 Black bazas, on top of the residents - 1 Black-winged kite, 1 calling CHE, a few Brahminy kites and WBSEs.

SBWR 2Dec16

From Con

Ruff

Bidadari, Tuas 26Nov16

From KH

Danny, Con and I went to Bidadari and didn't see much except for a flock of Ashy Minivets, an Asian Brown Flycatcher and an Arctic Warbler. Resident-wise, a pair of Rufous Woodpeckers was a welcomed sight.

Ashy Minivet. Male Rufous Woodpecker

The introduced Variable Squirrels may yet survive. This one was collecting nesting material.

Moving on to Tuas, we got a small flock of OHBs and a Hodgson's Hawk-cuckoo.

Langkawi 18-21Nov16

From JS

I got a pair of Brown-winged kingfisher at Kilim Mangrove. We explored the village during high tide at dawn and was rewarded with a calling pair.

But no luck with Black-hooded oriole at Kisap.

Mountain hawk eagle was seen along Datai. An immature bird was distressing Oriental pied hornbill.

Had a male singing Large green pigeon as well.

Adult Shikra or juvenile Japanese Sparrowhawk?

SBWR 15Nov16

From KH

Department retreat at Sungei Buloh. Who says hobby and work can't go together?!

The star of the day was a 1-m-long Estuarine Crocodile.

Its relative, the Malayan Water Monitor, is much more common and often mistaken for it. This one owned the raft!

The other reptiles found here include the Mangrove Pit Viper (left) and the Painted Bronzeback (right).

The star bird today was a lone Great Knot, seen here with a Whimbrel in the foreground and Common Greenshanks to the right.

The other uncommon wader today was a Terek Sandpiper (smaller and with upturned bill), surrounded by Common Greenshanks and Common Redshanks.

A Giant Mudskipper and a Violet Vinegar Crab were enjoying time together. What an odd couple!

Singapore Strait 12Nov16

From JS

We were about to fall asleep (for those at the lower deck) when Francis spotted a large, black bird flying close to the water. It flew like a shearwater, banking and gliding (with wings bent slightly). At one point of time, it even made a 180 degrees swerve. On closer look at the photos, its head is certainly not a shearwater's but closely resembled a storm-petrel's.

Given its shearwater-like flight and long unforked tail, this looks like a genuine contender for Singapore's first Bulwer's Petrel record.

Juvenile Red-footed Booby

Skua sp.

Red-footed booby from Danny

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Changi 12Nov16

From Con

I was at what little is left of Newater plant grasslands with LKK, LCH, et al. We only got a few OHBs and accipiters. No harriers. Grassland patch now very small. Gone soon. SAF Yacht Club also gone. Being torn down.

Halus 06Nov16

From KH

Danny, Con and I were joined by some volunteers, including Kerry, who was also here last year.

We were glad to record 8 species - 4 residents, 4 migrants. Nothing rare though.

Chinese Sparrowhawk

Japanese Sparrowhawk

Juvenile OHB showing underparts and upperparts.

Male OHB with molted primaries

Pale juvenile OHB

Immature Grey-headed Fish-eagle

The number of WBSE is definitely less than the total of 9 below as double/triple counting can't be ruled out.

Also the number of CHE could be less than 5, as I could only ascertain that there were 1 pale juvenile, 1 pale adult and 1 dark morph.

Pale CHE juvenile

Pale CHE adult

This Brahminy Kite was chasing a Large-billed Crow.

Lastly, the number of Black bazas should only be 3, i.e. that same 3 birds hanging around the casuarina trees.

TIME	9-10	10-11	11-12	12-1	1-2	2-3	3-4
White-bellied sea eagle	1	2	1	1	3		1
Brahminy kite	1		2	1
Japanese sparrowhawk		1		1		1
Oriental honey buzzard			3	5	5
Changeable hawk eagle			1	1	2		1
Chinese sparrowhawk					1
Grey-headed fish eagle					1
Black baza					3	3	3
Unid. Accipiter				1	1
Unid. Raptor			1	1		1
TOTAL	2	3	8	11	16	5	5

Other animals here included:

Smooth Otter

Water Monitor