Bidadari, Telok Blangah, Henderson Waves 23Nov19

From KH

Danny and I started the day's birding at Bidadari.

The highlight was a Japanese Paradise-flycatcher showing of the clear inverted V demarcation on the underparts.

A Tiger Shrike also showed well.

Blue-throated Bee-eaters were still around despite their breeding season already over.

A pair of Long-tailed Parakeets were inspecting a tree hole, possibly starting their breeding season soon.

This being raptor season, a Black Baza (left) and an OHB came to join in the fun.

This is one of two JSHs that caught us by surprise - disappearing as soon as they showed up.

Bidadari

1. Spotted Dove 5
2. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 30 - feeding on fruit tree
3. Lesser Coucal 1 - heard
4. Asian Koel 1 - heard
5. dark swiftlet sp. 50
6. Oriental Honey-buzzard 1
7. Black Baza 1
8. Japanese Sparrowhawk 2
9. Oriental Pied-Hornbill 1 - heard
10. White-throated Kingfisher 1
11. Collared Kingfisher 1
12. Blue-throated Bee-eater 10
13. Dollarbird 1
14. Lineated Barbet 1 - heard
15. Rose-ringed Parakeet 1
16. Red-breasted Parakeet 3
17. Long-tailed Parakeet 2
18. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 1
19. Pied Triller 2
20. Black-naped Oriole 2
21. Japanese Paradise-Flycatcher 1
22. Tiger Shrike 1
23. Brown Shrike 1
24. House Crow 1
25. Common Tailorbird 1 - heard
26. Yellow-vented Bulbul 4
27. Arctic Warbler 1
28. Asian Glossy Starling 5
29. Javan Myna 10
30. Asian Brown Flycatcher 1
31. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2
32. Olive-backed Sunbird 5

Someone reported a possible Taiga Flycatcher at Telok Blangah Hill, so we went there. However, it turned out to be a female Yellow-rumped Flycatcher instead. JS joined us in time to expose the imposter.

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

Telok Blangah Hill Park

1. Arctic Warbler 1
2. Swinhoe's White-eye 5
3. Asian Glossy Starling 30
4. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher 1 - female
5. Mugimaki Flycatcher 1 - male
6. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1

Next up, raptor watch at Henderson Waves. There were waves of OHBs and JSHs, plus an Osprey thrown in for good measure. The OHBs came mostly in waves of teens, with the largest kettle numbering 42. While the JSHs came in single digits, with the largest flocks numbering 8.

Juvenile Japanese Sparrowhawk

Henderson Waves

1. Osprey 1
2. Oriental Honey-buzzard 149
3. Japanese Sparrowhawk 47
4. Accipiter sp.
5. White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1
6. Blue-tailed Bee-eater 5
7. Black-naped Oriole 2
8. Brown-throated Sunbird 1

Other raptor photos from JS at Henderson:

The smaller looking raptor that flew away from the ohb flock. Head seems rounded like a harrier

Versus an OHB in similar pose

Pretty thick dark undertail band... But still a Japanese Sparrowhawk