Batam pelagic 05Oct24

From KH

Danny, JS and I went on a pelagic trip at Batam again. This time with James Hogg.

Setting off from Harbour Front, in Singapore waters, we logged 2 Bridled Terns, 2 Great Crested Terns, 5 Little Terns and 4 Swinhoe's Storm-Petrels. Good start for pelagic.

In Indonesian waters off Batam, we got a good haul of 249 Swinhoe's Storm-Petrels, as well as 1 Aleutian Tern, 2 Gull-billed Terns, 2 Great Crested Terns, 4 Little Terns and 30 Bridled Terns.

Back in Singapore waters, 2 Aleutian Terns, 2 Great Crested Terns and 20 Little Terns.

Mt Faber 28Sep24

From KH

Danny and I went to Mount Faber for any early migrant raptors. Just 3 OHBs and 3 accipitrine hawks.

1 of 3 Oriental Honey-Buzzards.

Resident raptors included this pale Changeable Hawk-Eagle.

and this juvenile Brahminy Kite.

A couple of spiders to round it up: Jade Jumping Spider and wall jumping spider.

Kranji Marsh 21Sep24

From KH

Danny and I went to Kranji Marsh today to watch parakeet magic show:

1) One moment, top 3 Red-breasted Parakeets, lower 2 Long-tailed Parakeets.
2) Next moment, two of the parakeets have swapped places!

Juvenile Black-naped Oriole, bill still black.

Sungei Serangoon 17Sep24

From KH

Common Kingfisher whacking a fish and swallowing it. Handphone shot and video:

Female and male Multi-Coloured Phintella facing off.

Close-up. All handphone shots.

Seletar Dam 16Sep24

From KH

Quick check at Seletar Dam revealed no waders, just a couple of Little Egrets.

Sungei Buloh 14Sep24

From KH

Danny and I went to Sungei Buloh today.

Terek Sandpiper with B5 Singapore flag (green on white) was back.

Tibetan Sand-Plover to Terek Sandpiper: what's the rush?

2 of 13 Common Greenshanks and 1 of 80 Common Redshanks.

Other waders included 91 Pacific Golden-Plovers, 20 Eurasian Whimbrels and 2 Common Sandpipers.

Female Copper-throated Sunbird just contemplating life.

The ever-present Mud Creeper Telescopium telescopium on the mudflat.

Mangrove Tree with propagules.

Bidadari 07Sep24

From KH

Danny and I visited the newly opened Bidadari Park. Great to see that some of the old trails were kept. Only time will tell if it's still a magnet for migratory birds, such as flycatchers.

For now, juvenile Blue-throated Bee-eater on its high perch.

Behind it, Earpod Wattle, which is an acacia.

Scaly-breasted Munia family was having a breakfast buffet of grass seeds.

The Finalyson's Squirrels were still around, feeding on palm.

Dragonfly nymphs left their molt on the leaves. What plants are these?

Dairy Farm 31Aug24

From KH

Danny, JS and I went to Dairy Farm Nature Park. The only migrant was a female Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.

Residents included this Pin-striped Tit-Babbler and this immature male Oriental Magpie-Robin.

Some juicy moth caterpillars.

Seletar Dam, Hampstead Wetland 24Aug24

From KH

Danny and I went to Seletar Dam for early waders, but only got 2 Common Sandpipers. Other migrants included 2 Little Egrets.

Next, Hampstead Wetland. No migrants, except migrant breeder Blue-throated Bee-eater.

Sungei Buloh 17Aug24

From KH

Danny, JS and I went to Sungei Buloh for early waders and got 32 Common Redshanks, 11 Eurasian Whimbrels, 2 Common Sandpipers and 2 Common Greenshanks.

Other migrants were 8 Little Egrets and 5 Medium Egrets.

Other animals included this pretty butterfly, Chestnut Angle.

The trees that you'll not miss here, Avicennia

Marina East, Tuas 09Aug24

From KH

Danny, JS and I started off at Marina East. Little Terns were feeding their young. JS also saw Bridled Terns. Otherwise, there were just the usual resident birds.

Next, Tuas. Black-winged Stilts were still around - 2 adults and 3 juveniles.

Adult male with glossy black upperparts. Adult female with brownish upperparts.

Adult pair together.

Juveniles with scaly upperparts.

The wet field and its flora provided good hiding place for the stilts.

Flatsedge (Cyperus sp.). Seedbox (Ludwigia hyssopifolia)

Water Dead-and-Awake (Neptunia plena)

Changi 03Aug24

From KH

Our birding trip today was supposed to be Changi Bay Point, but the highlight for both Danny and I was at Carpark 7.

A fruiting tropical chestnut Sterculia attracted female Asian Koel, Common Flamebacks, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Asian Glossy Starlings, Javan Mynas, Zebra Dove and even an Oriental House Rat!

Male and female Common Flameback

Asian Glossy Starling

Zebra Doves also came to the party

Oriental House Rat picking up scraps

The bird (and rat) magnet - tropical chestnut

At Changi Bay Point, we only got the usual birds, so I didn't even fire a shot! Should have wrapped it up after Carpark 7, lol.

Sungei Serangoon 20Jul24

From KH

It's Mid Year Bird Census and I covered Sungei Serangoon as usual.

Female Common Iora in Yellow Flame.

4 Smooth Otters enjoying a swim.

Golden-armed Mantis challenging me to a fight!

Pasir Ris Park 13Jul24

From KH

Danny, JS & family and I went to Pasir Ris Park today. Just the usual suspects: https://ebird.org/checklist/S186709532

Hampstead Wetland, Pulau Punggol 06Jul24

From KH

Danny, JS and I went to Hampstead Wetland following last week's report of Rufous-backed Kingfisher there. It's not there, but Buffy Fish-Owl couple were.

Next, Pulau Punggol. This Osprey was the best bird there.