Bidadari 07Feb26

From KH

Danny and I went to Bidadari Park today. Finlayson's Squirrel doing well here.

A lone Black Baza circling.

1 of 5 Asian Openbills at the lake.

Nice to see a couple of immature Crow-billed Drongos, this one more heavily spotted.

Blue-throated Bee-eaters were out in full force,15 on a bare tree at one point. Managed to capture 13 in a frame.

These 3 were closer.

Resident-wise, Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot doing what else, but hanging.

Dollarbird just looking on.

Pretty Anomala beetle walking on tight rope.

One of the common trees here, Earpod Wattle (Acacia auriculiformis).

Bidadari 22Nov25

From KH

Danny, JS & family, and I went to Bidadari Park today.

Resident Large-tailed Nightjar roosting.

Migrant Ruddy Kingfisher continuing in a well hidden spot.

Also got a migratory Mugimaki Flycatcher.

Bidadari 27Sep25

From KH

Danny and I went to Bidadari Park today. Finlayson's Squirrels still doing well here.

Migratory season going on well too. Tiger Shrike here.

Resident-wise, Oriental Pied-Hornbills were putting up a good show. Here, a male was tackling a beetle.

Here, an adult male was playing with stick while another looked on.

Bidadari 01Jan25

From KH

New Year Day, what to do? Let's go Bida! So Danny and I made this trip to Bidadari.

Migratory Tiger Shrike making itself comfy at the kingfisher pond.

Migratory adult male Japanese Sparrowhawk flew by.

Resident Large-tailed Nightjar snoozing at the nicely cordoned off area. Thanks NParks for making it obvious.

Variable Squirrel collecting nesting material. Looks like they will continue to thrive here.

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?

Seletar East, Bidadari 12Dec19

From KH

I started today's birding at Seletar East. A migrant Yellow Bittern was busy feeding in the grass field.

Then, the residents came by to say hi - a juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle circled overhead, a Long-tailed Shrike perched on a fence.

The Apple Snails were having a good time in this wet weather.

Here's a Mission Grass patch thrown in for good measure.

Seletar East

1. Spotted Dove 2
2. Asian Koel 1 - heard
3. dark swiftlet sp. 10
4. Yellow Bittern 1
5. Intermediate Egret 10
6. Little Egret 1
7. Cattle Egret 1
8. White-bellied Sea-Eagle 1
9. White-throated Kingfisher 1
10. Blue-tailed Bee-eater 1
11. Black-naped Oriole 2
12. Long-tailed Shrike 2
13. Zitting Cisticola 1 - heard
14. Javan Myna 5
15. Paddyfield Pipit 2

Next, I dropped by Bidadari. It was rather quiet until a Tiger Shrike came by to greet me.

This Changeable Lizard was sunning itself in push-up position. Or was it working out in lizard style??

When I was leaving, an Eyebrowed Thrush flew across, a good migrant to end the day's birding.

Bidadari

1. Spotted Dove 5
2. Zebra Dove 2
3. Lesser Coucal 1 - heard
4. Asian Koel 1 - heard
5. dark swiftlet sp. 20
6. White-breasted Waterhen 1
7. Dollarbird 2
8. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 1
9. Pied Triller 2
10. Black-naped Oriole 2
11. Common Iora 2
12. Tiger Shrike 1
13. Brown Shrike 1
14. Common Tailorbird 1
15. Oriental Reed Warbler 1 - heard
16. Yellow-vented Bulbul 5
17. Swinhoe's White-eye 2 - heard
18. Asian Glossy Starling 20
19. Javan Myna 10
20. Eyebrowed Thrush 1
21. Asian Brown Flycatcher 2
22. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1 - heard
23. Brown-throated Sunbird 2
24. Olive-backed Sunbird 2 - heard

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

Bidadari 10Nov19

From KH

A male Zappey's Flycatcher was reported at Bidadari earlier in the day and sure enough the bird was still around late afternoon.

There wasn't much else going on, except for this male OHB seen circling above.

1. Spotted Dove 1
2. dark swiftlet sp. 5
3. Oriental Honey-buzzard 1
4. Blue-tailed Bee-eater 5
5. Red-breasted Parakeet 5
6. Yellow-vented Bulbul 2
7. Asian Glossy Starling 10
8. Javan Myna 5
9. Asian Brown Flycatcher 3
10. Zappey's Flycatcher 1
11. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2
12. Olive-backed Sunbird 3

Bidadari, Henderson Waves 28Sep19

From KH

Danny and I started the day's birding at Bidadari, and were rewarded with a number of migrants, DS & YR FC, EC & A Warbler, B & T Shrike, D Starling, nothing rare though.

1. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
2. Spotted Dove 2
3. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 10
4. Asian Koel 1 - heard
5. dark swiftlet sp. 20
6. Oriental Pied-Hornbill 2
7. White-throated Kingfisher 1
8. Collared Kingfisher 1 - heard
9. Dollarbird 3
10. Lineated Barbet 1 - heard
11. Rose-ringed Parakeet 2
12. Red-breasted Parakeet 2
13. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 1 - heard
14. Pied Triller 2
15. Black-naped Oriole 3
16. Common Iora 3
17. Tiger Shrike 2
18. Brown Shrike 2
19. House Crow 10
20. Yellow-vented Bulbul 5
21. Eastern Crowned Warbler 1
22. Arctic Warbler 2
23. Asian Glossy Starling 20
24. Daurian Starling 20
25. Javan Myna 5
26. Dark-sided Flycatcher 1 - juvenile
27. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher 3 - 1 male, 2 female/immature
28. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2
29. Brown-throated Sunbird 2
30. Olive-backed Sunbird 8
31. Scaly-breasted Munia 8

JS joined us at Henderson Waves for raptor watch, but we only had a few OHBs and JSHs; still too early...

1. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 2
2. dark swiftlet sp. 20
3. Oriental Honey-buzzard 3
4. Changeable Hawk-Eagle 2
5. Japanese Sparrowhawk 5
6. Brahminy Kite 2
7. Tanimbar Corella 8
8. Black-naped Oriole 2
9. House Crow 8
10. Dark-necked Tailorbird 1 - heard
11. Barn Swallow 8
12. Pacific Swallow 8
13. Yellow-vented Bulbul 2
14. Asian Glossy Starling 10
15. Daurian Starling 10
16. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 2

Bidadari, Windsor 07Sep19

From KH

Danny and I started the day at Bidadari. There were no migrants yet.

Painted Jezebel

1. Spotted Dove 2
2. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 5
3. Little Bronze-Cuckoo 1 - heard
4. dark swiftlet sp. 10
5. Changeable Hawk-Eagle 1
6. White-throated Kingfisher 2
7. Blue-throated Bee-eater 5
8. Dollarbird 3
9. Lineated Barbet 1 - heard
10. Sunda Woodpecker 1 - heard
11. Common Flameback 1
12. Rose-ringed Parakeet 5
13. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 3
14. Black-naped Oriole 3
15. Common Iora 1
16. Common Tailorbird 1
17. Pacific Swallow 1
18. Yellow-vented Bulbul 5
19. Swinhoe's White-eye 2
20. Asian Glossy Starling 10
21. Javan Myna 5
22. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 3
23. Brown-throated Sunbird 2
24. Olive-backed Sunbird 5

Moving on to Windsor Nature Park, we got a rather cooperative Stork-billed Kingfisher.

There was also a Haas' Bronzeback around.

And a Common Snakehead in the stream.

Tussock moth caterpillar was crawling on the wooden railing.

Danny said: "Take photo of the plant with the flies to show how sweet it is compared to that without." I obliged and later found out that this plant is of the genus Spathiphyllum and is not native to Singapore.

1. Red Junglefowl (Domestic type) 5
2. Spotted Dove 2
3. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 5
4. White-breasted Waterhen 3
5. Red-legged Crake 1
6. Stork-billed Kingfisher 1
7. Common Flameback 3 - 1 male, 2 female
8. Banded Woodpecker 1
9. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 2
10. Black-naped Oriole 2
11. Common Iora 1 - heard
12. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 3
13. Dark-necked Tailorbird 2 - heard
14. Barn Swallow 1
15. Pacific Swallow 1
16. Olive-winged Bulbul 4
17. Swinhoe's White-eye 2
18. Pin-striped Tit-Babbler 8
19. Short-tailed Babbler 1 - heard
20. Abbott's Babbler 1 - heard
21. Asian Glossy Starling 10
22. Oriental Magpie-Robin 1 - heard
23. White-rumped Shama 1
24. Olive-backed Sunbird 3
25. Crimson Sunbird 2 - 1 adult male, 1 immature male