Bukit Timah Nature Reserve 29Mar25

From KH

Danny and I went to Bukit Timah Summit today. Male Blue-and-white Flycatcher that was seen here since 24 Mar 2025 was still around.

A huge kettle of Black Bazas was then seen thermalling on their way home, while an Oriental Honey-Buzzard tagged along.

Here's another OHB later.

Decorative Vleispider hiding the the bush.

Fort Siloso 30Dec17

From KH

The tree that started the craze: Ficus superba.

The guardian of the tree: Crested Goshawk.

An adult Large Hawk-cuckoo was still around.

And then there were TWO (Asian Emerald-cuckoos)! Unbelievably, this bird not only stayed long enough for Danny and JS to tick them off today, but it brought a kaki! Con and I came today just because it's the current hot spot.

Then, a first winter male Blue-and-white Flycatcher caught JS's eyes. It also came for the tussock moth caterpillars.

The star bird at the Skywalk itself: Yellow-browed Warbler.

The introduced Chinese Hwamei was singing its heart out.

So was the introduced Indian Peacock.

The resident Brahminy Kite (top) and Large-billed Crow also came to take a look.

One of several House Swifts zoomed past (left), while the Pink-necked Green-pigeons hung out with the Asian Glossy Starlings.

There were a bunch of Asian Glossy Starlings at the Skywalk.

A few Tanimbar Corellas.

And some of the Yellow-vented Bulbuls (left) and Black-naped Orioles.

1. 10 Indian Peafowl (Domestic type) - Free roaming
2. 3 Crested Goshawk - 2 adult, 1 juv
3. 2 White-bellied Sea-Eagle - Adults
4. 1 Spotted Dove
5. 6 Pink-necked Pigeon
6. 2 Chestnut-winged Cuckoo
7. 1 Asian Koel
8. 2 Asian Emerald Cuckoo
9. 2 Large Hawk-Cuckoo - Adults
10. 1 Sunda Scops-Owl - Heard
11. 20 dark swiftlet sp.
12. 5 House Swift
13. 1 White-throated Kingfisher
14. 1 Collared Kingfisher
15. 4 Tanimbar Corella
16. 5 Black-naped Oriole
17. 2 House Crow
18. 1 Large-billed Crow
19. 2 Red-whiskered Bulbul
20. 10 Yellow-vented Bulbul
21. 1 Olive-winged Bulbul
22. 2 Yellow-browed Warbler
23. 2 Arctic Warbler
24. 2 tailorbird sp. - Heard
25. 4 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
26. 1 Chinese Hwamei
27. 2 Asian Brown Flycatcher
28. 1 Blue-and-white/Zappey's Flycatcher - 1st winter male
29. 100 Asian Glossy Starling
30. 5 Javan Myna
31. 3 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker - Heard
32. 2 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
33. 4 Olive-backed Sunbird
34. 1 Crimson Sunbird

Dairy Farm, Hindhede 11Feb17

From KH

Following yesterday's report of a male Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Con, Danny and I went Wallace Education Centre this morning, and sure enough the bird was there.

Before the star bird appeared, this distraction (Asian Brown Flycatcher) was keeping us occupied.

Other distractions include a pair of Chestnut-bellied Malkohas, a pair of Common Hill Mynas, and a slug.

On the way out, a confiding Emerald Dove was hanging out along the track. It has tags on its legs, which may explain its friendliness.

Then, a singing Eastern Crowned Warbler caught our attention. Key features: pale crown stripe, all-orangey lower mandible and yellowish vent.

Finally, a raptor flew overhead. It turned out to be a pale morph Changeable Hawk-eagle.

After lunch, Danny and I went to Hindhede Nature Park. Some of the common birds include a Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and a female Laced Woodpecker.

At one of the shelters, there were about 10 Spotted House Geckos of various sizes.

A Plantain Squirrel was busy collecting nesting material scrapped off tree bark.

Finally, a pair of Common Treeshrews were scurrying near the forest floor. Compared to the squirrel, the treeshrew has a longer snout, longer gape, and lower ears. The latter also often have more rufous back and less bushy tail.

Dairy Farm 10Feb17

From GC

Male Blue-and-white Flycatcher at DFNP, big fig tree on the right before Wallace Ctr.

(photo of LCD screen)

Oriental Scops-owl was still around.

Japan 09Jun13

From Yamane

I report you about my birding at my favourite place on 9 Jun. Japanese Paradise-flycatchers started brooding!

9. Jun 2013 Hayama/Morito River Upperstream 5:30-14:00

1. Chinese Bamboo Partridge
2. Oriental Turtle Dove
3. Lessor Cockoo
4. Black Kite
5. Common Kingfisher
6. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
7. Japanese Green Woodpecker
8. Japanese Paradise-flycatcher

Male

Female

* This nest is near the top of the tree, very high place. The photographers have to point their bazooka to the top.
* This pair was taking turns brooding every about 20~40 minutes.
* At least 2 pairs of Japanese Paradise-flycatchers are making their nests, except this pair.

9. Varied Tit
10. Japanese Tit
11. Barn swallow
12. Brown-eared Bulbul
13. Japanese Bush Warbler
14. Asian Stubtail
15. Eastern Crowned Warbler
16. Japanese White-eye
17. Blue-and-white Flycatcher (Male/Female)

This is the broken nest, the place of Red circle, of Blue-and-white Flycatcher by kidnapper who seemed to take chicks away last Friday. Everybody was looking forward to seeing the chicks' flying the nest... * Some pairs of Blue-and white Flycatchers seem to start breeding or brooding.

18. Eurasian Tree Sparoow
19. Meadow Bunting
20. Jungle Crow
21. Carrion Crow

Japan 19-21May13

From Yamane

19 May

I report you about my birding at my favourite place on 19 May. At last, Japanese Paradise-flycatchers came!

19. May 2013 Hayama/Morito River Upperstream 10:00-15:00

1. Chinese Bamboo Partridge
2. Oriental Turtle Dove
3. Lessor Cockoo
4. Black Kite
5. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
6. Japanese Green Woodpecker
7. Japanese Paradise-flycatcher (male)

8. Jungle Crow
9. Varied Tit
10. Japanese Tit
11. Barn swallow
12. Brown-eared Bulbul
13. Japanese Bush Warbler
14. Long-tailed Tit
15. Eastern Crowned Warbler
16. Japanese White-eye
17. Blue-and-white Flycatcher (male)

18. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
19. Japanese Pied Wagtail
20. Meadow Bunting

* Japanese Paradise Flycatches reached here. I could see 1 pair of them. But they didn’t start meking their nest.
* Some Blue-and white Flycatchers seemed to start breeding. But not all. The male in this picture seemed not to find his partner.

20-21 May

I report you of White-bellied Green-pigeon, drinking sea warter. They started drinking around May to Oct. every year.

Left male, right female

Male has yellow breast and dark-red wings. Female is almost light-green breast & olive wings. As they are named, their bellies’ color is whity or cream. Generally they are residents in mountains. They come here for only drinking sea water. Some pigeons stay at the forest near the seashore in the previous night. Others come directly from the mountains, named Tanzawa mountains.

They come some times for drinking in a day, mainly in the morning. Between the drinking times they rest in the near forest.

After their breeding, also their young birds come here with the parents around Jul. It’s dangerous for the pigeons to drink sea water. Also on 21 May, we saw a pigeon that was washed away by waves unfortunately. We don’t understand why they drink sea water. Some persons are researching these behaviors. We know the Pigeons drink sea water at only some places.

Terugasaki, Oiso, Kanagawa
9. May 2013 9:30-12:00
20. May 2013 9:30-11:00
21. May 2013 8:30-11:00

1. White-bellied Green Pigeon
2. Streaked Shearwater

3. Japanese Cormorant

4. Whimbrel

5. Grey-tailed Tattler
6. Common Sandpiper
7. Black-tailed Gull
8. Black Kite (harassed by crow)

9. Jungle Crow
10. Barn swallow (In the building of Oiso train station.)

11. Common House Martin (We can see the many nests of Common House Martins near place.)

12. Brown-eared Bulbul
13. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
14. Japanese Pied Wagtail