Botanic Gardens 31Jan26

From KH

Danny and I went to Singapore Botanic Gardens today.

An immature pale CHE with 6 fingers? Look more carefully, replacement feather growing in place of molted finger.

Male Brown-throated Sunbird sipping nectar from Bronze Banana flower.

A Blue-winged Pitta at Learning Forest.

Red-whiskered Bulbuls also.

Smooth Otter couple at Symphony Lake: Dear, I thought you said there'll be symphony??

Pasir Ris Park 08Mar25

From KH

Danny, JS and I went to Pasir Ris Park for JS's tick, Slaty-legged Crake. Saw it but hard to get a photo.

While waiting for the crake, a couple of Blue-winged Pittas entertained the crowd, perching on Rain Tree.

A rooster lost a feather that's about 15 cm long.

Black Spotted Crow on porterweed.

Turut Track, Jurong Lake 28Jan23

From KH

Danny and I started the day's birding at Turut Track. Got a flock of 12 Pacific Golden-Plovers flew over us. Here're 10 of them.

Next Neo Tiew Harvest Lane. Nothing much again.

We then went to Jurong Lake to meet up with "visiting birder" JS. Happy CNY! He showed us the spot for the Blue-winged Pitta.

Serangoon 20Oct19

From KH

Second year in a row seeing Blue-winged Pitta at Punggol Park during bird census! Handphone video and photo.

1. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
2. Spotted Dove 8
3. Zebra Dove 2
4. Asian Koel 4
5. Little Bronze-Cuckoo 1 - heard
6. dark swiftlet sp. 20
7. White-breasted Waterhen 4
8. Common Sandpiper 3
9. Purple Heron 1
10. white egret sp. 10 - a flock flew overheard
11. Striated Heron 6
12. Oriental Honey-buzzard 2
13. White-throated Kingfisher 4
14. Collared Kingfisher 2
15. Blue-tailed Bee-eater 2
16. Dollarbird 1
17. Sunda Woodpecker 2 - heard
18. Laced Woodpecker 1 - heard
19. Red-breasted Parakeet 11
20. Blue-winged Pitta 1
21. Golden-bellied Gerygone 2 - heard
22. Black-naped Oriole 6
23. Common Iora 4
24. Malaysian Pied-Fantail 7
25. Brown Shrike 1
26. House Crow 4
27. Common Tailorbird 2 - heard
28. Ashy Tailorbird 8
29. Barn Swallow 2
30. Pacific Swallow 2
31. Yellow-vented Bulbul 11
32. Swinhoe's White-eye 20 - 1 flock
33. Asian Glossy Starling 50
34. Javan Myna 35
35. Asian Brown Flycatcher 6
36. Oriental Magpie-Robin 1 - heard
37. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2
38. Brown-throated Sunbird 4
39. Olive-backed Sunbird 12
40. Eurasian Tree Sparrow 11

Serangoon Reservoir 28Oct18

From KH

The highlight for today's Fall-Migration Bird Census at Serangoon Reservoir (Hougang to Sengkang) is a Blue-winged Pitta at Punggol Park (handphone shot).

1. 2 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
2. 4 Spotted Dove
3. 7 Zebra Dove
4. 2 Asian Koel - Heard
5. 1 Little Bronze-Cuckoo - Heard
6. 5 dark swiftlet sp.
7. 6 White-breasted Waterhen
8. 7 Common Sandpiper
9. 2 Little Egret
10. 5 Striated Heron
11. 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron - Adult
12. 2 White-throated Kingfisher
13. 3 Collared Kingfisher
14. 5 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
15. 3 Dollarbird
16. 4 Sunda Woodpecker
17. 2 Rose-ringed Parakeet
18. 1 Blue-winged Pitta
19. 1 Brown Shrike
20. 5 Black-naped Oriole
21. 4 Malaysian Pied-Fantail
22. 1 House Crow
23. 3 Barn Swallow
24. 2 Pacific Swallow
25. 1 Red-rumped Swallow
26. 4 Sooty-headed Bulbul
27. 4 Yellow-vented Bulbul
28. 3 Arctic Warbler - Heard
29. 3 Common Tailorbird - Heard
30. 5 Ashy Tailorbird
31. 2 Yellow-bellied Prinia - Heard
32. 2 Oriental White-eye - Heard
33. 4 Asian Brown Flycatcher - Heard
34. 12 Asian Glossy Starling
35. 15 Javan Myna
36. 6 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
37. 2 Plain-throated Sunbird
38. 6 Olive-backed Sunbird
39. 1 Eurasian Tree Sparrow
40. 1 Javan Munia
41. 10 Scaly-breasted Munia

Singapore Botanic Gardens 29, 31Mar17

From Con

Both Hooded and Blue-winged Pittas were still at SBG.

Lock Road, Poyan 28Apr13

From Danny

Late morning due to overcast weather, dropped by Lock/Malan Road area. The whole place was off-limit for at more than 6 months when they moved everyone out but somehow physically not much changes except for barrier parking (Sunday free) but the tenants have changed to the arti type. Very quiet on Sunday, only two cars around. The path to Earth's Trail has been blocked off and overgrown with bushes and fallen trees. Bird-wise, nothing unusual except for a Red-billed Blue Magpie (didn't see for a year or more) who perched well but between birder and his car. It flew off when I try to reach for my scope in the car.

In the late afternoon, I visited CCK Columbarium where my grandmother RIP before heading to NSA gate. Just passed the Buffy point heard the Blue-winged Pitta calling on the left side of the road. Parked my car outside NSA gate and walked back to where the call was loudest. The call stopped when I got close, apparently the pitta spotted me. When I walked away it started calling again. I tried playback no movement detected. As I went back to NSA gate, another Pitta call came from the right, the gate (recalled we used to drive thru' jut next to NSA) was wide open. I walked in about 20 meters where the call was loudest. A short playback, the pitta flew out with its distinct blue wings and red vent. Within 50 meters, two BW Pittas stood their grounds and calling loudly for mate. The last BW Pitta was seen during the recent census. Don't think they are passing thru', possibly looking for female to breed.

Sungei Pandan, Poyan 15Jul12

From Danny

Went to Sungei Pandan late morning, as it was rising tide went to the National Rowing Center side. No Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo but clearly heard a Mangrove Whistler, try to whistle and play-back but bird refuse to show. Tide rising, didn't bash in.

1) Mangrove Whistler - 1 heard
2) Pied Imperial-pigeon - 1
3) WBSE - 1
4) Brahminy Kite - 1
5) Common Iora >3
6) Large-billed Crow - 2
7) House Crow > 3
8) Ashy Tailorbird - 1, heard many
9) Common Tailorbird - 1
10) Black-naped Oriole >3
11) PNGP >3
12) Spotted Dove >3
13) Little Bronze-cuckoo - heard
14) OB Sunbird >3
15) Brown throated sunbird - 1
16) Asian Glossy Starling >3
17) Pacific Swallow > 3
18) Zebra Dove - 1
19) Collared Kingfisher - 3
20) Javan Myna >3

I went down to Poyan around 5.30 pm via the NSA gate, no Blue-winged Pitta calls, tried a few rounds of play-back, no response. Went over to the grassland on the side of NSA range to check out any Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo but no success, only bird of interest was a House Swift other than the usual birds. Around 6.30 pm as I was walking out, the Pitta started calling though a little distance away. Tried two rounds of play-back, the responses remain far off. Decided to head home. While I was driving out, the calls became nearer, back tracked and locate calls from the wooded area (Muslim cemetery) where we seen the BF Owls.

Serangoon, Poyan 08Jul12

Nothing unusual at Serangoon, but Con and Danny got a pair of Blue-winged Pittas at Poyan again.

		Serangoon	Poyan
1	Red Junglefowl		1
2	Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker	5	1
3	Banded Woodpecker		2
4	Common Goldenback	2	3
5	Lineated Barbet		3
6	Oriental Dollarbird		2
7	Stork-billed Kingfisher	1
8	White-throated Kingfisher	6	1
9	Collared Kingfisher	4	2
10	Blue-throated Bee-eater	2	4
11	Rusty-breasted Cuckoo		1
12	Little Bronze-cuckoo	1
13	Asian Koel	4
14	Chestnut-bellied Malkoha		1
15	Lesser Coucal		1
16	Rose-ringed Parakeet		1
17	Red-breasted Parakeet		14
18	Long-tailed Parakeet	14
19	Swiftlet spp.	26	25
20	Common Pigeon	11
21	Spotted Dove	12	29
22	Common Emerald Dove		2
23	Zebra Dove	3	1
24	Pink-necked Green Pigeon	2	8
25	Green Pigeon sp.		1
26	White-breasted Waterhen	2	4
27	Red-wattled Lapwing		2
28	Little Tern	2
29	Black-winged Kite		1
30	Brahminy Kite	1	1
31	White-bellied Sea Eagle	2
32	Changeable Hawk-eagle	1	2
33	Grey Heron	1
34	Purple Heron	1
35	Striated Heron	11
36	Blue-winged Pitta		2
37	Golden-bellied Gerygone	2
38	House Crow	4
39	Black-naped Oriole	5	10
40	Pied Triller		2
41	Pied Fantail	4
42	Greater Racket-tailed Drongo		5
43	Common Iora	12	6
44	Oriental Magpie-robin		1
45	Asian Glossy Starling	7	17
46	Common Myna	1
47	White-vented Myna	35	30
48	Pacific Swallow	8	11
49	Straw-headed Bulbul		2
50	Sooty-headed Bulbul	5
51	Yellow-vented Bulbul	14	19
52	Yellow-bellied Prinia	6	1
53	Oriental White-eye		8
54	Common Tailorbird	8	1
55	Dark-necked Tailorbird		1
56	Ashy Tailorbird	7
57	White-crested Laughingthrush		4
58	Striped Tit-babbler		2
59	Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker	2	1
60	Brown-throated Sunbird	5	2
61	Olive-backed Sunbird	13	3
62	Crimson Sunbird		1
63	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	19
64	Paddyfield Pipit	1	1
65	Baya Weaver		3
	Total Species	41	48
	Total No.	272	246

Serangoon, Poyan 03Jul11

From KH

It's time for the Mid year bird census again. As usual, I counted at Serangoon, while Danny and Con counted at Poyan. Of special note is a Blue-winged Pitta at Poyan at this time of the year. This is the second year in a row that the pitta has been counted during MYBC.

Poyan	Species	Count		Serangoon	Species	Count
1	Red Junglefowl	1		1	Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker	3
2	Sunda Woodpecker	3		2	Common Goldenback	1
3	Banded Woodpecker	2		3	Oriental Dollarbird	1
4	Laced Woodpecker	1		4	White-Throated Kingfisher	4
5	Common Goldenback	3		5	Collared Kingfisher	4
6	Lineated Barbet	3		6	Blue-Throated Bee-Eater	6
7	Coppersmith Barbet	1		7	Plaintive Cuckoo	1
8	Oriental Dollarbird	2		8	Rusty-Breasted Cuckoo	1
9	White-Throated Kingfisher	1		9	Little Bronze-Cuckoo	1
10	Collared Kingfisher	2		10	Asian Koel	3
11	Blue-Throated Bee-Eater	2		11	Swiftlet Spp.	38
12	Rusty-Breasted Cuckoo	1		12	Common Pigeon	6
13	Little Bronze Cuckoo	1		13	Spotted Dove	8
14	Violet Cuckoo	1		14	Zebra Dove	1
15	Lesser Coucal	2		15	Pink-Necked Green Pigeon	3
16	Rose-Ringed Parakeet	1		16	White-Breasted Waterhen	7
17	Red-Breasted Parakeet	14		17	Little Tern	3
18	Long-Tailed Parakeet	9		18	Brahminy Kite	1
19	Swiftlet Spp.	50		19	White-Bellied Sea Eagle	1
20	Spotted Dove	12		20	Changeable Hawk-Eagle	1
21	Zebra Dove	3		21	Grey Heron	3
22	Pink-Necked Green-Pigeon	8		22	Purple Heron	1
23	Brahminy Kite	2		23	Striated Heron	3
24	Changeable Hawk-Eagle	2		24	Golden-Bellied Gerygone	1
25	Blue Winged Pitta	1		25	House Crow	10
26	House Crow	5		26	Black-Naped Oriole	5
27	Black-Naped Oriole	11		27	Pied Fantail	4
28	Pied Triller	2		28	Common Iora	12
29	Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo	1		29	Asian Glossy Starling	27
30	Common Iora	8		30	Common Myna	2
31	Oriental Magpie-Robin	2		31	White-Vented Myna	45
32	Asian Glossy Starling	40		32	Pacific Swallow	4
33	White-Vented Myna	35		33	Yellow-Vented Bulbul	8
34	Pacific Swallow	15		34	Yellow-Bellied Prinia	7
35	Straw-Headed Bulbul	3		35	Oriental White-Eye	1
36	Yellow-Vented Bulbul	12		36	Common Tailorbird	12
37	Olive-Winged Bulbul	1		37	Ashy Tailorbird	6
38	Common Tailorbird	4		38	Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker	1
39	Dark-Necked Tailorbird	2		39	Brown-Throated Sunbird	5
40	White-Crested Laughingthrush	5		40	Olive-Backed Sunbird	25
41	Abbott's Babbler	1		41	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	22
42	Striped Tit-Babbler	1		42	Paddyfield Pipit	3
43	Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker	3		43	Yellow-Fronted Canary	1
44	Purple-Throated Sunbird	2			Total No.	302
45	Olive-Backed Sunbird	1
46	Eurasian Tree Sparrow	5
47	Paddyfield Pipit	2
48	Baya Weaver	25
	Total Count	314