NUS, Hindhede 08Feb20

From KH

A male Daurian Redstart was reported at the NUS Education Research Centre for more than a week now. Danny and I decided to drop by to look-see early in the morning. Sure enough, the bird was there. He mostly perched on the railings, but occasionally flew down to the grass patch to catch insects. Here's he showing off his front and his back.

The Tembusu trees were flowering and fruiting, with fruits of varying ripeness.

It was attracting various frugivores, such as this Red-whiskered Bulbul.

A pair of Sunda Woodpeckers came to join in the fun too.

While a pair of Black-naped Orioles were busy bringing nesting material to their nest.

UTown

1. Spotted Dove 2
2. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 5
3. dark swiftlet sp. 10
4. White-throated Kingfisher 1 - heard
5. Lineated Barbet 1 - heard
6. Sunda Woodpecker 2
7. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 1 - heard
8. Black-naped Oriole 2
9. Brown Shrike 1
10. Red-whiskered Bulbul 2 - feeding on Tembusu fruits
11. Yellow-vented Bulbul 5
12. Asian Glossy Starling 5
13. Javan Myna 10
14. Daurian Redstart 1
15. Olive-backed Sunbird 1 - heard
16. Scaly-breasted Munia 3
17. Eurasian Tree Sparrow 5

After a couple of hours, we had enough of the redstart and the tembusu, and went for morning snack. We were surprised to find a male Pink-necked Pigeon sitting on his nest near the canteen.

Next, Hindhede.

The Oriental Darter was still around. It's been here for a few months now!

It has a Stork-billed Kingfisher for company.

Another Pink-necked Pigeon.

I spotted a couple of Sunda Colugos on different trees, and one of them was grooming.

While these Common Fruit Bats were just hanging out.

And this released Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox) was lazing around.

Finally, an immature male Common Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum glaucum) to round it all up.

Hindhede

1. Red Junglefowl 1
2. Asian Emerald Dove 1
3. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 1
4. dark swiftlet sp. 20
5. Oriental Darter 1
6. Stork-billed Kingfisher 1
7. Lineated Barbet 2 - heard
8. Banded Woodpecker 1 - heard
9. Black-naped Oriole 2
10. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 4
11. Common Tailorbird 1 - heard
12. Straw-headed Bulbul 1 - heard
13. Yellow-vented Bulbul 2
14. Olive-winged Bulbul 1 - heard
15. Pin-striped Tit-Babbler 1 - heard
16. White-crested Laughingthrush 1 - heard
17. Javan Myna 5
18. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 1 - heard
19. Olive-backed Sunbird 1 - heard

SBG 16Nov19

From KH

The star bird at SBG is the male Daurian Redstart (below), shown here with a Common Kingfisher.

It was also nice to have a Cinnamon Bittern flew by.

This Long-tailed Parakeet was enjoying the Simpoh Air fruit.

While these Black Swans were resting.

Finally, a Common Treeshrew to round up this short walk around SBG Eco Lake.

1. Red Junglefowl (Domestic type) 20
2. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 20
3. Spotted Dove 3
4. Zebra Dove 3
5. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 10
6. dark swiftlet sp. 10
7. White-breasted Waterhen 3
8. Cinnamon Bittern 1
9. Black Bittern 1
10. Little Egret 1
11. Common Kingfisher 1
12. Banded Woodpecker 1
13. Long-tailed Parakeet 2
14. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 1 - heard
15. Black-naped Oriole 2
16. Malaysian Pied-Fantail 2
17. Ashy Tailorbird 2 - heard
18. Yellow-vented Bulbul 2
19. Olive-winged Bulbul 1
20. Swinhoe's White-eye 10
21. Asian Glossy Starling 20
22. Javan Myna 10
23. Oriental Magpie-Robin 2
24. Daurian Redstart
25. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2 - heard
26. Olive-backed Sunbird 2

Japan 04-06Mar13

From Yamane

4Mar

I visited Maioka Park in Yokohama between 2 business meetings. I report as follows; I attached the pictures of * species.

1. Oriental Turtle Dove
2. Japanese Green Woodpecker
3. Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker
4. Common Snipe*
5. Jungle Crow
6. Bull-headed Shrike
7. Varied Tit*
8. Japanese Tit
9. Long-tailed Tit
10. Brown-eared Bulbul
11. Japanese Bush Warbler
12. Japanese White-eye
13. White-cheeked Starling
14. Red-flanked Bluetail*
15. Brown-headed Thrush*
16. Pale Thrush
17. Dusky Thrush*
18. Daurian Redstart* male, female
19. Hawfinch
20. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
21. Japanese Pied Wagtail
22. Black-faced Bunting* male & female

I could watch Red-flanked Bluetail, but I could not watch Bullfinch, & Common Kingfisher.

5Mar

Today, I visited the lower stream of Tama River, after the business meeting in Tokyo. Near Haneda Airport. Now Fieldfare, there. It’s very rare in Japan.

6Mar

Today, I visited the Tokyo University on my business. I found the garden with the pond in the campus. Luckily I could watch the birds, as follows:

1. Eastern Spot-billed Duck*
2. Oriental Turtle Dove
3. Common Kingfisher*
4. Jungle Crow
5. Varied Tit
6. Coal Tit
7. Japanese Tit
8. Brown-eared Bulbul
9. Japanese Bush Warbler
10. Japanese White-eye
11. White-cheeked Starling
12. Hawfinch
13. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
14. Grey Bunting*

Japan 02Mar13

From Yamane

I visited Kasai Rinkai Park with Keio University Bird Watching Club members as one of the alumni. It was fine, but very cold & strong wind all day. The place is near Tokyo Disney Land.

I report as follows:

1. Gadwall
2. Wigeon
3. Mallard
4. Spot-billed Duck
5. Northern Shoveler
6. Common Teal
7. Common Pochard
8. Tufted Duck
9. Greater Scaup
10. Little Grebe
11. Black-necked Grebe
12. Oriental Turtle Dove
13. Great Cormorant
14. Grey Heron
15. Great Egret
16. Little Egret
17. Eurasian Coot
18. Kentish Plover
19. Common Sandpiper
20. Dunlin
21. Black-headed Gull
22. Common Gull
23. Herring Gull
24. Slaty-backed Gull
25. Osprey
26. Eastern Marsh Harrier
27. Azure-winged Magpie
28. Carrion Crow
29. Jungle Crow
30. Goldcrest
31. Varied Tit
32. Coal Tit
33. Japanese Tit
34. Brown-eared Bulbul
35. Japanese Bush Warbler
36. Japanese White-eye
37. White-cheeked Starling
38. Pale Thrush
39. Dusky Thrush
40. Daurian Redstart
41. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
42. Japanese Pied Wagtail
43. Black-faced Bunting
44. Grey Bunting

We could not watch Red-flanked Bluetail, Bullfinch, & Common Kingfisher.

Rifle Range, Gardens by the Bay, Pulau Punggol 16Feb13

From KH

Following reports of White-bellied Woodpecker at Rifle Range and Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike at Jelutong, Danny and I made a morning trip from Rifle Range to Jelutong Tower. We did not see these star birds and there were not a single swiftlet at the tower! Nevertheless, it was nice to see some forest birds.

Danny went back to pick up JS, while I made by way to Satay by the Bay to nail the female Daurian Redstart right at the carpark!

After lunch at Punggol, we headed to Pulau Punggol, but soon the sky opened and it was time to call it a day.

Sime Forest
1. Changeable Hawk Eagle 2 dark morph
2. Pink-necked Green Pigeon >5
3. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot 1
4. Blue-rumped Parrot 3
5. Long-tailed Parakeet >10
6. Dollarbird 3
7. Banded Bay Cuckoo 1 heard
8. Asian Drongo Cuckoo 1 heard
9. White-throated Kingfisher 1
10. Collared Kingfisher 1
11. Red-crowned Barbet 1 seen, 2 heard
12. Banded Woodpecker 1
13. Laced Woodpecker 1
14. Black-naped Oriole 1
15. Crow-billed Drongo 2
16. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 2
17. House Crow 4
18. Olive-winged Bulbul 3
19. Cream-vented Bulbul 1
20. Red-eyed Bulbul 2
21. Barn Swallow 1
22. Dark-necked Tailorbird 1 heard
23. Striped Tit Babbler 3 heard
24. Short-tailed Babbler 2 heard
25. Asian Fairy Bluebird 1 heard
26. Asian Glossy Starling >30
27. Common Hill Myna 3
28. Javan Myna >5
29. Asian Brown Flycatcher 1
30. leafbird sp. 1 (Greater or Lesser)
31. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker >3 (including 1 female feeding 1 chick)
32. Purple-throated Sunbird >3
33. Crimson Sunbird 2

Satay by the Bay
1. Daurin Redstart 1 female
2. Oriental Magpie Robin 1 male

Pulau Punggol
1. Little Grebe 1 pair
2. egret sp. 1
3. Oriental Honey Buzzard 2
4. Brahminy Kite 2
5. White-bellied Sea Eagle 3 (2 adults, 1 immature)
6. Grey-headed Fish Eagle 1 adult
7. Chinese Goshawk 1 male
8. Changeable Hawk Eagle 1 pale morph
9. Peregrine Falcon 1 immature
10. Common Sandpiper 2
11. Spotted Dove >5
12. Zebra Dove >10
13. Lesser Coucal 1 heard
14. swiftlet spp.
15. White-throated Kingfisher 1
16. Sunda Woodpecker 1 heard
17. Black-naped Oriole >2
18. Sooty-headed Bulbul 1
19. Yellow-vented Bulbul >5
20. Barn Swallow >5
21. Pacific Swallow 1
22. Yellow-bellied Prinia 1 heard
23. Zitting Cisticola >2 heard
24. Common Tailorbird 1 heard
25. Asian Glossy Starling >10
26. Javan Myna >10
27. Olive-backed Sunbird 1 male
27. Baya Weaver >5
28. Scaly-breasted Munia >5
29. Black-headed Munia 3
30. Yellow Wagtail >10
31. Paddyfield Pipit >5
32. waxbill sp. >8 (Common or Black-rumped)