Woodlands Height 28Feb26

From KH

Chestnut-cheeked Starling was reported on 24 Feb at Woodlands Height. This sent the entire birding community, including me and the Lau family, to this part of Singapore that birders rarely visit.

Firstly, at about 7pm, the first small flock of Daurian Starlings came circling the field. As more and more flocks joined in, at about 7:15pm, a spectacle was formed: a starling murmuration.

Flight shots were difficult in the fading light, but here's one of them. Any cheeky starling inside??

Some roosted on a tree, joined by Javan Mynas.

After the flight show, the search for the rarity began. Soon, just before 8pm, Frank spotted one in his scope by the ramp. Initially, it was mostly blocked by Daurian Starling.

Then, it moved and bingo! Bird behind, with chestnut on face, grey flank contrasting with white belly.

As the crowd gathered, security came to chase people away.

The search for cheeky continued on ground level. On a tree at the roundabout, Frank spotted another one at about 8:15pm. Bottom bird.

Finally, as the crowd dispersed, the few diehards stayed on and was rewarded with a different bird with a thin chestnut breastband.

With 3 birds in the bag, time to go.

Lim Chu Kang Lane 3, Sungei Buloh 05Feb23

From KH

Just when I thought I'm done with Lim Chu Kang Lane 3, an Oriental Turtle-Dove was reported there yesterday. I went today. No turtle-dove, only Spotted Dove.

Red-breasted Parakeets prospecting nest hole.

Pale adult Changeable Hawk-Eagle in nest on Moluccan Albizia before suddenly taking off.

Lots of Daurian Starlings, but still no cheeky starling.

Many dead carps. Must be run-off from the nearby fish farm.

Tailed Jay resting on grass.

Next, Sungei Buloh. First, a couple of Oriental Honey-Buzzards at the carpark.

 

At the main hide, there were lots of activities. This Ashy Tailorbird was nesting in the Bruguiera right by the hide.

The egrets lined up for comparison.

Little Egret dwarfed by Great Egret

Medium Egret similar in size to (or slightly larger than) Little Egret

The waders also lined up for comparison.

One and only 1 Common Greenshank with Whimbrels

Just 3 Marsh Sandpipers with Whimbrels

2 of 140 Whimbrels

Some of the 50-ish Common Redshanks

Some of the 80-ish Pacific Golden Plovers

Mud Creepers all over the mudflat.

Lastly, back at where the carpark used to be, a Crested Goshawk with antenna on a Rain Tree.

Seletar Dam, Rower's Bay 11Sep22

From KH

I went to Seletar Dam and saw about 100 Daurian Starlings on the mudflat.

At Rower's Bay, peacock basses were having family time.

Jurong Lake 30Jul22

From KH

Danny and I went to Jurong Lake Gardens today. Got a family of Smooth Otters having their morning jog.

Plantain Squirrel enjoying breakfast.

Daurian Starling, Asian Glossy Starlings and Lineated Barbet shared a bare tree.

No sharing for Tanimbar Corella!

Little Bronze Cuckoo looked on.

Brown Anole basking, ignoring us.

Peacock Royal just taking a rest.

Seletar Dam 21Oct21

From KH

Evening birding at Seletar Dam. 40 Daurian Starlings were still around.

And of course the ever present Javan Mynas.

Seletar Dam 18Oct21

From KH

I went to Seletar Dam and saw a couple of hundreds of Daurian Starlings. Somebody find me a cheeky starling, please.

Here are the accompanying Asian Glossy Starlings and Javan Mynas.

Wader-wise, just some Common Greenshanks and Common Sandpipers.

And other waterbirds, like Striated Herons and Little Egrets.

Seletar Dam 18Sep21

From KH

After a short walk around Rower's Bay, it was on to Seletar Dam for some wader watching.

Here are some for the 23 Tibetan Sand-Plovers, together with one of the Javan Mynas.

There was also a Malaysian Plover and 3 Common Sandpipers.

The other noteworthy sighting here was a flock of 40 Daurian Starlings.

Last but not least, some Eurasian Tree Sparrows to round up the day's birding.

Turf City, Seletar East 06Dec20

From KH

It's back to Turf City to try for cheeky starling, but it wasn't there.

There was a fruiting tree that attracted other birds though, such this Daurian Starling and this Straw-headed Bulbul.

And this Black-naped Oriole and this Coppersmith Barbet.

Why did the chicken cross the road with her brood?

1. Red Junglefowl (Domestic type) 5 - Adults with 3 juveniles
2. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
3. Spotted Dove 2
4. Zebra Dove 1
5. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 50
6. dark swiftlet sp. 20
7. White-breasted Waterhen 1 - Heard
8. White-throated Kingfisher 1
9. Coppersmith Barbet 1
10. Lineated Barbet 2 - Heard
11. Common Flameback 1 - Female
12. Rose-ringed Parakeet 2
13. Red-breasted Parakeet 1
14. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 1
15. Black-naped Oriole 2
16. Dark-necked Tailorbird 2
17. Straw-headed Bulbul 2
18. Yellow-vented Bulbul 5
19. Pin-striped Tit-Babbler 3 - Heard
20. Asian Glossy Starling 100
21. Common Hill Myna 1 - Heard
22. Daurian Starling 10
23. Javan Myna 2
24. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2
25. Brown-throated Sunbird 1

Since the star bird was nowhere to be seen, I left for Hampstead Wetland to look-see.

Beware of this Ropalidia sumatrae nest!

How did this juvenile Oriental Honey-Buzzard miss it!

Blue-tailed Bee-eater looked on, while Coppersmith Barbet entered its nest.

Here're a couple of Buffy Fish-Owls.

Bamboo Orchid is a magnet for insects, such as this Malayan Eggfly and these ants.

1. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
2. Spotted Dove 1
3. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 2
4. Asian Koel 1
5. dark swiftlet sp. 20
6. Oriental Honey-buzzard 1
7. Gray-headed Fish-Eagle 1
8. Buffy Fish-Owl 2
9. White-throated Kingfisher 1
10. Blue-tailed Bee-eater 6
11. Coppersmith Barbet 2
12. Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker 1
13. Black-naped Oriole 1
14. Common Iora 1
15. Barn Swallow 1
16. Pacific Swallow 2
17. Yellow-vented Bulbul 2
18. Swinhoe's White-eye 5
19. Asian Glossy Starling 10
20. Javan Myna 5
21. Asian Brown Flycatcher 1
22. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1
23. Olive-backed Sunbird 2