Pasir Ris Park 28Feb26

From KH

Danny and I went to Pasir Ris Park today.

A Himalayan Cuckoo was first reported here on 19 Feb. Glad that it was still around after more than a week.

Here, eating an Asian Weaver Ant queen.

Poor cuckoo was shouted at not only by the locals, like these Swinhoe's White-eyes, and sunbirds.

But also migrants like this Yellow-browed Warbler, and also Asian Brown Flycatcher!

Also around was an adult Hodgson's Hawk-Cuckoo. Similarly, it was shouted at by white-eyes and Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker.

All these happening in the vicinity of the Crested Goshawk nest in a Rain Tree.

OHB also seen in the vicinity.

Another cuckoo, a Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo, was having a more peaceful time.

Female Brown-throated Sunbird was too busy sipping nectar from these pink flowers.

Female Ornate Sunbird was also busy sipping nectar from these light pink flowers.

The Oriental Pied-Hornbill couple was also too busy preening themselves.

Jurong Lake 10Jan26

From KH

I went with 3G Laus to Jurong Lake today.

First, a juv. OHB was harassed by 2 House Crows.

Then another 2 juv. OHBs were seen later hanging out together. No crows chasing them. Strength in numbers perhaps.

A pair of Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoos were hanging out in a tree.

A pair of Lesser Whistling-Ducks were in one of the ponds.

A lone Yellow Bittern was strutting along on the grass patch.

Singapore Quarry 31Dec22

From KH

I went with Danny to Singapore Quarry on the last day of 2022.

Colugo just needed a good sleep.

Wild Pig not looking very happy: grr, grrrr, GRRRR!

Osprey put up a good show, going a few rounds.

Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo put up an even better show, catching and eating mostly fluffy Sarbena moth caterpillars, and also some other caterpillars.

Close-up on Sarbena and its host plant Sea Almond. What're all those brown spots on the leaves? Fungi?

These dark-thoraxed Ornate Coraltails mating. More damselflies to come in 2023.

A Starry Bob to end off a great 2022.

Thomson Nature Park 20Jul21

From KH

I went to Thomson Nature Park today, and saw a juvenile Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo fed by its foster parent Pin-striped Tit-Babbler along Old Upper Thomson Road. As my camera has expired permanently, here's a smartphone shot of the cuckoo.

I was walking along the trail in the park when I suddenly realized that there was a Twin-barred Tree Snake in the tree beside me!

The bigger surprise is yet to come. I quickly whipped out my smartphone to video it. Watch the video till the end and you'll see why I said a bigger surprise awaits.

Jurong Lake 15Feb20

From KH

Danny, JS, BJ and I went to Jurong Lake, the current hotspot, but no blackbird, nor rare starlings...

Just Daurian Starlings

And Asian Glossy Starlings.

This Watercock was still around.

A few Asian Openbills were still around, with one of them enjoying an apple snail.

While this Intermediate Egret was enjoying a froggie.

And this Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo was enjoying a caterpillar.

Meanwhile, this shy Malaysian Hawk-cuckoo played hide-and-seek with us.

Other migrants include this Asian Brown Flycatcher.

Resident Buffy Fish-owl and Coppersmith Barbet came to join in the fun.

While these Pied Imperial Pigeons were gorging on figs.

This Smooth Otter gate-crashed the avian party!

1. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 10
2. Spotted Dove 2
3. Zebra Dove 2
4. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 20
5. Asian Koel 4
6. Little Bronze-Cuckoo 1 - heard
7. Plaintive Cuckoo 1
8. Brush Cuckoo 1
9. Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo 1
10. Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo 1
11. dark swiftlet sp. 10
12. Watercock 1
13. Common Sandpiper 1
14. Asian Openbill 2
15. Yellow Bittern 1
16. Gray Heron 5
17. Intermediate Egret 1
18. Brahminy Kite 2
19. Common Kingfisher 1
20. Collared Kingfisher 2
21. Blue-throated Bee-eater 4
22. Blue-tailed Bee-eater 8
23. Dollarbird 1
24. Coppersmith Barbet 4
25. Lineated Barbet 1 - heard
26. Sunda Woodpecker 2
27. Rufous Woodpecker 1 - heard
28. Laced Woodpecker 1 - heard
29. Rose-ringed Parakeet 2
30. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 2
31. Black-naped Oriole 5
32. Common Iora 2
33. Malaysian Pied-Fantail 1
34. Tiger Shrike 1
35. Brown Shrike 2
36. House Crow 5
37. Ashy Tailorbird 1
38. Zitting Cisticola 1
39. Oriental Reed Warbler 2 - heard
40. Yellow-vented Bulbul 8
41. Swinhoe's White-eye 5
42. Asian Glossy Starling 30
43. Daurian Starling 30
44. Javan Myna 10
45. Asian Brown Flycatcher 2
46. Oriental Magpie-Robin 1
47. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2
48. Brown-throated Sunbird 5
49. Olive-backed Sunbird 5
50. Scaly-breasted Munia 2
51. Paddyfield Pipit 2

Jurong Lake 01Feb20

From KH

The target bird today was the Brahminy Starling that was reported a few days ago. The starling appeared briefly on the figging tree at the Japanese Garden entrance, before flying to this bare tree. I got it but Danny missed it by seconds!

At the figging tree, there were much activities. We recorded 5 species of cuckoos here!

Large Hawk-cuckoo

Plaintive Cuckoo with dark eye ring

Rusty-breasted Cuckoo, typical morph and hepatic morph, both with yellow eye ring

Square-tailed Drongo-cuckoo with caterpillar in mouth

Thermaling overhead were these Oriental Honey-buzzards, both pale and dark morphs.

As well as these Asian Openbills.

Meanwhile, this Yellow Bittern was waiting for fish at the lake.

And finally, a sleepy Buffy Fish-owl to round it up.

1. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
2. Spotted Dove 5
3. Zebra Dove 2
4. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 20
5. Pied Imperial-Pigeon 3
6. Asian Koel 1 - heard
7. Little Bronze-Cuckoo 1 - male
8. Plaintive Cuckoo 1 - adult
9. Brush Cuckoo 2 - 1 typical, 1 hepatic
10. Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo 1
11. Large Hawk-Cuckoo 1
12. dark swiftlet sp. 50
13. White-breasted Waterhen 3
14. Common Sandpiper 1
15. Asian Openbill 50
16. Painted Stork 2
17. Yellow Bittern 2
18. Gray Heron 5
19. white egret sp. 1 - 5
20. Striated Heron 1
21. Oriental Honey-buzzard 6
22. Accipiter sp. 1
23. Brahminy Kite 3
24. White-bellied Sea-Eagle 3
25. Buffy Fish-Owl 1
26. White-throated Kingfisher 1
27. Collared Kingfisher 1
28. Blue-tailed Bee-eater 5
29. Coppersmith Barbet 1
30. Rose-ringed Parakeet 5
31. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 1 - heard
32. Golden-bellied Gerygone 1 - heard
33. Pied Triller 1 - male
34. Black-naped Oriole 5
35. Common Iora 1 - heard
36. Malaysian Pied-Fantail 2
37. Brown Shrike 1
38. House Crow 1
39. Common Tailorbird 1
40. Ashy Tailorbird 1 - heard
41. Zitting Cisticola 1 - heard
42. Yellow-vented Bulbul 5
43. Arctic Warbler 1
44. Asian Glossy Starling 20
45. Brahminy Starling 1
46. Common Myna 1
47. Javan Myna 20
48. Asian Brown Flycatcher 1
49. Oriental Magpie-Robin 1 - heard
50. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2
51. Brown-throated Sunbird 2
52. Olive-backed Sunbird 2
53. Paddyfield Pipit 1