Botanic Gardens 21Mar26

From KH

Rainforest Trail at Singapore Botanic Gardens was open again after they cleared to fallen tree. Danny and I revisited the Fairy Pitta that we saw on 14 Feb. Now it was much more confiding, coming close to the boardwalk.

Crested Serpent-Eagle jiak zua (eating snake)? Go go go! By the time we saw it, breakfast was over.

Then, Danny spotted a male Pink-necked Green-Pigeon feeding a juvenile "milk".

Collared Scops-Owl couple snoozing at their usual roost.

At the visitor centre, a ringed Javan Myna was trying to feed its chick fruity breakfast, but was rejected! Didn't realize it was ringed until I reviewed the photos, but doesn't look like the usual ones used for bird ringing.

Also at the visitor centre, a female Ornate Sunbird was still building her nest.

Yellow-vented Bulbul, on the other hand, had fledged and looked at me like kua si mi (see what)!?

Good to know Grey-rumped Treeswifts can still be found here.

Kent Ridge Park, Dawson 16Oct21

From KH

News of a Spotted Flycatcher (first spotted on 15 Oct 2021) broke and the birding fraternity was all on site at Kent Ridge Park on 16 Oct 2021 for this Singapore-first. The bird went on to stay for a couple of weeks.

After having enough of the flycatcher, we made a move and got a thermaling Oriental Honey-Buzzard.

Over to Dawson Skyville for raptor watch, and Grey-rumped Treeswifts (male left, female right) were at the carpark to welcome us.

We got the usual OHB and accipiters. Here's one of the OHBs.

Telok Blangah Forest Walk 05Oct20

From KH

I started off the day's birding at Telok Blangah Forest Walk. It was a nice elevated walkway that allowed eye-level views of birds.

Female Pink-necked Green-Pigeon. Juvenile Black-naped Oriole

Swinhoe's White-eye. Arctic Warbler

Yellow-vented Bulbuls were gorging themselves.

Some of the birds were paired up, like these Oriental Pied-Hornbills (left female, right male) and Tanimbar Corellas.

So are these Common Flamebacks (left female, right male).

Grey-rumped Treeswifts, like this one, were flying above.

While adult male Oriental Honey-Buzzard rested.

The elevated walkway was also good for butterflies, like these Ciliate Blues.

Centaur Oakblues

Striped Albatross

Common Five Ring showing top and bottom views.

Good for other insects too, like this Cerulean Carpenter Bee.

Cicada and fly.

Lastly, a Green Crested Lizard to end off the animal show.

Throw in a plant for good measure. This is the one that the ciliate blues and centaur oakblues were resting on.

1. Red Junglefowl (Domestic type) 1 - Heard
2. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2
3. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 2
4. Asian Koel 2 - Heard
5. dark swiftlet sp. 50
6. Gray-rumped Treeswift 1
7. Oriental Honey-buzzard 1
8. Brahminy Kite 1
9. Oriental Pied-Hornbill 2 - Pair
10. Dollarbird 2 - Pair
11. Lineated Barbet 2 - Heard
12. Common Flameback 2 - Pair
13. Tanimbar Corella 2 - Pair
14. Rose-ringed Parakeet 8
15. Red-breasted Parakeet 2
16. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 1 - Heard
17. Black-naped Oriole 5
18. House Crow 1 - Heard
19. Dark-necked Tailorbird 3
20. Rufous-tailed Tailorbird 1 - Heard
21. Pacific Swallow 1
22. Yellow-vented Bulbul 10
23. Arctic Warbler 1
24. Swinhoe's White-eye 10
25. Pin-striped Tit-Babbler 3
26. White-crested Laughingthrush 5
27. Asian Glossy Starling 10
28. Common Hill Myna 1 - Heard
29. Javan Myna 10
30. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 2
31. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 2
32. Brown-throated Sunbird 2
33. Crimson Sunbird 1

Punggol Promenade, Seletar East, AMK TGW 17Dec19

From KH

I went to the west end of Punggol Promenade Nature Walk for a short walk.

Common Sandpiper was still hanging around at the same stretch.

Immature male Oriental Magpie-robin looking rather scruffy.

Plantain Squirrel carrying nesting material.

Punggol Promenade Nature Walk (West End)

1. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
2. Spotted Dove 5
3. Asian Koel 1 - heard
4. dark swiftlet sp. 20
5. Common Sandpiper 1
6. Great Crested Tern 3
7. Gray Heron 2
8. Striated Heron 2
9. Common Kingfisher 1
10. White-throated Kingfisher 1
11. Collared Kingfisher 1
12. Common Iora 2
13. House Crow 5
14. Large-billed Crow 2
15. Common Tailorbird 2
16. Yellow-vented Bulbul 2
17. Asian Glossy Starling 2 - heard
18. Javan Myna 10
19. Asian Brown Flycatcher 1
20. Olive-backed Sunbird 2
21. Eurasian Tree Sparrow 10

Next, I headed to Seletar East and got an Oriental Pratincole.

Yellow Bittern was still at the same grass patch.

Seletar East
1. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 10
2. Spotted Dove 2
3. dark swiftlet sp. 20
4. Oriental Pratincole 1
5. Yellow Bittern 1
6. Intermediate Egret 10
7. Cattle Egret 30
8. Blue-tailed Bee-eater 1
9. Sunda Woodpecker 1 - heard
10. Rose-ringed Parakeet 10
11. Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 1 - heard
12. Pied Triller 1 - male
13. Black-naped Oriole 1
14. Brown Shrike 1
15. Long-tailed Shrike 2
16. Zitting Cisticola 2 - heard
17. Barn Swallow 10
18. Common Myna 1
19. Javan Myna 20
20. Paddyfield Pipit 4

Last stop for today: Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West.

The best birds here were a group of about 8 Grey-rumped Treeswifts, which were flying over the AMK Central side. Here's one with overcast background.

A flock of Pink-necked Green-pigeons were enjoying their teabreak of fruits.

Lastly, a pair of Greater Racket-tailed Drongos, also with overcast background.

Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West

1. Red Junglefowl (Domestic type) 1 - heard
2. Pink-necked Green-Pigeon 20
3. dark swiftlet sp. 1
4. Gray-rumped Treeswift 8
5. Black-naped Oriole 1 - heard
6. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 2
7. Yellow-vented Bulbul 2
8. Asian Glossy Starling 5
9. Javan Myna 20
10. Asian Brown Flycatcher 1
11. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1 - heard
12. Olive-backed Sunbird 1 - heard

Johor 18-19Aug18

From KH

I went Johor forest birding with Con and Danny this weekend.

It was babblers galore.

Fluffy-backed Tit-babblers duetting. Striped Wren-babbler singing.


Grey-headed Babbler


Short-tailed Babbler

The other birds here included:

Purple-naped Spiderhunter

White-bellied Woodpecker

Male Grey-rumped Treeswift

Whiskered Treeswift: female and male