Ulu Sembawang, Sungei Buloh 12Aug23

From KH

This weekend, Danny, JS and I were on a mission to get JS his 2 lifers: Great Slaty Woodpecker and Black-and-red Broadbill. We started at Jalan Ulu Sembawang for the female Great Slaty Woodpecker that was first reported since 31 Jul 2023. Sure enough, she was still around and very vocal. In fact, she stayed until 18 Feb 2024!

Short-tailed Babbler was also very vocal. Yes, that blur blob in the middle is the babbler.

Next, Sungei Buloh for Black-and-red Broadbill. Sure enough, it was still around. In fact, it's the same individual that was ringed here in 2019.

Also got Lesser Adjutant in flight.

Buffy Fish-Owl at its usual spot at the entrance boardwalk.

Other animals include this Common Greenback and these Whitespots.

Ulu Sembawang 09Aug23

From Danny

Heard Great Slaty Woodpecker but missed it: https://ebird.org/checklist/S146800071

BTNR, Ridley Park, SBG 05May18

From KH

Con and I went looking for the female Great Slaty Woodpecker that was first seen on 2 May 2018 near the Bukit Timah summit. Danny and JS could not join us as it was JS's bird day. Today, she was still there! This species was extirpated in Singapore and now it is back. Good news for Singapore.

This immature male Greater Green Leafbird was feeding on the figging tree at the summit.

This male Crimson Sunbird was fighting his reflection in the car window!

When I initially saw this, I thought it was a slug. On closer examination, it turned out to be a marching contingent of Dark-winged Fungus Gnats (Family Sciaridae) maggots! You got to watch the video to believe it!

1. 2 Thick-billed Pigeon
2. 1 Jambu Fruit-Dove - Female, immature
3. 1 Plaintive Cuckoo - Heard
4. 1 Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo - Heard
5. 20 dark swiftlet sp.
6. 1 Lineated Barbet - Heard
7. 1 Banded Woodpecker
8. 1 Common Flameback - Heard
9. 1 Great Slaty Woodpecker
10. 1 Long-tailed Parakeet
11. 1 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot - Heard
12. 1 Black-naped Oriole
13. 1 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
14. 1 Straw-headed Bulbul - Heard
15. 2 Olive-winged Bulbul
16. 1 Red-eyed Bulbul
17. 1 Dark-necked Tailorbird
18. 1 Rufous-tailed Tailorbird - Heard
19. 3 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
20. 15 Asian Glossy Starling
21. 1 Common Hill Myna - Heard
22. 3 Javan Myna
23. 2 Greater Green Leafbird - In fig tree
24. 2 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

We continued out Big Day at Ridley Park for the elusive White-bellied Woodpecker that was reportedly seen here recently, but remained elusive.

Dark morph Changeable Hawk-eagle

1. 1 Changeable Hawk-Eagle
2. 1 Brahminy Kite
3. 1 Large-tailed Nightjar
4. 1 dark swiftlet sp.
5. 1 Collared Kingfisher
6. 1 Lineated Barbet
7. 2 Rose-ringed Parakeet
8. 1 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot
9. 2 Common Iora
10. 3 Black-naped Oriole
11. 3 Yellow-vented Bulbul
12. 2 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
13. 3 Asian Glossy Starling
14. 10 Javan Myna
15. 2 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
16. 1 Olive-backed Sunbird

Last stop for birding today was Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Male Oriental Magpie-robin

1. 6 Red Junglefowl (Domestic type)
2. 1 Changeable Hawk-Eagle - Heard
3. 10 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
4. 3 Spotted Dove
5. 1 Collared Kingfisher
6. 1 Coppersmith Barbet - Heard
7. 1 Lineated Barbet - Heard
8. 1 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot - Heard
9. 2 Common Iora
10. 4 Black-naped Oriole
11. 1 Yellow-vented Bulbul
12. 1 Olive-winged Bulbul
13. 2 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
14. 3 Oriental Magpie-Robin
15. 10 Asian Glossy Starling
16. 5 Javan Myna
17. 4 Olive-backed Sunbird