Sungei Serangoon 09Mar24

From KH

It's Annual Bird Census again and I covered Sungei Serangoon as usual.

These year was good for pond-herons, got an Indian Pond-Heron, first time here.

And Chinese Pond-Herons in various stages of assuming breeding plumage.

Here's a Blue-tailed Bee-eater to round it all up.

Jurong Lake 01May19

From KH

Indian Pond-heron assuming breeding plumage

Chinese Pond-heron in almost full breeding plumage

Chinese Pond-heron assuming breeding plumage

Grey Heron

1. Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 5
2. Spotted Dove 5
3. Pink-necked Pigeon 2
4. Asian Koel 1 - heard
5. Little Bronze-Cuckoo 1 - heard
6. White-breasted Waterhen 2
7. Gray Heron 20
8. Indian Pond-Heron 1 - assuming breeding plumage
9. Chinese Pond-Heron 2 - assuming breeding plumage
10. pond-heron sp. 2 - non-breeding
11. Collared Kingfisher 4
12. Coppersmith Barbet 1 - heard
13. Sunda Woodpecker 1 - heard
14. Common Iora 1 - heard
15. Long-tailed Shrike 1
16. Black-naped Oriole 2
17. House Crow 10
18. Yellow-vented Bulbul 5
19. Common Tailorbird 1 - heard
20. Ashy Tailorbird 1 - heard
21. Oriental Magpie-Robin 1
22. Asian Glossy Starling 5
23. Javan Myna 5
24. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1

Bidadari 10Apr16

From Con

Indian Pond-heron in the same grassy patch as last year.

Bidadari, Pasir Ris Farmway 18Apr15

From KH

Following report of an Indian Pond-heron in breeding plumage at Bidadari yesterday, Danny and I went to Bidadari for the bird. When we reached, LKK and See Toh were already on site searching for the bird. Soon a few other birders/photographers started showing up. Still the bird was nowhere to be seen.

Nevertheless, 1 Chinese Pond-heron and 2 Tiger Shrikes in breeding plumage were showing, so were a male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Asian Brown Flycatcher, Asian Paradise-flycatcher and Arctic Warblers. The local birds also keep us company - Oriental Pied Hornbill, Lineated Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, Common Hill Myna, etc. The only raptor seen today was an immature pale Oriental Honey-buzzard orientalis with very heavily moulted tail.

Then, after 10 am, a photographer spotted the Indian Pond-heron on a tree. Soon the news spread. Con and some birders/photographers started showing up.

In breeding plumage, the bird is unmistakable - pale buff head to breast, and maroon mantle to scapulars.

After 1 hour or so, the bird went into hiding and many of us broke for lunch. All the while, it was on the tree, not tame and on the grass as reported on the previous day. After lunch, Con got a message that the bird was back and on the grass. So back we went.

Not long after, the bird went into hiding on the trees again and it was time to part ways.

While driving home, I decided to check out Pasir Ris Farmway 3, where an Indian Pond-heron had been spotted three years ago. No Indian, but a breeding Javan, a breeding Chinese, and a non-breeding pond-heron were showing well.

The Javan Pond-heron in breeding plumage is also unmistakable - buff head to neck, orange breast, and slaty mantle to scapulars.

The Chinese Pond-heron in breeding plumage is also unmistakable - maroon head to breast, and slaty mantle to scapulars.

However, in non-breeding plumage, all three species look alike.

Also present at the farmway were 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Pintail Snipe.

From these views above, it was only possible to narrow down to Pintail/Swinhoe's. Out of a few hundred shots, 1-2 showed signs of the outer pins, narrowing it down to Pintail Snipe. From the shot below, the outer pins could be seen in the water reflection.

This is also a great place to get close-up shots of Grey Herons.

Lastly, a Common Sandpiper and a Little Egret to round things up.