Nee Soon 21May13

From Con

I went early today to Upper Peirce, arriving at the car park at 6:45 am. It only takes about 15 minutes to walk to the Nee Soon trail entrance, and I reached the last section of pipeline before the firing range by 7:30 am. I stayed in this area until 9:00 am. This should be the prime babbler period of activity. I heard or saw all the other babblers, Striped Tit, Abbott’s, Chestnut-winged and Short-tailed. But didn’t hear any call of the White-chested despite playing back the Panti dialect.

I explored in the area, and it turns out there is a trail that goes off to the left of the pipeline and then rejoins the pipeline after it gets around the really wet part. In fact it is more than a trail. It’s a road. It must be the road they built when they were constructing the pipeline, it has a proper concrete bridge that goes across the stream. The stream is pretty good size, and looks to be suitable white-chested babbler habitat, so I tried around this area as well.

Then I noticed a faint trail on the left bank of the stream and followed it in. I didn’t get very far when I flushed a troop of Banded Leaf Monkeys very high in some tall old growth trees. I managed to get my bins on one to confirm, but no photo as they moved off quickly. My first time seeing leaf monkeys in Singapore, so now at least I know one spot that they frequent.

You can not follow the trail along the stream far, as it is wet and tangled. But there are trail markings and surely this is one of the spots NParks comes to for their surveys. As I was walking out of the stream a Blue-eared Kingfisher whizzed past.

So at about 9 am I walked out, with no sign whatsoever of the White-chested Babbler.

Nee Soon, Pasir Ris Park 01May13

From KH

In the morning, Con, Danny and I went to Nee Soon after hearing report of White-chested Babbler heard there. No White-chested, but the rest were there: Abbott's, Chestnut-winged, Short-tailed and Striped Tit Babblers. Also present were Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots, parakeets, Asian Fairy Bluebirds, leafbirds, Bulbuls (Red-eyed, Cream-vented, Olive-winged), Greater Racket-tailed Drongos, Crimson Sunbirds, and Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers.

In the afternoon, Danny and I went to Pasir Ris Park for the juvenile Schrenck's Bittern, but it was already hiding. Only activities of note were active nests of Ashy Tailorbird and Olive-backed Sunbird.

Nee Soon, Goldhill Ave, SBWR 20Aug12

From KH

It was a refreshing change to bird locally again. In the morning, Con, Danny and I went to Nee Soon Swamp and Goldhill Ave. In the afternoon, Danny and I went to SBWR.

At Nee Soon, the highlights were
1) 4 Blue-rumped Parrots (fly-by)
2) 1 Blue-eared Kingfisher zipped by
3) 1 Chestnut-bellied Malkoha foraging
4) 1 pair of Chestnut-winged Babblers singing/calling and foraging
5) 1 Red-crowned Barbet showing well

At Goldhill Ave, an African Grey Parrot putting up a good show, probably spooked by the dark morph CHE.

SBWR was a disappointment, as there were only 4 species of common waders. Nevertheless, it was nice to see a nesting Olive-backed Sunbird at the entrance and a flying Osprey.

Nee Soon Swamp
1. White-bellied Sea Eagle 1 adult
2. Pink-necked Green Pigeon 3
3. Blue-rumped Parrot 4
4. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot 1
5. Long-tailed Parakeet 3
6. Chestnut-bellied Malkoha 1
7. Blue-eared Kingfisher 1
8. Blue-throated Bee-eater 2
9. Banded Woodpecker 1 pair
10. Common Goldenback 1 pair
11. Red-crowned Barbet 1 seen, 3 heard
12. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo >4
13. Asian Fairy Bluebird 1 male
14. Leafbird sp. 1
15. Hill Myna 2 seen, >3 heard
16. Pacific Swallow 3
17. Yellow-vented Bulbul 2
18. Olive-winged Bulbul 4
19. Cream-vented Bulbul 2
20. Dark-necked Tailorbird >5 heard
21. Short-tailed Babbler 1 seen, >4 heard
22. Chestnut-winged Babbler 1 pair
23. Striped Tit Babbler >4
24. Orange-bellied Flowerpecker >3
25. Crimson Sunbird 2 male

Goldhill Ave
1. Changeable Hawk Eagle 1 pale, 1 dark
2. Spotted Dove 2
3. Rock Pigeon 2
4. African Grey Parrot 1
5. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot 2
6. Grey-rumped Treeswift 1
7. Black-naped Oriole 2
8. Asian Glossy Starling >10
9. Javan Myna >2
10. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1 male
11. Brown-throated Sunbird 1 male
12. Olive-backed Sunbird 1 male

SBWR
1. Grey Heron 1
2. Osprey 1
3. Brahminy Kite 2 adults
4. White-breasted Waterhen 1
5. Common Sandpiper 1
6. Whimbrel 9
7. Common Greenshank 25
8. Common Redshank 145
9. White-throated Kingfisher 1
10. Collared Kingfisher 1
11. Oriental Pied Hornbill >1 heard
12. Pied Triller 1
13. Black-naped Oriole 2
14. Common Iora >3 heard
15. Oriental Magpie Robin 1 adult, 2 juveniles
16. Common Tailorbird 1 male
17. Ashy Tailorbird 1 male
18. Brown-throated Sunbird 1 juvenile
19. Olive-backed Sunbird 1 fledgling, 1 chick in nest

Peirce Area 21May11

From KH

Danny, JS and I started off at Changi, but the rain caused us to retreat to other areas. The recent spate of releasees at Tampines Eco Trail led us to head there instead. However, when we reached, it was still drizzling.

We then moved on to Upper Peirce. At the carpark, a fruiting tree attracted a couple of forest Bulbuls: Cream-vented, Olive-winged and Red-eyed. Then a Pink-necked Green Pigeon chick caught Danny's attention. Through the bino, we could see that it still has its egg tooth, but before we can take any photo, we had to hop into our ride before it disappeared (we were hitching a ride).

At the pipeline, there was nothing noteworthy except for a flock of 3 Chestnut-bellied Malkohas. Soon it is time for lunch.

After lunch, while Danny was sending JS to the nearest MRT, I waited for him at the nearby Lower Peirce. Meanwhile, a confiding Short-tailed Babbler, a young Spiny Hill Terrapin and a displaying Common Flying Lizard kept me company. When Danny returned, I was trying to locate the calling Blue-eared Kingfisher, but to no avail. Soon the rain caught up with us again, so it was time to end the day's birding.

Peirce Area 06Feb10

From Danny

A pair of adult Chestnut-winged Babblers were spotted on 6 Feb 2010 at Nee Soon Swamp responding to playback of call, note not the song, possibly an engaged pair. It's time of the year to prepare for breeding. From video, notice how the babblers call out thru the gullet air sags exposing the white patches. At end of video when both babblers were side by side, the bird on the left had relatively larger white patches & more active, likely a male.

Here's the Dark-sided Flycatcher at Mousedeer Trail.

From KH

The first interesting creatures at the Nee Soon Pipeline were non-avian. There was a Malayan Brown Snake in the paddle. Can't really tell the length, but it's definitely more than 2 feet.

The other creature of interest here was the nymph of a Flatid Bug.

Nee Soon Swamp

Banded Bay Cuckoo 1 calling while in flight
RC Barbet 2 heard
OHB 1
GHFE 1
CHE 2
CW Babbler 2
ST Babbler >4
Little Spiderhunter 1
Asian Brown FC 1
Arctic Warbler 2
CV Bulbul 2
OW Bulbul >3
and the usual sunbirds, OB flowerpeckers, tailorbirds, dollarbirds, bee-eaters

Mousedeer Trail

CB Malkoha 1
Dark-sided FC 1
1^st winter male SB Robin 1

Lower Peirce

BBKF 1
Banded Woodpecker 1
ST Babbler >2
female SB Robin 1
Arctic Warbler 2
CV Bulbul 2
OW Bulbul 2
and the usual drongos, striped tit babblers, tailorbirds

A Black-backed Kingfisher

and a Greater Racket-tailed Drongo were the main cast at Lower Peirce keeping us company during the hot afternoon.

Came evening time, the Lower Peirce bathing party began. This Cream-vented Bulbul (left) was amongst the bathing party. So was the Olive-winged Bulbul (right).

A Female Siberian Blue Robin

and Short-tailed Babblers are also part of the bathing party.

Nee Soon, Rifle Range, Hindhede 19Jan08

From Danny

Con, myself and Bruce (visiting Aussie brider) were at Nee Soon pipeline looking for the Raffles Owl. No sign of it other than the usual forest birds.

Con proceeded to Rifle Range while I pick up JS. Saw the pair of Brown Boobooks high up in the tree (tip off from KC), not good for photo.

As Con left, JS and myself headed for Hindhede. Reached it around 12 noon, most photographers were leaving with minimum pic. of OHT. We had a chat with Sze Kiat & Sree on camera and flash (totally lost) as there was not any activities. Before 2pm, Sree left and we separately walked our last round. Typically birds started to appear. Possibly the same 1st winter male, Blue-and-white FC turned up at the picnic area (same location as previous year) while the OHT hopped along the slope next to the rope ladder. However, no sign of the RL Crakes.

Nee Soon, Changi, Chinese Garden, Sime Forest 28Oct06

Con, Danny, Peck Chan, Robert and I went to Nee Soon Swamp hoping to see the blue-winged pitta, black-backed kingfisher and Siberian blue robin that James reported. Con did see the Siberian Blue Robin while stalking the Ferruginous Flycatcher, but no pitta or kingfisher were to be had.

First winter male Siberian Blue Robin ©Con Foley

Ferruginous Flycatcher ©Con Foley

Nevertheless, a troop of about 4 Banded Leaf Monkeys was a pleasant surprise. While picking up PC and Rob, Danny saw a female Indian Cuckoo (thanks to Kim Seng for the ID) flying in and perched on a tree. Con and I had left for Changi and did not see it.

Female Indian Cuckoo ©Danny Lau

Soon Danny caught up with us (after sending PC and Rob off). At Changi, the Oriental Pratincoles were still around, but the very rare Oriental Plover was nowhere to be seen. So far there has only been 4 sightings in Singapore, the last being in 1998.

Oriental Pratincole ©Con Foley

No harriers or buzzards either, but a Changeable Hawk Eagle was present.

Immature Changeable Hawk Eagle ©Con Foley

Con left, Danny and I went to pick up Jia Sheng and continue to Chinese Garden to look for the Ruddy Kingfisher. A Crested Serpent Eagle was reported here too. We had no luck with both though.

Moving on to Sime Forest, we saw another Indian Cuckoo. This time a male.

Male Indian Cuckoo ©Lau JS

At the same spot, 4 Black Bazas were present. Also of interest further down the trail were the resident Short-tailed Babbler and Red-crowned Barbets. At Jelutong Tower, the activity was low. Fortunately, a juvenile Rufous-bellied Eagle flew overhead. And a Brown-chested Jungle-flycatcher showed up to end the day. Finally, a Four-ridged Toad at the ranger station was a pleasant sighting. All in all, a good day with 70 species and a few lifers for each of us.

Nee Soon Swamp
1 Blue-tailed bee-eater
2 Indian cuckoo (1F)
3 Chestnut-bellied malkoha (2)
4 Pink-necked green pigeon
5 White-bellied sea eagle (1)
6 Greater green leafbird (2)
7 Greater racket-tailed drongo
8 Asian paradise flycatcher (1)
9 Ferruginous flycatcher (2)
10 Yellow-rumped flycatcher (3F)
11 Siberian blue robin (1 1st winter male)
12 Pacific swallow
13 Olive-winged bulbul (1)
14 Cream-vented bulbul (2)
15 Arctic warbler (5)
16 Eastern crowned warbler (1)
17 Orange-bellied flowerpecker
18 Plain-throated sunbird
19 Crimson sunbird
20 Forest wagtail (1)
21 Dark-necked tailorbird (heard)

Enroute to Changi Cove
22 Little egret

Changi Cove
23 White-throated kingfisher
24 Spotted dove
25 Red collared dove
26 Zebra dove
27 Common sandpiper (5)
28 Grey plover (1)
29 Little ringed plover (1)
30 Malaysian plover (4)
31 Lesser sand plover (1)
32 Oriental pratincole (30)
33 Black-winged kite (2)
34 Changeable hawk eagle (1)
35 Grey heron (1)
36 House crow
37 Common myna
38 Javan myna
39 Barn swallow
40 Zitting cisticola
41 Yellow wagtail (1)
42 Paddyfield pipit
43 Scaly-breasted munia

Enroute to Chinese Garden
44 Cattle egret

Chinese Garden
45 Common kingfisher (3)
46 Asian koel (1M1F)
47 Rainbow lorikeet (2)
48 Rock pigeon
49 White-breasted waterhen
50 Great egret (4)
51 Striated heron
52 Asian brown flycatcher
53 Oriental magpie robin (1)
54 Asian glossy starling
55 Red-whiskered bulbul (1)
56 Yellow-vented bulbul
57 Olive-backed sunbird

Sime Forest
58 Red-crowned barbet (2)
59 Dollarbird
60 House swift
61 Large-tailed nightjar
62 Black baza (4)
63 Rufous-bellied eagle (1)
64 Brown-chested jungle flycatcher (1)
65 Purple-backed starling
66 Hill myna
67 Short-tailed babbler (1)
68 Striped tit babbler
69 Banded woodpecker (heard)
70 White-rumped shama (heard)

Tyersall, Nee Soon Swamp 02Sep06

From Danny

Met Con & Pat @ Car Park, drove over to Tyersall Road, parked our vehicles & squeezed into Old Sultanate ground - see bird list. Around 8.50 am drove over to Nee Soon Swamp to continue hunt for sign of migrant birds.

High Point was the forest wagtail which eventually led us out all the way to the canal near the entrance. Maybe follow Con car to Orchard Road? The rambutan season on, please watch out for hanging parrot.

Forest Wagtail ©Con Foley

Tyersall Road
1) Laced Woodpeckers (1 pair)
2) Asian Glossy Starlings
3) Pink-necked Green-pigeons
4-5) Bulbuls (Yellow-vented & Olive-winged)
6) Dollarbird
7-8) Mynas (Javan & common)
9) Munias, Scaly-breasted
10) Drongo Cuckoo (heard)
11) Long-tailed Parakeets
12) Juv. WBSE (heard/one nest seen)
13) BN Orioles
14) Pacific Swallows
15) Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (found on rambutan tree)
16-17) Sunbirds (Olive-backed & Plain-throated)
18-19) Tailorbirds (Common & Dark-throated)
20) Common Ioras
21) Red-breasted Parakeet

Nee Soon Swamp
22) Banded Woodpecker
23) Crimson Sunbird
24) Hill Mynas (heard)
25) Bulbuls (Cream-vented & Olive-winged)
26) GRT Drongo
27) Forest Wagtail
28) Tailorbirds (Common, Ashy & Dark-necked)
29) Flowerpecker, Orange-bellied
30) Red-crowned Barbet (heard)

From PC

We saw a pair of Common Tree Nymphs floating across the path. For a moment, we were quite stunned as if this pair of ghostly butterflies were like recarnations of a suicided couple from Tampines.

There was also a loud thrush on the branches of a tree while Danny and I were tailing far behind Con. We did not see any Leaf Monkey however. At this juncture, Danny dropped his bino with one string snapped off..

The Forest Wagtail escorted us all the way out from the moment we spotted it. It was the same one..probably we were disturbing some peace of the unknown..nobody around except 3 of us..spooky

Common Tree Nymphs are common medium-sized butterflies which are white with black spots all over.

Nee Soon Swamp 15Jul06

From JS

After many weeks of absence from the "not so secretive" gang's outings due to involvements in school, I am finally free on today's Saturday morning to be participate in Yamane's farewell birding trip at Nee Soon Swamp. The weather was cooling and the ground was soft but there were not many birds, only about 40 species. There were a couple of highlights, starting with a Little Spiderhunter with its wit-wit-wit-wit call, followed by a timid Abbott's Babbler at the understorey, next in line was a flying female Greater Green Leafbird after calling and lastly, a clumsy Banded Bay Cuckoo crashing into a tree before flying off embarrassed.

A Crow-billed Drongo was sighted around the Laced and Banded Woodpeckers, following them whenever they go. A possible explanation is the woodpeckers are stirring a lot of insects, attracting the insectivorous drongo. It is known that drongoes follow monkeys because of this explanation maybe the woodpeckers are the monkey's substitute in S'pore.

Birders ©Yamane Yoshio

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo ©Yamane Yoshio

1) Javan Myna
2) Hill Myna (6)
3) Red-Breasted Parakeet
4) Long-Tailed Parakeet
5) Red-Crowned Barbet (heard)
6) Short-Tailed Babbler (heard)
7) Abbott's Babbler (obstructed view of its brown wings/flanks and grey belly/forehead and lack an eye ring, when observed in flight)
8) Striped Tit-Babbler
9) Golden-Bellied Gerygone
10) Olive-Winged Bulbul (3-5)
11) Red-Eyed Bulbul (1 seen in foliage)
12) Yellow-Vented Bulbul
13) Orange-Bellied Flowerpecker
14) Scarlet-Backed Flowerpecker
15) Black-Naped Oriole
16) Rusty-Breasted Cuckoo (1 heard)
17) Banded Bay Cuckoo (2 heard and 1 seen)
18) Common Tailorbird (heard)
19) Dark-Necked Tailorbird (heard)
20) Plain-Throated Sunbird (1)
21) Olive-Backed Sunbird
22) Purple-Throated Sunbird (2 male)
23) Crimson Sunbird (2 adult and 1 male juvenile)
24) Little Spiderhunter (1 seen)
25) White-Rumped Shama (1 heard)
26) Rufous Woodpecker (1)
27) Laced Woodpecker (1)
28) Banded Woodpecker (2)
29) Greater Racket-Tailed Drongo
30) Crow-Billed Drongo (1)
31) Asian Fairy Bluebird (2)
32) Blue-Throated Bee-eater (3)
33) Greater Coucal (1 heard)
34) Pink-Necked Green Pigeon
35) Emerald Dove (1)
36) House Swift
37) Swiftlet sp.
38) Asian Glossy Starling
39) Greater Green Leafbird (1)
40) Pacific Swallow (1)
41) Raptor sp.(3)

Nee Soon Swamp 13Aug05

From KH

It was a sunny day as we started another day of birding. This time it was at the Nee Soon Swamp. The meeting place was the Casuarina carpark. There were five of us: Danny our leader for the day, Con and Marisol Foley, Peck Chan and I. There was supposed to be an Australian guy but he went to the wrong carpark; and Charlie was supposed to be here too but he’s affected by the airline strike, so couldn’t make it. Con and Danny drove up to the bridge and the 3 of us, Peck Chan, Marisol and I, alighted while they carry on to the carpark beside the reservoir. They then hitched a ride back to the bridge. We saw some Pacific Swallows, Asian Glossy Starlings, Javan Mynas at the bridge. We then proceed to the trail along the pipeline. The first few birds are the familiar Blue-throated Bee-eater, Yellow-vented Bulbul, Olive-backed Sunbird. There were some other photographers there too. The first bird to really bring the heat on was a little "black-and-white" bird that kept flying away from us as we try to get closer to it and it’s really hard to get a photo ID of it as it merged into the leaf litters. At first impression, it looked like a wagtail. After a while, it flew off into the bushes and we had to move on wondering what it was. The trail was muddy at the beginning but gets drier as we went along. As we walked, some birds were flushed out but were too brief and far away to identify.

These 3 shots are from Marisol. Peck Chan and I were walking on the pipeline, while Danny and Con were way ahead of us in the backdrop. Marisol was on the pipeline too. I happened to see a pair of Olive-winged Bulbuls up close while walking along the high vantage point. The 2^nd and 3^rd photos show us at the end of the trail. Any further, we could potentially be shot by the army practicing their rifle-shooting nearby!

As we backtrack along the trail, we spotted some Crimson Sunbirds and Greater Racquet-tailed Drongos. We could get close enough to the drongo to take some photos. Then we chance upon the wagtail again. This time, the bird gave us a really hard time, flying off every time we tried to get closer to it. This continued for some time until finally we gave up. As we walked further, Peck Chan suddenly screamed and said she saw a snake charging towards her. Marisol, who was right in front of her, sprinted off immediately. Danny and I just stood there clueless. Finally, when we were about to call it a day for this trail, a Blue-throated Bee-eater put on a display for us. It was catching insects and constantly returning to its perch. An Olive-winged Bulbul and an Orange-bellied Flowerpecker were also in that area. As we waited at the bridge hoping to hitch a ride, Marisol decided to take a walk to the carpark. Not long after that, a car came by and offered to help. Peck Chan and Danny got in, while Con and I remained at the bridge. It was during this time that a Pacific Swallow flew in and perched on a signpost. We could get really close-up shots of it. A Common Tailorbird was also spotted.

Greater Racket-tailed Drongo ©Con Foley

Pacific Swallow ©Tan KH

Orange-bellied Flowerpecker ©Tan KH

Striped Tit-babbler ©Con Foley

We adjourned to a roti prata shop near to the Casuarina carpark and had a great lunch, thanks to Danny for his generosity. We all owe you one! After the sumptuous meal, we decided to carry on our birding at the path close to the Upper Peirce Reservoir carpark. This was where we saw the Striped Tit-babbler, more Olive-winged Bulbuls and the male Plain-throated Sunbird. What a beautiful sunbird which bears such a drab name! After Con left, we walked a little further down the path and came close to an Orange-bellied Flowerpecker. We were close enough to get some shots.

The best bird of the day is the Forest Wagtail. This is the little bird that kept us tormented but entertained throughout the whole walk. Thanks to Con, we finally got a good photo ID of it at the end of our forest trail. 21 birds for the day, an ok number considering that we are in a forest habitat. The Abbott’s Babbler is a forest bird that is most often heard (with the distinctive we-wo-we call). The swiftlets are the black-nest and edible-nest swiftlets, which there is no way to ID out in the field when they are flying in the sky.

Forest Wagtail ©Con Foley

01. Asian glossy starling
02. Pacific swallow
03. Blue-throated bee-eater
04. Forest wagtail
05. Yellow-vented bulbul
06. Olive-winged bulbul
07. Greater racquet-tailed drongo
08. House crow
09. Orange-bellied flowerpecker
10. Olive-backed sunbird
11. Plain-throated sunbird
12. Striped tit-babbler
13. Common tailorbird
14. Javan myna
15. Common pigeon
16. Asian koel
17. Crimson sunbird
18. White-throated kingfisher
19. Collared kingfisher
20. Swiftlet spp.
21. Abbott’s babbler (heard)