Marina East, SBWR 18Oct17

From KH

Con, Danny and I started the day's birding at Marina East. Wader-wise, there were 1 Sanderling, 2 Red-necked Stints, 3 Common Sandpipers and 5 Malaysian Plovers. Other birds present were 6 Paddyfield Pipits, 5 House Crows and 2 Eurasian Tree Sparrows.

Malaysian Plover couple ©Tan KH

Red-necked Stints ©Tan KH

Sanderling ©Tan KH

Sanderling ©Danny Lau

Moving on to Sungei Buloh, we were disappointed at the low wader diversity: just Whimbrels, PGPs, Redshanks, Greenshanks and Common Sandpipers.

Pacific Golden Plovers ©Con Foley

Then, a Lesser Adjutant appeared out of nowhere to make our day!

Lesser Adjutant ©Tan KH

Raptor-wise, we had 1 OHB, 1 BWK, 1 Brahminy Kite, 2 WBSE.

OHB (100% crop) ©Tan KH

Other birds present were:

• Little Egret 15
• Grey Heron 1
• White-breasted Waterhen 3
• Common Iora 2
• Pied Fantail 1
• House Crow 5
• Ashy Tailorbird 3

Grey Heron in breeding plumage ©Tan KH

These are some of the non-avian denizens of Sungei Buloh.

Plantain Squirrel feasting ©Tan KH

Estuarine Crocodile ©Tan KH

Gecko ©Tan KH

Beetle grub ©Tan KH

Mandai Mudflat, SBWR, Tuas 27Sep14

Last Sat, Danny, JS and I started at Mandai Mudflat and saw 4 juvenile Great Knots, 43 Red-necked Stints, 1 Broad-billed Sandpiper, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, some Marsh Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers, lots of LSPs, PGPs, Greenshanks, Redshanks, Whimbrels, as well as 1 breeding Whiskered Tern, many Little Terns, Great Egrets, Little Egrets, Grey Herons, Little Herons.

Juvenile Great Knot (front), Terek Sandpiper (middle) and Common Redshank (back) ©Lau JS

JS tried very hard to turn one of these Red-necked Stints into Little Stint, but to no avail. ©Lau JS

There were also 1 Tiger Shrike and 1 Asian Paradise-flycatcher in the trees.

Moving on to SBWR, there were still 4 Black-tailed Godwits, plus many Whimbrels, Redshanks, Greenshanks, PGPs, Marsh Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers, but no LSP, stint or knot.

Next stop, Tuas. 2 Chinese Sparrowhawks (including 1 adult male), 1 female Japanese Sparrowhawk, 6 unid accipiters, 1 unid raptor, plus the usual residents WBSE (1), BK (>4), BWK (1). The migrants were moving eastward. The clouds were not moving!

Bidadari, SBWR, Pulau Punggol, Coney Island 26Oct12

From KH

Following the Japanese Paradise Flycatcher sighting last Sun-Thu, I headed to Bidadari hoping to tick this bird off. Alas, only managed to get two of its cousin, Asian Paradise Flycatcher. The Black-backed Kingfisher we saw during the bird race was also gone, while the Brown-chested Jungle Flycatcher that we missed was present. In fact, there were two of them! How did we miss them during the race??

Other notables were an immature Chinese Goshawk, 6 OHBs, 5 Drongo Cuckoos, 1 Indian Cuckoo, 1 Crow-billed Drongo, Ashy Minivets, Flycatchers (Asian Brown, Yellow-rumped), Arctic Warblers.

Seetoh came and reported the Chinese Egret was still at SBWR. But by the time I reached SBWR, the bird was nowhere to be found... Nevertheless, it was nice to record 50 Red-necked Stints at Hide 2D. There was also a Broad-billed Sandpiper. Raptor-wise, there were only 1 dark morph Changeable Hawk Eagle and 2 adult White-bellied Sea Eagles.

How many stints can you see here? Hint: one of them is not a stint.

Red-necked Stints and Curlew Sandpiper in direct size comparison. Also note difference in bill length and shape.

Broad-billed Sandpiper showing upperwing and tail pattern. Also note the split supercilium and kink in bill.

At Pulau Punggol, a Japanese Sparrowhawk was roosting, an adult Brahminy Kite was thermalling and most importantly, the Booted Eagle is back! This sets the early date back by 11 days (from 6 Nov). The dark morph Booted Eagle was gliding with an avian prey in talon and with a bulging crop. It must be keeping the remains for dinner!

Dark morph Booted Eagle with avian prey.

Finally, at Coney Island, there were hardly any birds. Nevertheless, there was a roosting Chinese Goshawk, 1 Black Baza flying away, 3 Brahminy Kites (2 adults, 1 juv.) and 2 White-bellied Sea Eagles (1 adult, 1 juv.).

Venus Dr, Neo Tiew, SBWR 07Nov09

From KH

This morning, Danny, Con and I went to Venus Drive to 'hunt' for the elusive Japanese Paradise Flycatcher. We did not get the target bird, but it was nice to see a Red-legged Crake, at least two Black-capped Kingfishers, an Indian Cuckoo and some common birds.

This female Indian Cuckoo sat quietly on a tree beside the Ranger Station.

Amongst the creepy-crawlies were these tiny termites and a 5-cm-long millipede.

These Saddle Barbs were common in the streams.

While we were leaving, a stunning male Crimson Sunbird came close for a photoshoot.

In the afternoon, Danny and I went to Sungei Buloh hoping for rare waders. On the way, we detoured to Kranji Resort. Here, A male Olive-backed Sunbird and Common House Geckos stayed for some close-ups.

En-route to NSRCC, Danny spotted a Black Baza. As we entered NSRCC, a flock of about 50 Yellow Wagtails flew passed.

A pair of White-breasted Waterhen and their single chick came to play with us for some minutes.

At Sungei Buloh carpark, a Banded Bullfrog was hopping on the road. Fortunately it got onto the grass patch before any hit-and-run could occur.

As we walked towards the main bridge, a lady was observing an Oriental Whip Snake.

At Hide 1C, there were lots of waders. As there was a good number of stints, Danny and I decided to hunt for our much desired Little Stint. Here's a digiscope photo from Danny. Is the stint right in the middle a Little Stint??

Most of the birds were at hide 1C:
1) Red-necked Stint 25
2) Broad-billed Sandpiper 2
3) Curlew Sandpiper 150
4) Common Sandpiper 3
5) Marsh Sandpiper 50
6) Grey-tailed Tattler 1
7) Ruddy Turnstone 1
8) Common Redshank 110
9) Common Greenshank 100
10) Whimbrel 100
11) Lesser Sand Plover 250
12) Greater Sand Plover 2
13) Pacific Golden Plover 50

Here's the lonely Ruddy Turnstone with two Common Redshanks. The turnstone has the Sungei Buloh flag on its right leg.

There are three species of Vinegar Crabs in Singapore. Here are the Violet Vinegar Crab (left) and the Pink-and-white-fingered Vinegar Crab (right).

NTL2, SBWR 31Oct09

From Danny

Early morning downpour ruled out trip to Kranji Resort. The plan to check out the fresh water fields inside the resort for ring plover, long-toed stint got washed out. Instead I drove over to NSRCC golf club but only Yellow Wagtails abound. Next, went to SBWR to catch the high tide. At Hide 1C, the usual BB sandpipers, RN stints and a single GSP.

However, this time the GSP is flagged. As in the pic, the GSP practically surrounded by Lesser Sand Plovers, making comparison much easier. The GSP has relatively longer and thicker bill; it is bigger in overall size; and it looks taller as it has longer legs. The colour of the legs are 90% greenish-yellow (no. quote from David Bakewell's recent Wader Workshop) while LSP mostly has dark legs (there are relatively small percentage with greenish-yellow legs). The LSP has relatively round head while GSP has squarer shape mainly due to the way the thicker bill is joined to the head.

As for the RN stints, manage to pic 2 birds together, hoping to id one as little stint - no luck. Though I think the right side bird is a first winter with white fringes evident in the median and a few dark color greater coverts. The left hand bird typical adult non-breeding with thin dark centre feathers.

Did not walk over to 2D, so no idea about the tattler.

Was at Sgp Quarry late afternoon when 2 Fork-tailed Swifts turned up, practically flew over me but no photographers around.

Wader Workshop at SBWR 3-4Oct09

From KH

Danny, GC and I attended the Wader Workshop by David Bakewell on these two days. JS was able to join us on Sat 3Sep only. There were also many experienced birders who attended this workshop. It was a great workshop covering wader moulting/aging and ID of difficult pairs. Moreover, each day, we spent about 2 hours in the field. We also learnt to draw sketches of waders - just draw 2 eggs! It was a great workshop.

Waders recorded were:
Broad-billed Sandpiper (4)
Greater Sand Plover (1)
Red-necked Stint (>6)
Ruddy Turnstone (1)
LSP, PGP, Curlew Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank.

In the afternoon of 4Oct, Yamane showed up in Singapore and Danny was here to receive him.

From Danny

Took pic with Yamane. The wader with leg flag was a Lesser Sand Plover and to its left a Broad-billed Sandpiper. The paler wader in the centre was also a Broad-billed Sandpiper and the smaller bird on the ground without split supercilium was a Red-necked Stint.

SBWR 4Sep09

From GC

This morning at SBWR. Weather was fine.

Raptor - an Osprey seen from main hide. It had a fish in its claws but still, it was soaring in circles! Really wonder what it was doing - why not just perch and feed?

Waders, quite a number are in transition plumage
(Seen from main hide/screen 1.1) -
Lesser Sand Plovers - approx. 50 birds
Common Redshanks - approx. 40
Whimbrels - approx. 40
Common Greenshank - approx. 40
Curlew Sandpiper - approx. 20
Pacific Golden Plovers - 3 birds
Marsh Sandpiper - 2
Common Sandpiper - 1
Rufous-necked Stint - 1 tiny little fellow dwarfed by all the others

The Osprey clutched the fish with its right talons only.

The little Rufous-necked Stint next to a Lesser Sand Plover which itself isn't very big.

Mandai Mudflat, SBWR, Tuas 06Sep08

From Danny

The Red-necked Stint is the smallest in the pic, behind the Whimbrels. Pic taken at Mandai Mudflat this morning. Note the relative size of the stint with that of the Lesser Sand-plovers on the left.

This was the bi-coloured bill Common Greenshank which kept us engaged for hours at SBWR. The typical Common Greenshank at top right corner. According to David Li, the legs (tibia) are too long as Nordmann's Greenshank is relatively shorter.

Refer 2nd pic, the bi-coloured bill bird has what Waders of the World descibed as "Dark brown lesser coverts contrast with more uniform grey upperparts, fringed white". The difference as shown with the Common Greenshank in the pic. However, agree the legs, tibia section are obviously lengthy.

Other than the Savanna Nightjar, Kok Hui counted 26 RW Lapwings at Tuas. There were also a few Pintail Snipes in the field.

Changi 02, 07Feb08

Con on 2 Feb

Here are a couple of my shots of the Red-necked Stint today.

A couple of the dark morph CHE.

My first flight shot of the Malaysian Plover!

Lapwing on sentry duty.

Juvenile Pied Harrier.

A couple more from SC. Left: blue-tailed bee-eater. Right: Dark morph changeable hawk-eagle.

Con on 7 Feb

On first day of CNY I tried to enter CC through the KTC construction entrance, but no luck, the guard was on duty so I went to Ubin instead and found plenty of Copper-throated Sunbirds.

Today, following the posting by Simon, I went to try CC again. Once again, the KTC entrance was guarded. So I went to the Airshow Entrance and said "I'd like to go birding". They said okay and gave me a Visitor Pass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a slow start to the day. Low tide was 6:35am, and by the time I got to the beach at 7:45am there were still plenty of waders but I was looking directly into the sun without a scope so it was difficult. I drove around, the Lapwings were still there, but the fresh water pools had dried up and the Wood Sandpiper and the "Green" Sandpiper were gone. At 10:00am the female Pied Harrier came out for breakfast and I followed her around a bit. I think she is the same one that has been at Changi for the past couple of months.

At 10:30am I noticed two folks on the sand bar that looked like birders so I drove over and it was Subaraj and Martin "............." They had just been on the sandbar and found 8 "white-faced plovers", some males, some females, some indeterminant. Subaraj said they are bigger than Malaysian Plovers. So I went out on the sandbar to look and sure enough the flock of 8 was right were Subaraj said it was. But it was too far for a decent photo, and when I tried to get closer the flock flushed.

Leaving the sandbar I flushed 2 Savanna Nightjars. The first two pictures are consecutive and of the same bird. The third picture might be the other bird, not sure.

Then I went to the Eastern Most Point of Singapore, and the Red-necked Stints where there again, and also one Yellow-fronted Canary (escape from Africa) was singing his heart out on one of the Casuarina trees.

Male Savanna Nightjar ©Con Foley

Oriental Honey-buzzard ©Fang SC