Petai Trail, Lor Halus 27Nov21

From KH

News of rarities came fast and furious: Amur Falcon at Lorong Halus and Pale-legged Leaf Warbler at Petai Trail. Which to go for? Headed to Petai Trail in the morning to try for the Singapore-first warbler of course!

Sadly no Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, but got a Sakhalin Leaf Warbler (5 kHz call vs the former's 6 kHz).

And an Arctic Warbler.

Here's a Saturn.

Here's a caterpillar.

What are these plants?

Next stop, Halus for the Amur Falcon. Can you believe it, it's favourite hiding place is the scaffold on the flat under construction!

After lunch, it's back to Petai for another try for the Pale-legged Leaf Warbler. Bingo, got a recording but no sight.

Here's a shy Arctic Warbler.

And a not-so-shy Greater Racket-tailed Drongo.

Epiphytic algae on tree.

BTNR 27Jan18

From KH

JS found a Sakhalin Leaf Warbler at BTNR Cave Path in the morning, so Con, Danny and I headed there for midday search.

Sakhalin Leaf Warbler ©Lau JS

Alas, we were too late and only got an Eastern Crowned Warbler and an Arctic Warbler.

Eastern Crowned Warbler ©Con Foley


Arctic Warbler ©Tan KH

There was also an immature Crow-billed Drongo around.

Crow-billed Drongo ©Tan KH

1. 1 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
2. 1 Black-naped Oriole
3. 1 Crow-billed Drongo - Immature
4. 1 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
5. 1 Olive-winged Bulbul
6. 1 Arctic Warbler
7. 1 Eastern Crowned Warbler
8. 1 Common Tailorbird
9. 1 Dark-necked Tailorbird
10. 2 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
11. 10 Asian Glossy Starling
12. 2 Javan Myna
13. 1 Olive-backed Sunbird

Dairy Farm Loop, Halus 8Mar14

From KH

The four of us started the day at Dairy Farm for the confirmed Sakhalin Leaf Warbler. Previously, in Jan, we thought it was a Pale-legged Leaf Warbler, as Sakhalin was out of range and never came to mind. Now in Mar, the bird was singing and ID can now be confirmed by the song.

Initially, the bird was nowhere to be seen or heard. Then some time after 9 am, we started to hear it and soon everyone of us (including 5 other birders) got good views of the bird. There seem to be two birds around.

Also present was a male Siberian Thrush and a Dark-sided Flycatcher.

Next, we went to Halus for the Asian Palm-swift that Con missed previously and also the Jerdon's Baza. Sure enough two of each were present.

First adult Jerdon's Baza ©Tan KH

Second adult Jerdon's Baza ©Tan KH

Dairy Farm, SBWR, Lower Peirce 18Jan14

From Con

As Danny has not seen the Sakhalin Leaf Warbler, we were back to Dairy Farm Loop in the morning. Today, the bird only showed up at 9 am. So Danny got his tick and we were off to Wallace Trail to search for the bird down slope. Except for a pair of noisy Little Spiderhunters, the trail was not very productive.

After lunch, we were off to Sungei Buloh. Con does not usually join us for afternoon birding, but he is doing the bird year and so we were all out rooting him! We managed to get the Grey-tailed Tattler, a juvenile Crow-billed Drongo and some of the usual suspects.

Final stop at Lower Peirce did not yield the bathing birds, but it was good to see a Blue-winged Pitta and a Cream-vented Bulbul.

Dairy Farm Loop 14Jan14

From Con

I went this morning reaching the site a bit before 8. At 8 I started some intermittent playback. It took a long while before I got a response. Finally close to 8:30 I started to hear the Sakhalin Leaf Warbler responding, at first far away, but then coming in closer. Then I was able to see him and get my bins on him. He was about 10 meters away on a thin tree about eye level. About the same spot as with Kok Hui. Unfortunately looking directly into the morning sun, it was rather hard to see. But fortunately he stayed around hopping from tree branch to tree branch for the better part of a minute, although sometimes hiding behind the tree trunk. Luckily he came when there was no foot traffic on the path and I was able to get some shots, although a bit far. I think the first shot although looking away captures most of the key features.

Then some foot traffic came on the path and I was distracted from the bird and he moved off. But as I already had good enough shots I left him alone and moved off looking for other birds, I got a Little Spiderhunter.

I also found out there is an easier way to get to that spot. You can simply walk up the tarmac road past the Wallace Education Centre and then up the small hill to the abandoned house. There is a path behind the abandoned house that leads to the water tanks and connects with Dairy Farm Loop path. Much quicker and easier.

Dairy Farm Loop 12Jan14

From KH

Con and I managed to nail the Sakhalin Leaf Warbler at about 8.30 am, but no photo. JS has seen and photographed the bird the day before on 11 Jan. Now left Danny. :)