KNT, Neo Tiew, DFNP 15Dec18

From KH

1 went to Kranji Nature Trail with Danny, JS and wife. We only saw the usual birds and some Yellow-shelled Semi-slugs here.

1. 6 Spotted Dove
2. 1 Zebra Dove - Heard
3. 15 Pink-necked Pigeon
4. 1 Little Bronze-Cuckoo
5. 1 White-breasted Waterhen
6. 1 Common Sandpiper
7. 2 Gray Heron
8. 11 Little Egret
9. 5 Striated Heron
10. 2 Changeable Hawk-Eagle
11. 1 Accipiter sp.
12. 1 White-bellied Sea-Eagle
13. 1 Gray-headed Fish-Eagle
14. 2 Oriental Pied-Hornbill
15. 2 White-throated Kingfisher
16. 2 Collared Kingfisher
17. 2 Blue-throated Bee-eater
18. 2 Dollarbird
19. 3 Lineated Barbet
20. 1 Sunda Woodpecker
21. 2 Common Flameback
22. 2 Red-breasted Parakeet
23. 1 Golden-bellied Gerygone - Heard
24. 2 Common Iora
25. 5 Ashy Minivet
26. 7 Pied Triller
27. 1 Brown Shrike
28. 5 Black-naped Oriole
29. 7 House Crow
30. 12 Pacific Swallow
31. 1 Straw-headed Bulbul
32. 3 Red-whiskered Bulbul
33. 4 Yellow-vented Bulbul
34. 2 Olive-winged Bulbul
35. 1 Arctic Warbler
36. 5 Ashy Tailorbird
37. 1 Asian Brown Flycatcher
38. 3 Oriental Magpie-Robin
39. 37 Asian Glossy Starling
40. 16 Javan Myna
41. 1 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
42. 3 Plain-throated Sunbird
43. 5 Copper-throated Sunbird
44. 6 Olive-backed Sunbird

Moving on to Neo Tiew Harvest Lane, we saw a couple of Slaty-breasted Rail chicks stuck in a canal unable to get out. Fortunately, at least one of the parents was still around to feed them.

There were a few Oriental Honey-buzzards thermaling.

1. 5 Spotted Dove
2. 2 Lesser Coucal
3. 2 Asian Koel - Heard
4. 1 Banded Bay Cuckoo - Heard
5. 30 dark swiftlet sp.
6. 3 Slaty-breasted Rail - Adult with chicks
7. 1 White-breasted Waterhen
8. 1 Common Sandpiper
9. 2 Intermediate Egret
10. 2 Black-winged Kite
11. 4 Oriental Honey-buzzard
12. 1 Changeable Hawk-Eagle - Heard
13. 1 Japanese Sparrowhawk
14. 2 Brahminy Kite
15. 1 White-throated Kingfisher
16. 2 Blue-throated Bee-eater
17. 1 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
18. 2 Rose-ringed Parakeet
19. 5 Red-breasted Parakeet
20. 1 Golden-bellied Gerygone - Heard
21. 3 Common Iora
22. 1 Pied Triller
23. 2 Long-tailed Shrike
24. 1 Brown Shrike
25. 2 Black-naped Oriole
26. 1 Black Drongo
27. 1 Malaysian Pied-Fantail - Heard
28. 5 House Crow
29. 5 Barn Swallow
30. 1 Straw-headed Bulbul - Heard
31. 1 Sooty-headed Bulbul
32. 4 Yellow-vented Bulbul
33. 2 Oriental Reed Warbler - Heard
34. 2 Lanceolated Warbler - Heard
35. 1 Common Tailorbird - Heard
36. 1 Ashy Tailorbird - Heard
37. 1 Zitting Cisticola
38. 1 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler - Heard
39. 1 Siberian Stonechat (Stejneger's)
40. 5 Asian Glossy Starling
41. 5 Javan Myna
42. 2 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
43. 1 wagtail sp. - Fly by
44. 5 Golden-backed Weaver
45. 1 Scaly-breasted Munia

After lunch, a quick check at Wallace Education Centre revealed that the rufous morph Oriental Scops-owl was still around on the same branch!

1. 5 dark swiftlet sp.
2. 1 Oriental Scops-Owl - Rufous
3. 1 Dollarbird
4. 1 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo - Heard
5. 1 Dark-necked Tailorbird - Heard
6. 1 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
7. 2 Asian Glossy Starling
8. 1 Common Hill Myna - Heard
9. 1 Javan Myna
10. 1 Olive-backed Sunbird

Bidadari 15Sep18

From KH

Con, Danny and I birded at Bidadari today.

The Slaty-breasted Rail was rather skittish, as usual.

A few Oriental Honey-buzzards had made landfall - we counted 5 in total.

Somehow to OHBs missed to Giant Honey Bee nest!

This Painted Jezebel is safe on the ground.

Not so for this flattened Paradise Tree-snake.

1. 20 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
2. 5 Spotted Dove
3. 15 Pink-necked Pigeon
4. 2 Asian Koel
5. 1 Little Bronze-Cuckoo - Heard
6. 30 dark swiftlet sp.
7. 1 Slaty-breasted Rail
8. 1 White-breasted Waterhen
9. 5 Oriental Honey-buzzard - orientalis
10. 1 Oriental Pied-Hornbill - Heard
11. 1 White-throated Kingfisher
12. 1 Collared Kingfisher
13. 2 Blue-throated Bee-eater
14. 2 Dollarbird
15. 1 Coppersmith Barbet
16. 1 Sunda Woodpecker - Heard
17. 1 Common Flameback
18. 3 Rose-ringed Parakeet
19. 3 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot
20. 3 Common Iora
21. 1 Tiger Shrike
22. 1 Brown Shrike
23. 1 Long-tailed Shrike
24. 3 Black-naped Oriole
25. 1 Malaysian Pied-Fantail
26. 1 House Crow
27. 1 Pacific Swallow
28. 10 Yellow-vented Bulbul
29. 1 Olive-winged Bulbul
30. 2 Dark-necked Tailorbird
31. 10 Oriental White-eye
32. 2 Yellow-rumped Flycatcher - Female, male
33. 30 Asian Glossy Starling
34. 4 Daurian Starling
35. 30 Javan Myna
36. 5 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
37. 2 Plain-throated Sunbird
38. 2 Olive-backed Sunbird
39. 10 Scaly-breasted Munia

Lorong Halus 04Aug18

From KH

Con, Danny and I went Halus for today's birding.

It was nice to see a trio of Lesser Whistling-ducks flew by. 100% crop of two of them.

It was even nicer to know the Little Grebes are hanging on to their "stronghold" here, as can be seen by this breeding pair.

To our surprise, three pairs of introduced Asian Golden Weavers were nesting at the Old Grebe Pond.

Other introduced species here included:

Common Waxbill. Red-backed Munia


Golden-backed Weavers nesting at the New Grebe Pond

Glad that the local Baya Weavers are not too affected by all the alien species, as can be seen here in breeding plumage.

Other birds around included:

Oriental White-eye. Pied Triller


Red-breasted Parakeets


Slaty-breasted Rail

1. 3 Lesser Whistling-Duck
2. 2 Little Grebe - Breeding pair
3. 8 Spotted Dove
4. 8 Zebra Dove
5. 5 Pink-necked Pigeon
6. 2 Asian Koel - Heard
7. 2 Little Bronze-Cuckoo
8. 1 Banded Bay Cuckoo - Heard
9. 1 Brush Cuckoo (Rusty-breasted)
10. 1 Savanna Nightjar
11. 20 dark swiftlet sp.
12. 1 Slaty-breasted Rail
13. 5 White-breasted Waterhen
14. 11 Greater Painted-Snipe
15. 1 Common Sandpiper
16. 5 Little Tern
17. 1 Gray Heron
18. 1 Purple Heron
19. 1 Striated Heron
20. 1 Changeable Hawk-Eagle - Dark
21. 2 White-throated Kingfisher
22. 3 Collared Kingfisher
23. 3 Blue-throated Bee-eater
24. 2 Sunda Woodpecker
25. 2 Rufous Woodpecker - Heard
26. 2 Common Flameback
27. 3 Rose-ringed Parakeet
28. 10 Red-breasted Parakeet
29. 3 Long-tailed Parakeet
30. 1 Golden-bellied Gerygone - Heard
31. 8 Common Iora
32. 2 Pied Triller
33. 2 Long-tailed Shrike
34. 4 Black-naped Oriole
35. 2 Malaysian Pied-Fantail
36. 3 House Crow
37. 2 Large-billed Crow
38. 1 Barn Swallow
39. 1 Sooty-headed Bulbul
40. 10 Yellow-vented Bulbul
41. 2 Common Tailorbird
42. 4 Ashy Tailorbird
43. 4 Yellow-bellied Prinia
44. 8 Oriental White-eye
45. 1 Oriental Magpie-Robin - Heard
46. 20 Asian Glossy Starling
47. 8 Common Myna
48. 15 Javan Myna
49. 3 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
50. 1 Plain-throated Sunbird
51. 5 Olive-backed Sunbird
52. 1 Paddyfield Pipit
53. 30 Golden-backed Weaver - 30 nests
54. 10 Baya Weaver - Nesting
55. 6 Asian Golden Weaver - At least 3 pairs nesting
56. 10 Common Waxbill
57. 4 Black-and-white Mannikin (Red-backed) - 2 adults, 2 juvenile
58. 2 Scaly-breasted Munia
59. 1 Chestnut Munia

Kranji Marsh 17Mar18

From KH

Con, Danny and I started the day's birding at Kranji Marsh.

11 Black Bazas were still around.

This Coppersmith Barbet was rather vocal.

If you look closely, you'll see the tail of the dark morph Changeable Hawk-eagle on the nest.

No idea who's nest this is. It was in the toilet.

Some of the Olive-backed Sunbirds already have chicks, while others are still building their nest.

The Pink-necked Green-pigeons were all lovey-dovey.

Red-breasted Parakeets already have chicks.

And this juvenile Slaty-breasted Rail was foraging by the trail, totally ignoring us!

1. 1 Red Junglefowl - Heard
2. 1 Purple Heron
3. 6 Intermediate Egret
4. 1 Little Egret
5. 1 Osprey
6. 3 Black-shouldered Kite
7. 11 Black Baza
8. 1 Changeable Hawk-Eagle - On nest
9. 1 Brahminy Kite - Adult
10. 1 Slaty-breasted Rail - Juvenile
11. 1 White-breasted Waterhen
12. 1 Red-wattled Lapwing - Heard
13. 2 Common Sandpiper
14. 4 Spotted Dove
15. 4 Zebra Dove
16. 2 Pink-necked Pigeon
17. 2 Asian Koel
18. 1 Banded Bay Cuckoo - Heard
19. 1 Brush Cuckoo - Heard
20. 30 dark swiftlet sp.
21. 1 White-throated Kingfisher
22. 2 Collared Kingfisher
23. 2 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
24. 1 Dollarbird
25. 1 Coppersmith Barbet
26. 1 Lineated Barbet
27. 1 Sunda Woodpecker
28. 1 Banded Woodpecker
29. 1 Laced Woodpecker - Female
30. 1 Common Flameback - Heard
31. 5 Red-breasted Parakeet
32. 5 Long-tailed Parakeet
33. 1 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot
34. 5 Common Iora
35. 1 Brown Shrike
36. 5 Black-naped Oriole
37. 2 Malaysian Pied-Fantail
38. 2 Large-billed Crow
39. 5 Barn Swallow
40. 1 Pacific Swallow
41. 1 Straw-headed Bulbul - Heard
42. 5 Yellow-vented Bulbul
43. 1 Booted Warbler
44. 1 Black-browed Reed Warbler
45. 1 Oriental Reed Warbler - Heard
46. 2 Zitting Cisticola
47. 3 Common Tailorbird
48. 1 Ashy Tailorbird
49. 2 Yellow-bellied Prinia
50. 3 White-crested Laughingthrush
51. 2 Oriental Magpie-Robin
52. 20 Asian Glossy Starling
53. 15 Javan Myna
54. 2 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
55. 6 Olive-backed Sunbird - 3 active nests
56. 1 Baya Weaver
57. 1 Scaly-breasted Munia

Bidadari 22Dec17

From KH

A 1.5-hour mid-afternoon session at Bidadari turned up 20 species, including this Slaty-breasted Rail that almost got away.

This is one of two Brown Shrikes (left), as well as one of two Asian Brown Flycatchers in the area.

Both common kingfishers were present: Collared Kingfisher (left) and White-throated Kingfisher.

Some of the feral Variable Squirrels were still round.

1. 1 Slaty-breasted Rail
2. 1 Pink-necked Pigeon
3. 2 Asian Koel
4. 20 dark swiftlet sp.
5. 2 White-throated Kingfisher
6. 1 Collared Kingfisher
7. 1 Common Iora
8. 2 Brown Shrike
9. 3 Black-naped Oriole
10. 1 House Crow
11. 3 Yellow-vented Bulbul
12. 2 Arctic Warbler
13. 1 Common Tailorbird
14. 3 Oriental White-eye
15. 2 Asian Brown Flycatcher
16. 2 Asian Glossy Starling
17. 15 Javan Myna
18. 4 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
19. 1 Plain-throated Sunbird
20. 2 Olive-backed Sunbird

Bishan Park, SBWR, Bidadari 23Aug14

Con, Danny and I went to Bishan Park. It was nice to see some Grey-rumped Treeswifts, including this male.

There was a pair of Black-naped Orioles getting intimate.

A pair of Slaty-breasted Rails were out in the open totally ignoring our presence.

However, we did not see the Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo, nor Con's much-desired BY tick - Violet Cuckoo. Little Bronze Cuckoos were heard though.

Soon it was late morning and high tide, so we headed to Sungei Buloh for some wader-watching. There were not many birds around, only Redshanks, Greenshanks, 1 Marsh Sandpiper and some Common Sandpipers.

After lunch, Danny and I went to Bidadari. Spotted Wood Owl was on the same tree, but now there were two! We were surprised that there were no migrants yet, no flycatcher, no drongo, just the common birds.

CCK Park 4Jul11

From Danny

Got back home early and managed to reach CCK park around 6.45 pm  for my weekly jog. Right behind the rubbish collection point next to car park was a family of Slaty-breasted Rails, 2 adults and 4 chicks. By 7.05 pm the adults were still feeding.

The family will likely be around for another one to two weeks, car park is per entry in the evening & free in the morning.

CCK Park 29Mar07

Danny's update on the Slaty-breasted Rails

Glad to report another year of successfull breeding. This evening after the drizzle, finally spotted the 1st chick out in the open with Daddy. For past few evening, Daddy Rail have been out foraging alone . The chick (black like waterhen chick) was spotted behind NP hut. The chick once realised I was around quickly took cover back in the tall grasses. I guess in another week or so, Mommie Rail will parade her babies out for some typical S'pore shopping.

CCK Park Jul06

1-4Jul06

From Danny

This year, there were two WBSE juveniles. There were two adult Slaty-breasted Rails breeding in the tall grasses behind the waste bin compound; definitely there from 6 to 7.30 pm, not sure if around in the morning.

Two juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagles in nest

Slaty-breasted Rail

From Con

I went to Choa Chu Kang Park to see the Slaty-breasted Rail, and sure enough, they were exactly where Danny said. Arriving at 6 pm, Marisol and I saw them when we were parking the car. Within a few minutes, a Collared Kingfisher dive bombed one of the Rails for no reason we could understand and hit the bird hard. The bird spread its wings and stayed quivering for about 5 minutes, then it went into the grasses and disappeared. All the Rails stayed hidden until about 6:30 when they came out again. There seem to be 4 Rails, the two parents and two juveniles.

mid Jul06

From Danny

Went over to CCK last Sunday after 9.00 am, seen the male & took a few pictures. Packing up saw the female at the bin compound end. Heard the collared KF but couldn't locate the nest. The SBRs are fine.

I'm most delighted to inform you after some anxious times they made it not one but two eaglets. Currently both have fully fledged but behaving like spoilt children refusing to leave & hunt. One interesting observation was one day the nest as big as 6 ft across or more was completely whithered down to just a 2 ft plate size across & subsequently completely nothing. Likely 3 possible scenarios, one the parents torn it down, two, both were too big & the nest gave way, lastly destroyed by humans.

The debris of the nest were found at the foot of the tall tree. The last option could be ruled out as all these months most Park users are aware of their existence and it is too high to reach. The 2nd option is also not likely as I personally seen the 2 ft plate size remaining b4 it totally gone, by pure weight the nest won't neatly gave way to a round 2 ft size.

From Con

By the way, the collared kingfisher appears to be feeding young. The two adults are taking turns going into the nest hole. They perch just outside on a branch for a while before going to the hole. We can not see a chick(s) sticking out yet, my guess is they are too small just yet.

Adult

Juvenile

Adult with chick

Collared Kingfisher nesting

23Jul06 Sun

From Danny

Shots taken on Sunday morning, the chicks are growing & plumages are molting. Seen the whole team in full parade. There are two distinct families of 4 adults, 5 chicks - the parents feeding their respective chicks. Further down towards the Collared Kingfisher nesting tree are two juveniles feeding within the bushes, likely driven out of the lucrative feeding grounds of the gum trees. Total strength 11 enough for a soccer team.

Five species of Gum trees within the feeding patch:
Mindanao Gum - Eucalyptus deglupta
White Gum
Eucalyptus alba - Aust.
Eucalyptus platphylla - Aust.
Eucalyptus apodophylla - Aust.

30Jul06 Sun

From Con

The chicks are getting much bigger. There are four chicks, one was just outside the picture. They were trying to fly. They will flap their wings once or twice and they would kind of fly / hop off the ground by a foot or so. It won't be long before they can fly.