Southern Ridges 08Dec18

From KH

A couple of hours raptor-watching at Henderson Waves yielded OHBs, CSE, CHEs, JSHs and an unID accipiter.

Dark morph Changeable Hawk-eagle

Immature Crested Serpent-eagle

Juvenile Japanese Sparrowhawks

Juvenile pale morph Oriental Honey-buzzards

Henderson Waves
1. 8 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
2. 1 Pink-necked Pigeon
3. 1 Asian Koel - Heard
4. 50 dark swiftlet sp.
5. 2 Oriental Honey-buzzard
6. 1 Crested Serpent-Eagle - immature
7. 3 Changeable Hawk-Eagle - 1 dark, 1 pale adult, 1 pale juv
8. 2 Japanese Sparrowhawk
9. 1 Accipiter sp.
10. 1 Collared Kingfisher
11. 1 Lineated Barbet - Heard
12. 2 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot
13. 2 Black-naped Oriole
14. 1 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
15. 2 Pacific Swallow
16. 1 Yellow-vented Bulbul
17. 1 Olive-winged Bulbul - Heard
18. 1 Dark-necked Tailorbird - Heard
19. 2 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
20. 8 Asian Glossy Starling
21. 3 Javan Myna
22. 2 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker

Walked to Mt Faber trying to see if the CHEs are nesting at the same spot, but failed to locate it.

Mt Faber
1. 1 Red Junglefowl (Domestic type) - Heard
2. 1 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
3. 1 Dark-necked Tailorbird - Heard
4. 3 Oriental White-eye
5. 5 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
6. 3 White-crested Laughingthrush
7. 1 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
8. 1 Crimson Sunbird - Heard

Continuing raptor-watch at Telok Blangah Hill and saw Changeable Hawk-eagles putting on a good show.

First was a juvenile pale CHE chased by a Large-billed Crow.

Or was it the other way round?

Then came an immature pale CHE.

Finally, the adult pale CHE joined in.

The figging tree at the carpark was still attracting Cinereous Bulbuls (left) and Yellow-vented Bulbuls.

Telok Blangah Hill
1. 2 Pink-necked Pigeon
2. 2 Oriental Honey-buzzard
3. 4 Changeable Hawk-Eagle - Pale
4. 2 Oriental Pied-Hornbill
5. 2 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
6. 1 Lineated Barbet - Heard
7. 3 Black-naped Oriole
8. 1 Large-billed Crow - Chasing CHE
9. 10 Yellow-vented Bulbul
10. 3 Ashy Bulbul (Cinereous)
11. 1 Dark-necked Tailorbird - Heard
12. 1 Asian Glossy Starling
13. 1 Common Hill Myna - Heard
14. 5 Javan Myna
15. 1 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
16. 1 Crimson Sunbird

Bukit Chandu 28Jun18

From KH

Katydid

1. 2 Pink-necked Pigeon
2. 5 dark swiftlet sp.
3. 1 Dollarbird
4. 1 Lineated Barbet - Heard
5. 1 Common Iora - Heard
6. 1 Black-naped Oriole
7. 2 Pacific Swallow
8. 2 Yellow-vented Bulbul
9. 2 Asian Glossy Starling
10. 1 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
11. 2 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
12. 4 Plain-throated Sunbird
13. 2 Olive-backed Sunbird
14. 1 Crimson Sunbird - Female

York Road 20Oct13

From Danny

Went on my Sunday morning walk around York Road/Royal Road area, parked my car at the back gate of Eton Hall. Along York Road about 20 meters from Alexandra Road entrance, there was a large Banyan Tree (behind Lamp Post 7).The tree when fruiting typically attracts pigeons and starlings to feast on the fruits. This morning not fruiting but flowers attract insects and birds including migrants like warblers. I spent almost an hour trying to take pictures of the fast EC Warblers which at times flew down low due to the low hanging branches typical of Banyan Tree. They have intervals flying in like bird wave every 15 to 20 min intervals. Each wave consists of AB Flycatchers, Yellow-rumped FC, APFC, sunbirds, Oriental White-eyes and 3 species of warblers .

Refer to pics below, could see the differences between Eastern Crowned and Yellow-browed Warblers. The Yellow browed warbler has worn plumages, thin wing bars, thin pale fringes on tertials but lower mandible was orangey yellow with dark tip unlike the plain, clean, yellowish lower mandible of the EC warbler. The call heard was different from the thrills of the arctic warblers, more musical but no recording, as too busy trying to take pics. Proportionally the EC has longer tail.

Yellow-browed Warbler

Eastern Crowned Warbler

Lock Road, Poyan 28Apr13

From Danny

Late morning due to overcast weather, dropped by Lock/Malan Road area. The whole place was off-limit for at more than 6 months when they moved everyone out but somehow physically not much changes except for barrier parking (Sunday free) but the tenants have changed to the arti type. Very quiet on Sunday, only two cars around. The path to Earth's Trail has been blocked off and overgrown with bushes and fallen trees. Bird-wise, nothing unusual except for a Red-billed Blue Magpie (didn't see for a year or more) who perched well but between birder and his car. It flew off when I try to reach for my scope in the car.

In the late afternoon, I visited CCK Columbarium where my grandmother RIP before heading to NSA gate. Just passed the Buffy point heard the Blue-winged Pitta calling on the left side of the road. Parked my car outside NSA gate and walked back to where the call was loudest. The call stopped when I got close, apparently the pitta spotted me. When I walked away it started calling again. I tried playback no movement detected. As I went back to NSA gate, another Pitta call came from the right, the gate (recalled we used to drive thru' jut next to NSA) was wide open. I walked in about 20 meters where the call was loudest. A short playback, the pitta flew out with its distinct blue wings and red vent. Within 50 meters, two BW Pittas stood their grounds and calling loudly for mate. The last BW Pitta was seen during the recent census. Don't think they are passing thru', possibly looking for female to breed.