Upper Seletar, Springleaf 19Jun21

From KH

Danny and I went to Upper Seletar Reservoir Park as a Fluffy-backed Tit-babbler was photographed by Lawrence Cher on 15 Jun.

The bird was not around, but a couple of grasshoppers were - Carinate Locust and Short-winged Rice Grasshopper.

We then went to Springleaf Nature Park and got a few more insects - a female Common Parasol and a Grey Pansy.

As well as a female lynx spider guarding her eggs.

Which eagle's nest is this?

Springleaf Park 20May17

From Danny

No birding this Saturday, attending butterfly survey at Springleaf Park.

Lower Peirce, Springleaf, Singapore Quarry, Pulau Punggol 23Jan10

From KH

Danny and I went to Lower Peirce hoping to see the Blue-eared Kingfisher, but ended up spotting a Black-backed Kingfisher feeding instead. Of course not forgetting the Short-tailed Babblers, which were heard singing their song during dawn, and the other birds, like the flamebacks and racket-tailed drongos.

After prata at Casuarina, we headed to Springleaf. 4 species of raptors we sighted here: 1 Crested Serpent-eagle, 1 adult Grey-headed Fish-eagle, 1 Black Baza and at least 2 WBSEs.

Crested Serpent-eagle ©Tan KH

Black Baza ©Tan KH

There were >20 Duarian Starlings mixed with large flocks of AG Starlings, >5 Thick-billed Green-pigeons mixed with PNGPs, a Tiger Shrike, a pair of large-billed crows, a coppersmith barbet, dollarbirds, bee-eaters, lesser coucals, yb prinias, a common sandpiper and a purple heron.

Female Thick-billed Green-pigeon ©Danny Lau

Tiger Shrike ©Danny Lau

As it was too early for lunch, we went to Singapore Quarry. After parking, immediately an Asian Palm-swift caught our attention. When we reached the quarry itself, guess who was already there since the morning? Martii! There were 2 CHEs calling and the only raptor we saw here was an adult Grey-headed Fish-eagle. The Little Grebes (at least 6) seemed to be more accustomed to humans now and came a little closer.

Little Grebe ©Tan KH

Also present were 2 Straw-headed Bulbuls - 1 heard and 1 seen. An interesting phenomenon here were that the forest reptiles were out having a siesta along the trail. We saw an adult Paradise Tree Snake on a railing and 2 Clouded Monitors.

Paradise Tree Snake ©Tan KH

After lunch, we were off to Pulau Punggol. Without fail, a pale morph Booted Eagle was present. Danny finally managed to get a relatively good shot of this species perched! If you look closely at the gizzard of the raptor in flight, it's actually full. It must be resting after a sumptuous meal.

Booted Eagle in flight ©Tan KH

Booted Eagle perched ©Danny Lau

The other raptors here were 1 japonensis Peregrine Falcon, 1 dark morph CHE, at least 4 WBSEs and at least 4 Brahminy Kites.

Peregrine Falcon ©Tan KH

Adult White-bellied Sea-eagle ©Tan KH

Finally, there were many (>30) House Swifts around.

House Swift ©Tan KH

Springleaf, SBWR 28Feb09

From Danny

I was at Springleaf with Con and met up with Margaret Yeo (our gracious resident birder). Spotted a pair of GHFE, subsequently one flew down to a shallow sidestream of the canal, remained there beyond 20 min ( even after we left) while the other Eagle was perched on tree just above it. Now and then it dipped its head into water but no fish or prey was observed. Strange behaviour, hopefully they get along and get to see juvenile in due time.

Later in the afternoon we were at SBWR looking for Chinese Egret to no avail but met up with Mendis, Jonathan, Gim Cheong and Martti (Finnish birder residing locally). Spotted a Common Kestrel with typical black bars on rufous upper parts, pointed wings and long rufous tail flew quietly from left to right into wooded patch opposite Main Hide. Unfortunately our photographers were caught short and didn't manage any pic, perhaps we were tired searching for that odd Egret, likely left with David Li.

Springleaf
1) Grey Headed FE - 2
2) OHB - 1
3) Brahminy Kite - 1

SBWR
1) WBSE - 1
2) Brahminy Kite - 1
3) Changeable Hawk Eagle - 1 Heard
4) Common Kestrel - 1 Female/Juv.
5) Osprey - 1 (courtesy of Matti's flight shot, resident birder from Finland, where Osprey breeds).

MacRitchie, Lower Peirce, Springleaf, CCK Cemeteries, Mandai 21Feb09

From KH

I went with Danny to MacRitchie hoping to catch the Bat Hawk before dawn, but the bird did not show. On the boardwalk, we saw a Grey Nightjar sallying for insects. It would fly off and then come back to the same branch for a few times before it finally decided to disappear for good. I read somewhere that Grey Nightjar likes to perch parallel to the branch.

A Brown Boobook as calling but did not show. Also calling but not showing were Abbott's Babblers and Short-tailed Babblers. Other noteworthy birds here were a female Siberian Blue Robin in the undergrowth and a Grey-rumped Treeswift flying high.

Tinfoil Barbs are native freshwater fish and they are abundant in the reservoir.

Then, it was time for breakfast. After that, we dropped by the Yellow Saraca at Lower Peirce for the Purple-throated Sunbird. Several photographers were waiting around the tree, but the birds were few and far between. While walking to the tree, I spotted a Common Snakehead in the reservoir. This is the most common species of snakehead you'll encounter in Singapore.

We went to the Lower Peirce boardwalk from 0930-1045 for the famous Lesser Mousedeer and got more than I bargained for. When we reached the stream, two photographers were already there and a stench was in the air. Not that the photogs stank though! They pointed out the two softshell turtles lying motionless at the edge of the reservoir. One of them was very dead and bloated, while the other although still alive did not look very well.

Asian Softshell Turtle (Amyda cartilaginea)

Another photog pointed out that there was another dead turtle behind and a Water Monitor was feeding on it.

Soon, another monitor appeared and we all thought it was going for the first dead turtle. However, to our surprise, it crawled pass the first two turtles and headed straight for the one behind! Was it trying to save the trouble of ripping open a 'fresh' carcass? And as you can see from the photo below, the turtle that is alive did not even attempt to hide its head. Something must apparently be wrong with the water condition here...

Back to the monitors. The first monitor was larger and it managed to chase the scheming opponent away. The photo below shows the first monitor strolling pass the two turtles back to its bounty.

Then I spotted the Lesser Mousedeer I came here for. It was interesting observing it moving stealthily in the undergrowth. It would take a few steps, stay still for a short while, and then repeat the sequence. Soon, all the photogs in the vicinity where congregating at the spot. Time to exit to a less crowded place. Our lovely mammal has a distinctive scar on it. Can you see it?

There was also an Orange-headed Thrush, an Arctic Warbler, a Japanese Sparrowhawk and a dark morph Changeable Hawk-eagle in the vicinity.

Recently, there was a Jerdon's Baza sighting at Springleaf, so we were off to the location. We did not see the Baza, but got this common bird - Pacific Swallow.

The next spot that the Jerdon's Baza had been encountered was Choa Chu Kang Cemeteries. We did not see the rare baza again, but we got the common one - Black Baza.

There were also the resident White-bellied Sea-eagles and Brahminy Kites.

A pair of Red-wattled Lapwings had took residence on an open grass patch. They allowed us to get close as long as we stayed in the car.

Here are some of the other birds seen at the cemeteries (clockwise from top left): Brown Shrike, Coppersmith Barbet, Paddyfield Pipit, male Little Bronze Cuckoo.

At about 1430, rain started to pour in the West and it was time to stop birding. On my way home, I passed by Orchidville and there was no rain here. So I decided to continue. To my surprise, a Forest Wagtail was perching on the railing right outside Orchidville.

Further down the road, two birds were making a lot of noise. It was a Black-naped Oriole whacking a male Asian Koel and the oriole actually took a feather off the koel! In the photo below, the black piece is the koel feather.