Pulau Ubin 24Dec16

From KH

Danny was in Finland catching Northern Lights. Con, JS and I went Ubin to get JS his darter tick. Sure enough the bird was at Pekan Quarry hanging out with Grey herons.

Oriental Darter drying itself with a Grey Heron looking on ©Tan KH

Grey Heron in breeding plumage ©Tan KH

What's this Malayan Water Monitor doing so high up?! ©Tan KH

On the way to Chek Jawa, we encountered a few Ashy Minivets, an Arctic Warbler and some resident birds, including a Little Bronze-cuckoo.

Ashy Minivet ©Tan KH

Elongate Mudskippers on coconut husk ©Tan KH

Then I saw something crawling in the leaf litter. Upon further investigation, it turned out to be a Tioman Crab (Tiomanium indicum).

Tioman Crab hiding in leaf litter ©Tan KH

We checked out Frog Island, but no migrant eagle was in sight, only Grey Plovers and Whimbrels, plus a few Great Crested Terns. At the Chek Jawa mangrove boardwalk, we got a quiet Mangrove Pitta.

Mangrove Pitta ©Con Foley

At Chek Jawa, there were a group of Gold-spotted Mudskippers enjoying the receding tidal waves.

Gold-spotted Mudskippers ©Tan KH

Finally, along Sensory Trail, we had a Clouded Monitor basking in the sun.

Clouded Monitor sunning itself along Sensory Trail ©Tan KH

Seletar Dam, Pulau Punggol 17Dec16

From KH

Following yesterday's report of Amur falcon at Seletar Dam, Danny, JS and I met there to check it out. However, the bird was not around. As the tide was coming in, the waders and egrets were also leaving. So we left and went to nearby Pulau Punggol.

The dark morph Booted Eagle was still around. It'll probably winter here. From below, the square-cut and sharp-cornered tail is obvious. From above, the white shoulder patches (landing lights) and pale wing coverts are diagnostic.

From JS

Lesser Coucal

PRP, Halus, Pulau Punggol 10Dec16

From KH

Today, Con, Danny, JS and I started off at Pasir Ris Park. The owls nowhere to be seen, nor was the torquatus around, but we had a noisy Crow-billed Drongo at the carpark.

Crow-billed Drongo silhouette

Next, we went to Lorong Halus. The Little Grebes were still breeding in the old pond.

Juvenile Little Grebe

Finally, we went to Pulau Punggol for late morning birding. The dark morph Booted Eagle was still around. The other notable migrant is an immature Indian Cuckoo. We also flushed a few Pintail/Swinhoe's Snipes.

Immature Indian Cuckoo

There were also many local munias and introduced waxbills around.

Chestnut Munias

Scaly-breasted Munia, Crimson-rumped Waxbill and Common Waxbill, all on a single stalk.

Neo Tiew, SBWR, Pulau Punggol 3Dec16

From KH

I missed the Ruff last evening by 30 steps, so while Danny and JS were at Kranji Marsh, I went Sungei Buloh to try to redeem myself, but there were hardly any waders around due to low tide.

After joining the father and son team at the marsh, we headed to Turut Track to feed mosquitoes before heading to SBWR to join force with Con, the only one in this group who got the prized Ruff last evening.

At SBWR, we only got a Bar-tailed godwit and the usual redshanks, greenshanks, whimbrels and a few Common sandpipers. There were also a small flock of 11 OHBs migrating and 2 Black bazas.

After lunch, Con left and the three of us went to Pulau Punggol. Before that, at Neo Tiew Lane 3, Danny and JS spotted a small flock of 5 Black bazas.

At Pulau Punggol, we got the Booted eagle (dark morph) and 5 Black bazas, on top of the residents - 1 Black-winged kite, 1 calling CHE, a few Brahminy kites and WBSEs.

SBWR 2Dec16

From Con

Ruff

Bidadari, Tuas 26Nov16

From KH

Danny, Con and I went to Bidadari and didn't see much except for a flock of Ashy Minivets, an Asian Brown Flycatcher and an Arctic Warbler. Resident-wise, a pair of Rufous Woodpeckers was a welcomed sight.

Ashy Minivet. Male Rufous Woodpecker

The introduced Variable Squirrels may yet survive. This one was collecting nesting material.

Moving on to Tuas, we got a small flock of OHBs and a Hodgson's Hawk-cuckoo.

Langkawi 18-21Nov16

From JS

I got a pair of Brown-winged kingfisher at Kilim Mangrove. We explored the village during high tide at dawn and was rewarded with a calling pair.

But no luck with Black-hooded oriole at Kisap.

Mountain hawk eagle was seen along Datai. An immature bird was distressing Oriental pied hornbill.

Had a male singing Large green pigeon as well.

Adult Shikra or juvenile Japanese Sparrowhawk?