Singapore - December 2015 (1 Viewer)

22 - 25 December

This trip was primarily for family and taking the 2 year old to Universal Studios in Sentosa. As always I negotiated 2 days of birding into the deal.

Our first hotel was based in Sentosa which still has some great habitat for various species of birds that I picked up mainly in the early mornings. Notable species included Black Baza, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Asian Koel, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Tanimbar Corella, Indian Peafowl (introduced), White-throated Kingfisher, Common Flameback, Greater Green Leafbird, Collared Kingfisher, Coppersmith Barbet, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Olive-winged Bulbul, Plain-throated Sunbird, Olive-backed Sunbird, Crested Goshawk, Dollarbird, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Dark-necked Tailorbird, Common Tailorbird.

Here’s a few photos…

1. Common Flameback
2. Pink-necked Green Pigeon
3. Crested Goshawk - I think
4. Swiftlet sp.
5. Pink-necked Green Pigeon

30 December 2015

This was my first of two days with local bird guide Kim Seng. We started in the early morning close to the Jelutong Tower looking for Sunda Scops Owl which remained heard but unseen. Actually our first bird of the day turned out to be a Blue-winged Pitta which was perched/roosting on a low branch in the middle of the trail…a great start to the day.

Before dawn we also watched Large-tailed Nightjars which were active before sun-up and later we found one settling down for the day. Around the lake area we quickly started to pick up new species including Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Yellow Bittern, Gray-rumped Treeswift, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Banded Woodpecker, Rufous Woodpecker, Long-tailed Parakeet, Tiger Shrike and Red-rumped Swallow. The biggest surprise at this location was 3 Cotton Pygmy-Geese which flew in and landed in front of us albeit at distance. Apparently these are not common in Singapore.

Next stop was to climb the Jelutong Tower itself and on the way up the tower we found a Twin-barred Tree Snake. At the top of the tower the first bird seen was a lifer Jambu Fruit-Dove which posed for us nicely in the good early morning light. On the way out of this area we also picked up Little Spiderhunter.

1. Twin-barred Tree Snake
2. Cotton Pygmy-Goose
3. Jambu Fruit-Dove
4. Blue-winged Pitta
5. Tiger Shrike

Next stop was Bukit Batok to try and find Straw-headed Bulbuls. Upon opening the car door we heard a small group of these birds in the tree above us. If only all targets were so easy!

White-crested Laughingthrushes are common in this park and extremely unconcerned by people. The biggest problem was getting far enough away from them to get photos.

1. Straw-headed Bulbul
2. White-crested Laughingthrush
3. Asian Water Monitor

After Bukit Batok the next stop was the well known birding area Bidadiri which unfortunately will disappear soon due to development. The main targets here were the Spotted Wood owl and a Gray Nightjar both of which have well known day roosts at this location. We dipped on both!

As compensation we picked up Black Baza, Indian Cuckoo, Ashy Minivet, Asian Brown Flycatcher and Daurian Starling.

We then made a trip to Pasir Ris Park to another well known day roost for the Spotted Wood olw and dipped yet again.

Next stop was for lunch and we enjoyed some Singapore delecacies whilst watching Tanimbar Corellas and Red-breasted Parakeets in Changi Village.

Final stop of the first day was Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and the change in habitat produced quite a few new species for the trip including Milky Stork (introduced), Painted Stork (introduced), Whimbrel, Common Greenshank, Osprey, Black-shouldered Kite, Oriental Honey-Buzzard and Copper-throated Sunbird.

1. Black Baza
2. Indian Cuckoo
3. Tanimbar Corella
4. Red-breasted Parakeet
5. Lesser Short-nosed Fruit Bat

31 December 2015

Our second day required a change in strategy as I desperately wanted that Spotted Wood Owl. We started pre-dawn at Bidadiri and quickly got the Owl and watched it settle into it’s day roost before heading for a breakfast of Roti Prata. We returned an hour later in better light to get some photos of the Owl.

As our luck had changed, we tried again for the Gray Nightjar and this time it was exactly where it was supposed to be.

Other birds at Bidadiri included Black Baza, Indian Cuckoo, Daurian Starling, Lineated Barbet, Golden-bellied Gerygone and Common Hill Myna.

1. Spotted Wood Owl
2. Gray Nightjar
3. Finlayson's Squirrel

Next stop was a return to Pasir Ris Park and we quickly picked up Sunda Woodpecker, Pied Triller and this time the Pasir Ris Spotted Wood Owl was also exactly where it was supposed to be.

We spent a bit of time in the park and added to the trip list with Red Junglefowl, Striated Heron, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Oriental Pied Hornbill, White-throated Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Long-tailed Shrike and Ashy Tailorbird.

1. Sunda Woodpecker
2. Spotted Wood Owl
3. Red Junglefowl
4. Stork-billed Kingfisher
5. Collared Kingfisher

Lorong Halus Wetland was the next place to visit. As it was now midday the birding had become a lot slower but we still picked up Yellow Bittern, Grey-headed Fish-Eagle, Lesser Coucal, Coppersmith Barbet, Malaysian Pied Fantail, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Paddyfield Pipit and Baya Weaver.

Our final stop of the day was the new Gardens by the Bay which has some very nice small lakes that attract a few different birds including Wandering Whistling-Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Yellow Bittern, Common Kingfisher, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Ashy Tailorbird, Plain-throated Sunbird and Olive-backed Sunbird.

Overall I really enjoyed my Singapore visit which was much better than expected and resulted in a total of 113 species.

1. Wandering Whistling-Duck
2. Lesser Whistling-Duck
3. Common Kingfisher
4. Yellow Bittern
5. Olive-backed Sunbird

Nice report & great photos, as usual, Dave - particularly like the Black Baza.

Some great images their Dave....liked the White-crested Laughingthrush....looked like a Great Penduline Tit!

Cheers

Glad you had 2 great days. I spent a day with Kim in August 2014 and he really knows his stuff.

Rob

Didn't know there was so much about in Singapore

Great shots and your report certainly suggests we should do some birding next time we can stop a Singapore.