A Babbler's babbles, A Singapore Birding Blog by a Young Singaporean Birder : January 2023

22nd October (Bukit Timah summit)

As the period for needletails and raptors passing Singapore during their southbound migration, I decided to hike the excruciating climb of Bukit Timah Hill. At the large fig tree, a pigeon flew in that seemed odd, it was not the usual common Pink-necked Green Pigeon. It was a Thick-Billed Green Pigeon. Nearby, a Brown Streaked Flycatcher hawked for insects.

Brown Streaked Flycatcher

Thick-billed Green Pigeon

Noticing big movements in the canopy, a quick scan revealed the "Flower Cuckoo" aka the Chestnut Bellied malkoha. As it grew nearer to dusk, Pacific Swifts rushed downwards hoping to make it to their wintering grounds in time. Out of the blue, a pair of peculiar swallow-like birds trailed the swifts. Due to the squarish tail, lack of breast band and white underparts, it was confirmed as an Asian House Martin. A great lifer signalling the start of the raptor-watching period.

Chestnut Bellied Malkoha

Pacific Swift

Asian House Martin

23rd October (Raptor watch at southern ridges)

At Telok Blangah Hill, a trip to the terrace garden for the White Rumped Munia was uneventful although a Dollarbird and a Crested Goshawk gave spectacular views. The terrace garden was filled with Javan Munias adding insult to injury while Large Billed Crows viewed the skies in the biggest flock I have ever seen calling away as though they were mocking me.

Dollarbird

Crested Goshawk

Moving to Henderson Waves, a steady stream of birds passed through though most staying high up in the sky. Our count was 15 Japanese Sparrowhawks, the most common acitiper in Singapore, 5 Chinese Sparrowhawks, 6 Oriental Honey Buzzards, 1 Osprey and the highlight of the watch, a Rufous Bellied Eagle.

Chinese Sparrowhawk

Oriental Honey Buzzard

Red Rumped Swallow

Rufous Bellied Eagle

In the evening, a twitch of the Ruddy Kingfisher for an improvement shot turned out to be one of the most memorable finds of this year. While searching for the Kingfisher, I noticed someone taking something in the canopy, Sharing their photograph with me, I immediately beamed in excitement, it was a Japanese Paradise Flycatcher! Without sparing a single thought, I spammed the shutter button. I could not believe my eyes. The Japanese Paradise Flycatcher usually only starts appearing in November and April. All my attempts in April were futile so I did not expect to tick this wonderful bird. Shortly afterwards the Ruddy Kingfisher briefly made an appearance.

Japanese Paradise Flycatcher

Ruddy Kingfisher

24th October (Central Catchment forests)

Photographing birds in Rifle Range Link is one of the hardest challenges for me but it is very productive for birdwatching as the birds are very vocal and the forest birds and migrants are plentiful at Jelutong Tower. We had a great start to the day with a Malaysian Night Heron showing briefly near Dillenia Hut. Other birds heard on the way were Short Tailed Babbler, Cream Vented Bulbul, Blue-winged Leafbirds and many Greater Racket Tailed Drongos with the accompanying "chong chong chongs" of the Pin Striped Tit Babbler. When we reached Jelutong there were hundreds of swiftlets with only one Pacific Swift.

Pacific Swift

At the trees lining the tower it was filled with bird activity with many Red Eyed Bulbuls and Flycatchers flying around. A Crow Billed Drongo appeared at a distance while the greater racket variety gave much closer. A flock of Thick Billed Green Pigeons gathered at a far away tree. A Black Headed Bulbul also appeared way too far for a proper photo.

Red Eyed Bulbul

Greater Racket Tailed Drongo

Crow Billed Drongo

Thick-billed Pigeon

Suddenly, it started to rain. A Chinese Sparrowhawk and Japanese Sparrowhawk flew past and a Blue-throated Bee-eater gave extremely good views perched right next to the tower.

Chinese Sparrowhawk

Blue-throated Bee Eater

27th Oct Berlayers Creek

After hearing about the Taiga Flycatcher recently seen, immediately after school. Fortunately, Berlayers Creek is situated directly next to the train stop. However my excitement was quickly replaced with distraught as it started pouring. Only a few of us remained, nonchalantly waiting for the bird to appear. With my umbrella in one hand covering my lens, it was hard to scamper with the settings and obtain shots. An Asian Brown Flycatcher showed well and a calling Yellow Browed Warbler was a nice surprise. The Taiga Flycatcher then appeared albeit too brief for photos. While looking at a Mangrove whistler, my friend exclaimed to me that something flew near me. A quick scan of the mangrove revealed a Ruddy Kingfisher only a few meters away.

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Yellow Browed Warbler

Mangrove Whistler

Ruddy Kingfisher

29th October (Mount Faber and Dairy Farm)

Hoping for good raptors, a trip to the southern ridges was a good choice. There are various different spots for raptor watching in the ridges. However the best would be either Henderson Waves or Mount Faber. Not wanting to roast in the sun for hours, we went to Mount Faber which was a decision I would not regret. At first, the activity was quite slow with only a Brown Shrike and a few Honey Buzzards. I spotted a harrier which was too fast to ID, that was quite demoralising but soon another harrier appeared. It remained distant but gave prolonged views for a good minute as it soared above the city. All the features pointed to Pied Harrier. Before leaving, a few Pacific Swifts came low allowing for superb views.

Brown Shrike

Pied Harrier

Pacific Swift

While on the way to Dairy farm to twitch a Ferruginous Flycatcher, I received an alert from my friend that a mega rarity, a Chinese Blue Flycatcher had appeared at they very same spot. When I arrived I quickly ticked the Ferruginous Flycatcher and after a short wait, I spotted the Blue Flycatcher. As we were leaving, an obliging Emerald Dove came right next to our feets.

Ferruginous Flycatcher

Chinese Blue Flycatcher

Asian Emerald Dove

30th October

I was planning to go Sungei Buloh expecting to find a Curlew Sandpiper but just before I left the house, I received an alert that there was a Curlew Sandpiper already there. Once I reached the site, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, anxiously hoping the bird won't suddenly take off and disappear. When I reached, turns out, the bird was asleep. Many Whimbrels, Redshanks and Golden Plovers were foraging and bathing in the shallow mudflats. The Curlew Sandpiper finally woke up and gave fantastic views and poses. It even stood next to a Terek Sandpiper showing the difference in their beaks. What a day to end October!

Pacific Golden Plover

15th October

2 days ago, at the abandoned pond-filled construction site in Tuas South, two rare waders were spotted. In hopes of spotting any noteworthy waders, we made our way down to the site despite knowing very little of how to enter it. After some searching, we found a large grassland which led to the gates of the construction site. In the grasslands, many munias flocked together with a few "plastic" Zanzibar Red Bishops which were a sight to behold.

Zanzibar Red Bishop

Much to our dismay, the gate was locked and there were only a few small holes through the gate to peer through. The habitat was breathtaking. It was the first time I had laid my eyes upon such a new unfamiliar place. Through the small hole I managed to see a Common Moorhen but it was just too small a window to get any photographs. Out of desperation, I climbed through the hole beneath the gate leaving my bag behind and barely managing to fit my lens and binoculars. At the site, many wood sandpipers were flying around and a smaller bird caught my eye. After a burst of shutters, it was a year bird that had eluded me the entire year, the Little Ringed Plover.

Wood Sandpiper

Little Ringed Plover

Suddenly, the sky turned from bright blue to an ominous dark grey as heaps of rain clouds threatened to pour down. With no umbrella as I left my bag in the car and separated from my mother who was trying to find an alternate entrance, I was caught in extremely heavy rain. I never felt so pathetic and utterly dejected as I ran through the rain dropping my binoculars and letting sand enter my camera and lens as I frantically scampered under the gate. I hid inside a portable toilet as I waited for my mother to arrive. The water from the rain entered my lens and I was unable to take anything. I was extremely distraught as I had a pelagic trip just the next day. Fortunately, since Singapore's birding community is so well connected, I managed to borrow a lens from Daryl Yeo. Although I was quite unhappy, I learned that I should never let go of my umbrella.

As of writing this, the site is now inaccessible

16th October

This was the day that motivated me to study hard and was what kept me alive during the exam period. Imagine my disappointment when I woke up to see it raining. Although, the weather was forecasted to persist for 3 hours, we persevered and continued with our trip. We started off the first hour with two good lifers. Aleutian Tern and Lesser Crested Tern. Greater Crested Tern were also quite numerous.

Lesser Crested Tern

Greater Crested Tern

Aleutian Tern

In the second hour, activity slowed down with only a few White Winged Terns. However, in the third hour, activity peaked with flocks of terns flying past. Highlights included a Common Tern and Bridled Tern both way too far for even record shots.

White Winged Tern

Bridled Tern

Out of the blue, our boat slowly came to a halt, we were confused at first until the rocking waves lowered and the brownish cap of the Bridled Terns slowly emerged as though they were being teleported. It was such an experience to witness this pair of birds balancing on a piece of wood. Soon after we also spotted 3 Aleutian Terns lining up on a piece of flotsam. A Greater Crested Tern and White Winged also provided phenomenal views as it flew around the boat precisely catching fish.