Exams are over! Kingfisher twitch and trip report from Jurong Lake Gardens

12th October 

The torture which is examinations have finally ceased. Immediately after my last exam, my excitement could not be contained. I would not have to worry about the horrors of missing a bird haunting the back of my mind. I made a mad rush down to Windsor Nature Park in hopes of adding the Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher to my Year list. Upon reaching the site where the boardwalk enters the dark secondary forest of Windsor, the crowds of photographers all excitedly snapping away was a good sign. After a few minutes of scanning through the thick vegetation I finally spotted it quite a distance away and got my record shots. Fortunately, the bird flew closer allowing for better views. 

Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher/Black Backed Kingfisher/Three-toed Kingfisher

13th October 

A 6 hour trip to Jurong Lake Gardens in search of rare flycatchers was quite productive as I managed to get 84 species which at that time was my highest count in a single checklist. (https://ebird.org/checklist/S120579916) 

Me and a few friends met at the south car park where we started off the morning with many Ruddy Breasted Crakes and Slaty Breasted Rails lurking deep inside the dense vegetation. With only a few braver individuals daring to dart across the narrow paths of the peaceful knoll-filled grasslands of Jurong Lake. They were extremely skittish even with the place being deserted at 6:55am.

Slaty Breasted Rail

At the grassland, there stands a solitary tree made of metal wires which proved to be an excellent hunting spot for Blue Throated Bee-eater which were very obliging. A flock of Scaly-breasted Munia also perched on the tree briefly.

Blue Throated Bee-eater

Scaly Breasted Munia

At the northern part of Jurong Lake near the old Japanese Garden entrance, an Asian Brown Flycatcher and Yellow Rumped Flycatcher were high up in the canopy on the other hand, a Laced Woodpecker was foraging on the ground. Nearby, Lineated Barbets were busy feasting on the fruiting trees. One of my friends also managed to spot a Crow Billed Drongo albei it quickly disappeared zooming across the sky above our heads.

Asian Brown Flycatcher

Yellow-rumped Flycatcher

Laced Woodpecker-male

Lineated Barbet

 

At the Rasau Boardwalk, a sudden flash of brown in the midst of the dark shadowy figures of the introduced Javan Mynah, caught my eye. It was the buttonquail! After a short wait, it foraged in the open right in front of me sometimes even I was unable to focus due to how close it was. It was such a wonderful experience with many times the bird being less than meter away.

Barred Buttonquail-female

At Alstonia Island, a Common Hill Mynah made an appearance along with a female Koel. Meanwhile, a Brown Shrike noisily called away in a dense tree. In the tall trees lining the fence of the construction site at the Japanese Garden gate were 3 Coppersmith Barbets.

Common Hill Mynah

Asian Koel-female

Brown Shrike

Coppersmith Barbet

At the playground based off the various mammals and wildlife located in the little red dot which is aptly given the title "Forest Ramble". Many common parkland birds such as Sunbirds were flittering about the flowering bushes. A Brown-Throated Sunbird led me to a small patch vegetation among the more urban setting of a playground. Peering through the tiny windows of the bush, I spotted a Large Tailed Nightjar. Nearby, what sounded like a baby wailing resonated through the sky as a Brahminy Kite soared in the vast clear sky before landing on a tree with another Kite. We suspected it was probably nesting.

While retracing our steps to head towards the southern promenade, we passed by the Japanese Garden Gate which was buzzing with bird-activity. Many Arctic Warblers were doing what warblers do best and being extremely difficult to capture while the much more obliging Brown-Chested Jungle Flycatcher appeared at the bamboo patches. 

Arctic Warbler

Brown Chested Jungle Flycatcher

At the southern promenade, we heard the distinctive "hooting" calls of the Coppersmith Barbet and managed to track it down. The barbet was surprisingly small but its colours were dazzling. The Brown Shrike also swooped low and landed at eye level allowing for very good views. At that moment, the silhouette of  a raptor slowly emerged from the tree line. As told by the 6 "fingers" and pigeon-like head, we identified it as an Oriental Honey Buzzard.

Coppersmith Barbet

Brown Shrike

Oriental Honey Buzzard

As we strolled out of the Southern Promenade, content with our haul, I spotted a Little Bronze Cuckoo hunting caterpillars from tree to tree and an obliging Amur Paradise Flycatcher hawking for insects. What a way to end off this eventful day.