Singapore - Chinese and Japanese Gardens - Blue Winged Pitta and Nightjars!

Today I had prepared to visit Bukit Timah Nature Reserve but thunder storms were forecast and advice is not to walk to the summit where the fig tree stands. Therefore plan “B” was implemented with a MRT journey to the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.

Both gardens are known for holding flycatchers during the migratory period and maybe a few would have remained beyond this period. The day turned out to be better than expected with two species that I had put into the bonus bird category prior to the trip.

I was making my way slowly around the path opposite the pagoda when a jogger approached me and described a multi coloured bird that had caused a great deal of interest amongst the local birders. I was making my way towards the area he had described when he stopped a second time and said he would take me to the group of people that were watching the bird. Fantastic!

On arrival there was a small group of people staking out a small area beyond some trees. I was just preparing for a lengthy stakeout when a Blue Winged Pitta hopped through a hole in a fence and bounced up onto a small slab of stone… Crikey my heart was racing as I fired of some shots of the bird who seemed moderately curious as to why these people were poised with cameras at the ready!

The Pitta then turned tail and bounced back through the fence and out of site. The grin on my face said it all words were not required as the locals gave me the thumbs up before continuing the vigil! 

I stayed for a second view of the bird before making my way across to a pond which had another couple of birders firing of pictures of a bird in the bamboo. A Savanna Nightjar was asleep untroubled by the attention it was receiving.

I had seen another bird as I entered the gardens it too was sleeping on a branch near the bridge. This was turning out to be quite a day. Two nightjars visible during daylight hours wow!

I had also caught up with an Asian Koel which was in the trees behind a field near the MRT station. This species had eluded me the previous day with several calling birds tormenting me with their calls! I should have realized then the day was going to be favourable!

A Brahminy Kite was the reward for keeping one eye on the skies. The bird circling overhead as it searched for a meal.

The rest of the day not surprisingly lacked flycatchers but an Asian Brown Flycatcher was found and it was not troubled by my presence as it posed for the camera.

Herons, bittern and egret were also very obliging with a Grey Heron heronry in the Japanese garden. Chinese Pond Herons were scattered around the entrance to the Chinese Garden. The birds were in non breeding plumage but displayed their splendid white wings during flight.

A Black Crowned Night Heron was also observed in flight across one of the waterways.

I played a game of cat and mouse with a Yellow Bittern who was extremely camera shy creeping along a thin area of reeds as I snuck from tree to tree to obtain photos.

A Collared Kingfisher put in a brief appearance whilst I was observing the Bittern.

A Striated Heron was not as shy as it approached me somewhat carefully as I took a break in one of the pagodas on the edge of a pond.

Sunbirds were well represented with Copped Throated, Brown Throated, Crimson and Olive backed all present.

I have noticed that the pigeons and doves are more colourful that at home with numerous Pink Necked Green Pigeon and a small group of Pied Imperial Pigeons near the main entrance.

Even a bathroom break turned into an event with two Ashy Tailorbirds squabbling at the entrance to the block. It must be breeding season!

What a day that turned out to be and as Floki from Vikings would say: The "birding" gods have looked favourably on me today. Woo Hoo!

Singapore - Botanical Gardens - Under Starters Orders!

I arrived in Singapore on Saturday evening on a Qantas flight from Heathrow. The first thing I noticed was how spotlessly clean everywhere is. I purchased an NETS Flashplay card featuring Sesame Street big bird. The card is an oyster style card to use on the MRT underground and bus services. There is also a Tourist pass which gives you unlimited travel for a daily fee. The latter is more suited to hop on hop off multi journeys and can be purchased for up to three days travel. The MRT is very efficient and a cheap way to travel taking you to all the main areas for birds.

Today (Sunday) I visited the Botanical Gardens which is an amazing place attracting different species of bird to the diverse habitats within the large park. I arrive just after dawn and was not surprised to see local people jogging and participating in yoga and Tai Chi type classes. I seemed to be the only tourist type in the park. The tourists arrived later on in the morning followed by the picnickers who were going to take advantage of the sunny spells.

The first couple of hours I did not make a lot of progress as there were was a fair bit of movement around the Eco Lake, overhead and in the trees. The first confirmed species on my trip list was Common Myna which were scattered about the grassy areas. Red Junglefowl was also numerous turning over leaf litter in search of breakfast. Blue Crowned Hanging parrot and Coconut Lorikeet were moving from roosting site to feeding grounds. 

Bee Eaters are a favourite of mine and it did not take long to observe both species that frequent the gardens. The Blue Tailed was the more obliging of the two putting on a hunting display using the same perch to observe any unfortunate insect to venture too close to its position.

The Blue Throated seemed to keep its distance preferring a high perch to observe its surroundings.

Oriental Magpie Robin was very vocal during the early morning symphony. A Purple Heron put in an appearance in the trees on the Eco Lake.

Mystery warbler of the day was photographed in the trees. Having looked at pictures of both Arctic and Eastern Crowned I am still not certain about the natural colour of the vent and how dark the eye stripe was. Both feature with the former more common in the area.

White breasted Waterhen were seen in the margins of the areas of open grass. One parent had been separated from its young who quickly dashed across the path ahead of me.

The sun had its hat on by mid morning I moved on to the Symphony Lake where I had fantastic views of Crimson Sunbirds, Hill Myna and Striated Heron.

Having walked the perimeter of this lake I spied a White Throated Kingfisher feeding from a small tree set back off the path.

  

The reward for keeping one eye on the sky at all times was a White bellied Sea Eagle which circled the forest canopy walk. Koel was heard in this area but this species was not seen all morning despite hearing three birds.

The last bird of the day was a female Olive Backed Sunbird feeding on white flowers on a bush near the Eco Lake.

Over thirty species were recorded with a few that got away. By early afternoon the park was very busy therefore an early morning visit at the weekend is a must!

Epsom Downs Surrey - A Frosty Downs!

A frosty start greeted the brave souls that took the opportunity to venture beyond their front doorstep. Once the sun had awoken a selection of fields on the Downs provided feeding opportunities for the flocks of birds that had survived what had been a very chilly night. Strategic positioning was to be the order of the day preferably with the sun on our backs.

The flocks of Chaffinch, Goldfinch and thrush were kept busy commuting from trees and bushes at the edges onto the thawed areas on the fields. A passing cyclist or jogger would give an indication of the numbers of birds in a mixed flock sending the group skywards only to settle back in their original areas. A male Blackcap perched briefly on the top of a bush during one such dispersal.

A walk across the field turned into a game of pursuit with a group of Red Legged Partridge that had been forced out into the open field to feed.

The group headed for cover once the humans had been spotted trudging unwittingly towards them. A Roe deer was spied in a small wooded area but made tracks as soon as our position had been discovered!

A pair of Stonechat was visible from a narrow track overlooking a field laced with scrub. The male was the first to check us out perching on the top of scrub calling to the female that joined in the observation.

A flock of Stock Dove, more Red Legged Partridge were seen in the field beyond and a Grey Wagtail flew low past us during our vigil.

Thirty two species were logged during the visit with some regular species missing from the total.

Epsom Downs Surrey - More Downs Time!

The sun certainly had its hat on today. The wind at ground level was fairly light compared to the skies. The early clouds were sent racing across the downs at a rate of knots which would have left the fittest of racehorses short of breath!

This dashed any real prospects of observing raptors from the gallops but the walk did produce a Buzzard, Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. The latter kept low weaving in and out of trees with the intention of ambushing an unsuspecting passerine.

The sighting of the day was a flock of predominantly Redwing with some chucking Fieldfare as the flock of around 200 dispersed and re-grouped having been disturbed during their lunch break!

A pair of Nuthatch was noted in a mixed tit flock along the track to Langley Vale Wood.

Pyrford Surrey - A day for the Ducks!

The forecast for yesterday was grim windy with plenty of rain which would be a challenge particularly if I wanted to connect with my feathered friend. After some careful thought the destination for todays adventure was to be the Wey Navigation at Pyrford, Surrey.

There would be plenty of cover with open areas and ponds to check out any wintering waterfowl. The bird of the day although fairly common in Surrey these days was a Red Kite that swooped low over a small horse paddock as it searched for a free meal!

The Greylag Geese in the paddock seemed unperturbed by the raptors attempts at graceful passage in the ever increasing wind!

The path was closed down from The Anchor PH which meant a diversion over the golf course which contained small ponds that made completing the course for the average golfer tricky to say the least! But there was a good chance of finding ducks or even a Goosander along the river!

The former were to be the order of the day with several Wigeon and a couple of pair of Gadwall utilising the pond and banks of a fairway to feed along.

Tufted Duck and Mallard were also present the latter also found along the river.

The weather became more hostile and was certainly more suited to watching ducks!

Epsom Downs Surrey - Langley Vale Wood Month of Remembrance!

This week the wind has taken me back to Epsom Downs where I linked up with Steve Gale during a roost watch.

The area is still loaded with berries, which brings in good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare not to mention the resident Blackbirds that are having a feast fit for kings. There was also plenty of talk about likely rarities that could be found on the fields and in the patches of woodland!

I was also introduced to the Langley Vale area of the downs which is the site of a 3.8km Month of Remembrance memorial walk commemorating the centenary of the end of the First World War.

I returned the next morning to have a more thorough look in this area. There were still remnants of fog on the downs which had its usual scattering of mainly Herring gulls. The gulls feed by stamping their feet in the slightly longer grass on the racetrack this disturbs insects and the odd worm which has ventured too close to the surface.

I took a reverse route starting at the group of trees that held the Jackdaw roost the previous evening. A Coal Tit was spied in a mixed tit flock during the walk across to the racecourse gallops.

The route across the fields was also busy with feeding corvids, pigeons and a group of female pheasants. A Sparrowhawk had ventured too close to a group of Ring necked Parakeets who unceremoniously saw the bird off!

Great Spotted Woodpecker was very vocal en route with one bird particularly obliging at the top of a tree.

As the morning progressed bird activity dwindled as a result of more unsettled weather but there was plenty of time to take in sections of the Walk and place thoughts on a place of remembrance.

There were interpretation boards along the route which described the part local people took in the war many paying the ultimate sacrifice as a result!

This area is definitely catching my imagination and will serve as an additional area to keep my eye on when I return from down under!

Epsom Downs Surrey - Revisited!

Time is moving on at pace and my next birding adventure is just over five weeks away. There is still plenty of preparation to do which includes learning approximately 1000 species of bird that frequent the three countries that I am visiting.

The internal and external politics at Beddington Farm rumble on with one constant that the habitat is being destroyed and the key to the gates will only serve as a momento of past glories to the limited number of holders of it! 

The wind has been blowing in the direction of more pleasant pastures of late and saw me return to Epsom and Walton Downs for a few hours exploration in overcast and misty conditions. There always seem to be a good number of resting gulls on the racecourse and the bushes and shrubs are loaded with berries at this time of year.

A Buzzard and a Kestrel were the first entrants onto the raptor tally. Both incurred the wrath of local corvids who unceremoniously set about the individuals as they entered the airspace.

I logged thirty one species during the walk which included a Firecrest and a Brambling. Passerines were numerous and their true numbers were only apparent when a dog scurried along the small paths dissecting the trees. The result was a visual display of mixed flocks scattering in all directions eventually settling once the perceived intruder had passed.

Where will the wind take me next?!

Epsom Downs Surrey - A Change of Scenery!

Just over a week ago I met up with birding and botanical guru Steve Gale who gave me a guided tour of Epsom Downs Surrey. Follow his blog here:-

http://northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com/ 

I was pleasantly surprised at the potential of the place as a migrant trap and decided to take an early morning walk over the Downs. I did not expect much but wanted to gauge the popularity of the area with dog walkers, hikers and if the historical goings on in the area would impact on someone who just wanted to find and count birds!

I did not arrive at the crack of dawn but early enough to take some counts of birds frequenting the area. The morning was clear and sunny but there was a hefty SW wind which would keep birds low down in the scrub.

The first count involved the scattering of gulls that were loafing on the racetrack and the open area of the Downs. The majority were Herring with Black Headed and a Common Gull.  Small groups of Corvids were also amongst the gulls.

I made my way across to the stubble fields and was surprised at the number of Skylark singing and sparring with each other in flight. A few Goldfinch and Greenfinch were noted in flight. As I made my way down the gallop Redwing were noted feeding in the trees and bushes that were loaded with berries.

A total of twenty species were noted with only a couple of dog walkers encountered once away from the main area of the racecourse. An interesting walk which only took a couple of hours to complete, giving me some food for thought come spring and Autumn 2019!

Beddington Farm - MEGA Richards Pipit !!

Pete Alfreys recent return from the magic of Corvo would have put the Beddington Farm crew on high alert. Even the most reluctant gamblers would have been checking the odds on “Pinpoint” finding a rarity at the Farm. True to form it happened this morning which caused a frantic rush of keyholders through the new gates at the end of Mile Road.

A Richard’s Pipit had been seen on the mound which caused early morning madness in my home. I joined the small group on the mound and happily snapped away at the bird as it traversed the area. In my haste to the Farm I had neglected to check my camera for SD cards and as the red Demo alert flashed on the screen I was cursing myself as I had left both cards in my laptops! Dooh!

I took the short journey home to recover the situation and returned to meet a fellow Surrey lister and Garry Messenbird at the gates to re-locate the bird! The bird was still present associating with a couple of Meadow Pipits calling as they moved from one area to the next. 

The bird even took a fly past the now permanent blot on the landscape the incinerator chimneys!

This is the third record for the Farm the last record in 1970 where two birds were found. The only other record was in 1958. For me this was a life bird despite records annually in the UK so it was an all ways winner for me and my 190 species for Beddington Farm! Surrey Vice County 237 species!

Thanks Pete for the heads up it certainly got the heart rate up! I am relieved the photo disaster was also rectified! Woo Hoo!!