Singapore - Kranji Marshes Sungei Buloh Wetland - Mixed Bag!

I took a trip up the North South MRT to Kranji today visiting both Kranji Marshes and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Both reserves are served by a bus service from the MRT station a SD$3 return ticket which is also multi stop therefore both reserves can be covered. Unfortunately the bus does not run until 0900hrs on a weekend 0830hrs weekday and last bus back is 1645hrs which means the best birding hours for rails, crakes and bittern are sadly missed. The cab drivers I spoke to did not seem that interested in going in that direction either.

If you want to get away from the crowds Kranji Marshes is an ideal place to spend the morning but take a telescope with you as the key conservation area is restricted and can only be partly viewed from the tower. This is a superb viewing area putting you above the smaller scrapes and is at tree level.

On arrival at the marshes I was greeted by a low flying Black Shouldered Kite who then perched in a nearby tree.

A walk along the tree line produced Red Breasted Parakeet. There was no shortage of regular species along the path.

I had better views of Dollarbird en-route to the Raptor Tower.

At the tower I was treated to the monotonous calls of the Common Iora as well as bulbuls. Unfortunately no rails, crakes and just a single glimpse of what I thought was a Yellow Bittern.

I moved down to the Swamphen Hide to secure pictures of Oriental Reed Warbler. Common Snipe was also present with Red Wattled Lapwing.

I took the bus back to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve early afternoon stopping at the Wetland Centre which is the main area for shorebird and mangroves. 

The tide was out giving excellent views of Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper and a Redshank.

Amongst the numerous Egrets  (Intermediate, Chinese?(pic review) and Little) on the mudflats were a few Milky Stork which are known to hybridise with Painted Stork one took a flypast the main hide. The afternoon was stormy with plenty of thunder but no rain. This reserve deserves more time to cover the mangrove boardwalk and to visit all the hides on the circular trail. 

Thanks Martin for the species status updates.