Holmethorpe Sand Pits - Sing Along If You Know The Words!

The breeding season at Holmethorpe Sand Pits is now in full swing with birds singing their hearts out to attract a mate or to define an already held territory. Mallard chicks are one of the first to appear on lakes. Some tit species have recently fledged leaving the possibility of a second brood. Coot chicks and goslings from Egyptian, Canada and Greylag Geese are also present.

The cloud was low with spats of mizzle to keep the hirundines low. House Martin numbers were in the mid teens around Water Colours early this morning. Sand Martin numbers grew to 27 as the rain set in over Spynes Mere. Swift and Swallow were also present with fewer individuals. A Hobby was also taking advantage of the early morning feast hawking and eating a dragonfly over Mercers West.

A Willow Warbler was in full song near the mound to Water Colours. It remained in the same spot piping out its melodic song to all around.

Yellowhammer is resident on the area of Mercers Farm where the vegetation has grown considerably between Mercers Lake and Mercers West. I regularly hear this species when I visit but don’t always get the opportunity to photograph birds.

A Reed Bunting was determined to make itself heard over the Cetti’s Warbler that was in good voice this morning. I watched the skies for a few hours at Spynes Mere through lunch time but there was no other raptor activity in the area.

I logged 56 species with Hobby, Kestrel, Willow Warbler, and Yellowhammer new additions from my last visit.

Holmethorpe Sand Pits - Spynes Mere Raptor Watch!

The day was forecast to be cloudy with sunny spells with a temperature reaching 22c. I considered my raptor watching options that were within easy driving distance from my home. I passed two (Epsom Downs and Canons Farm) on the way to my destination Holmethorpe Country Park.

The next task was to find a suitable watch point giving good views of the surrounding hills and any potential flyway that would be used by passing birds. I started out at Mercers West and pitched my tent on Spynes Mere where the local Buzzards were using good thermals to spar with each other.

I thought there would be a very good chance of a Red Kite as conditions seemed perfect and these days they seem to be everywhere in the South East. The wait was not in vein as a single bird drifted over Mercers Farm towards the path that separates Mercers West and Spynes Mere. In a matter of twenty seconds the bird had passed and glided out of view. This was my first Red Kite at this site having been in the wrong place on a couple of previous visits when Kites had passed over.

The remainder of the time was spent watching the local Buzzards perform. I have taken pictures of several birds and with three seen in the sky at one time, a pair and some singles I put a conservative figure on 5 birds in total during my vigil. 

Late afternoon I did venture to Water Colours recording a site total of 56 species including Swift 6, House Martin 8, Swallow 9, Cetti’s Warbler, Bullfinch female, Reed Bunting, Lesser Black Backed Gull. The Egyptian Goose and Mallard were seen with chicks.

I am not certain there is a Holmethorpe Blog anymore or if someone is collating sightings so I will add this area to my Birdtrack site list as I am sure I will be back at some point in the future.

Epsom Downs - Back To Birding in Blighty!

The return to “Blighty” after a long period away is always a testing time for the seasoned traveler. Not a great deal has changed we are still in the EU, the TV and tabloids are full of the same rhetoric and the country is overloaded with people making the shortest of journeys a challenge.

Viridor has intensified its security measures at Beddington Farm following a threat from Extinction Rebellion activists to disrupt the operational side of the highly controversial Incinerator! The resulting fall out requires the once keyholders to attend an Induction before they are permitted to enter the site via the main entrance on the Croydon side. Once completed checking in and out with areas that are to be visited during the time on site are to be notified.

The Surrey Bird Club and the BTO have re-designed their websites and the former announcing the SVC 17 boundary will be adhered too. A new SVC Whatsapp group has been created by Geoff “Bartman” Barter and Steve Gale which is another positive step in bringing the counties birdwatchers / ornithologists together.

I was overdue a day out in the field and sought the peaceful surroundings covering Epsom and Walton Downs. The area was introduced to me by Steve Gale before I left for Oceania in December. The focus is centered on passerines with a winter covering of gulls on the racecourse.

There were no gulls today but plenty of work taking place for Epsom Derby Festival which takes place from May 31^st to June 1^st. A short walk from the racecourse there are plenty of open fields, woodland and scrub to hold a good number of passerines.

Before Christmas I averaged thirty species a visit and today the count was slightly higher with 34 recorded including summer visitors Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Swallow and Swift. Linnet was particularly vocal near the car park on the inner part of the racetrack. 

I may have departed the downs too early as Bartman saw a Red Kite mid afternoon near Hook heading towards Ewell Village! A group of 3 Buzzard and a pair of Sparrowhawk was the best offering of raptors over the area.

Species of the day was a pair of Lapwing. The birds are more wary of human activity here making photography in the hazy light more of a challenge and something I have to work on.

Singapore - Lorong Halus Wetland - An Incredible Journey!

I was on my way to Lorong Halus Wetland this morning when I saw a group of local birdwatchers on a field near some roadworks. I had the Taxi driver drop me off and joined the small group crossing a muddy field. The Pin Tailed Wydah had been seen early morning but all that was showing was the Zitting Cisticola. 

I got chatting to the birders and I was offered a lift to the location of the Baya Weaver nests. I jumped at this opportunity having clearly been in the wrong location yesterday. It transpires I walked on the wrong side of this area as I returned to Pasir Ris yesterday.

It did not take too long to get some shots of both male and female birds which is a good thing as the temperature was rising fast. The pair was busy occasionally chattering to each other. This was a great way to end my trip on a life species.

Many thanks to Singapore Birders FB Group and the people who have taken me to locations I would not have found on my own. The MRT and bus services are also a great way to get around in Singapore.

I will spend time at the airport entering data and pending any additional photo and of course id amendments (I have made a few!) I will finalize my trip totals with Wildlife recorder providing the data:-

Australia species:230 lifers: 200
New Zealand species:96 lifers: 57
Singapore species:101 lifers:82
Trip Total Species: 390 Lifers: 339

For now I am saying goodbye to Singapore and an incredible journey which has seen me traverse Southern Australia and New Zealand!

Where will The Wind Take Me next!!

Singapore - Lorong Halus Wetland - Penultimate Day Conundrums!

Lorong Halus Wetlands was then venue for today’s excursion. I took a taxi from Pasir Ris MRT and decided to walk back through Pasir Ris Park. The later part of the journey turned into a challenge as the sun cooked me en route!. I must have lost a few kg in sweat on the way back!

I picked up a few lifers this morning along Pasir Ris Farmway 3 with Scaly Breasted Munia being the easiest to photograph near the treatment works. White Headed Munia was seen in flight.

A Long Tailed Shrike was seen on the railings above the canal near the Mainland Tropical Fish Farm.

The following pictures I thought were weavers both were in the same habitat at seemed to be associating with each other. 

The bird I believe is a male does not fit Bay weaver with its all black head. Bay has a yellow crown down to the neck. The bird had a rufous chest, flanks and black in the wings. The bill was dark which has steered me away from Black Headed Bulbul

This bird is either a female or immature bird and looks a more likely candidate for a Bay Weaver. The legs on the earlier picture were stronger than this individual. I have asked for some id assistance on Singapore birders and await a verdict! - Golden Backed Weaver male and female I can only surmise that this is an introduced species as its range is in Africa. Has bred in UAE since 1992.

My penultimate day in Singapore has been a scorcher hopefully the sun has not totally gone to my head!

Singapore - Dairy Farm Nature Park - Flying around on the MRT!

I took an early morning visit to Gardens by the Bay to see the Lesser Whistling Duck. The pair was on the smaller of the lily covered ponds and caught me by surprise as they took to the skies giving me binocular views only. I missed the Pheasant Tailed Jacana which made a brief appearance at Satay by the Bay. The pictures can be seen on the Singapore Birders Facebook page.

I then returned to the Dairy Farm Nature Park and had slightly better success in getting photos of the Blue Winged Leafbird that were visiting the fruiting tree just off the path.

Dark Necked Tailorbird was added to my life list such a lot of noise from such a small bird.

Olive winged Bulbul was the next lifer to be added feeding in the same tree.

A couple of White Bellied Sea Eagle flew over along with a mystery raptor which was high and out of camera range to secure any detail for identification.

The family party of Little Spiderhunter were still present in the same area.

Singapore - Quest for Spotted Wood Owl!

I said my farewells to Australia and spent yesterday in transit back to Singapore where I will spend a few days before returning to England. I had pre booked my accommodation in Pasir Ris with the intention of giving myself opportunity to see the Spotted Wood Owl that frequent Pasir Ris Park.

The morning was very humid and with no sign of the Owls I was told of a family group near Cashew MRT station. This was ironic as my last stay was in Novena which was closer to this location and other birding sites. 

I arrived early afternoon and saw the family high in the canopy sheltering from the showers of rain that were in the air.

The local people joined me to look at the Owls which have been resident here for several years. A couple of birders arrived and I was given the opportunity to visit the Dairy Farm Nature Park with….. I had not heard of this reserve but the visit was to pay dividends for me with a few life birds. 

The first lifer was Little Spiderhunter a family group that was visiting the flowers along the path from the carpark.

A Jambu Fruit Dove was seen in the trees further up the path along with a calling Coppersmith Barbet and a Black Crested Bulbul. 

Blue Winged Leafbird was a late addition sadly the bird did not show too well for photos.

My photography was poor having not adjusted to my surroundings. I must have lost a few kg in sweat in the humid conditions at one point I could not see for the sweat pouring into my eyes. I am grateful to …. for the experience and may return to see the Barbet.

The whole journey on the MRT cost S$4 (£2) return using  the NETS card I purchased during my first visit in December! Amazing value and a nice cool down out of the heat!