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.