We had a night in Cairns before heading to the International Airport to catch the Silk Air flight to Singapore. The 6½ hr. flight took 35 minutes longer than scheduled as we spent some time in a holding pattern waiting to land in Singapore. We then caught a taxi to the Village Hotel Albert Court our home for the next five nights.
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| Village Hotel Albert Court |
30/1/2018
Our accommodation was near Little India where they were having celebrations and had erected these giant elephants opposite the hotel.
We met Chris and Andrew before getting onto the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) to go to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, good for birds as well as the flora.
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| Gardens Wall Art |
We spent most of the day here wandering around the paths and meeting fellow birders who told us to look out for Chestnut-winged Cuckoo (passage migrant) and Band-bellied Crake (rare). Did not see either today, but did see lots of other good birds – Black-naped Oriole, Red-legged Crake (lifer), Pink-necked Pigeon, Van Hasselt's Sunbird, Banded Woodpecker (lifer) and Blue-tailed Bee-eater (lifer). There are a few restaurant's within the gardens, one of which we had our breakfast at - coffee and egg cooked in soya sauce
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| Pink-necked Pigeon |
A visit to the Orchid Gardens is a must, but it is very popular and usually crowded with tour groups.
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| Junglefowl (Domestic) |
2 Black Swan
11 Red Junglefowl
1 Brahminy Kite
1 White-breasted Waterhen
30 Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)
4 Spotted Dove
6 Pink-necked Pigeon
2 Asian Koel
50 dark swiftlet sp.
1 Banded Woodpecker
2 House Crow
4 Barn Swallow
2 Yellow-vented Bulbul
1 Common Tailorbird
1 Oriental Magpie-Robin
30 Javan Myna
1 Olive-backed Sunbird
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| Javan Myna |
30/1/2018 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Swan Lake. mid-day)
2 Mute Swan
3 Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)
8 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
2 Olive-backed Sunbird
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| White-breasted Waterhen |
1 Brahminy Kite
4 Red-legged Crake
1 White-breasted Waterhen
40 Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)
7 Spotted Dove4 Black-naped Oriole
30 Asian Glossy Starling
20 Javan Myna
1 Van Hasselt's Sunbird
5 Olive-backed Sunbird
6 Eurasian Tree Sparrow
We went out for a meal in the evening with our friends to the Albert Centre Market and Food Centre. Saw where all the locals ate and joined in for a very nice meal, which cost S$3.00 each!
31/1/2018
Arranged with our friends to go to Pulau Ubin (Pulau Ubin means granite island in Malay) in the morning. This involved getting a taxi from town to the Changi Ferry Terminal (S$35.00) and a bum boat across to the island of Pulau Ubin (S$4.00 each one way). There are two ferry terminals in Changi, it is the Changi Village one that takes you to Pulau Ubin. The bum boats take 12 passengers and don't leave until they are full.
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| Palau Ubin |
Once on the island you realise you have stepped back in time, the old buildings, mountains of bikes you can hire to get around the island and the slow pace of life, quite a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the mainland.
We headed off to the nearest quarry, which is now filled with water and a good waterbird habitat. The quarry was mined in the 1990's supplying about 40% of Singapore's granite requirements but ceased operations in 1999. This caused the population to crash from about 1,200 to less than 400 today. The residents now farm, fish and cater to the tourists. More information here. |
| Birding at the Quarry |
4 Grey Heron
2 Brahminy Kite
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Asian Koel
6 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
8 House Crow
20 Barn Swallow
2 Common Tailorbird
2 Asian Glossy Starling
4 Javan Myna
5 White-rumped Shama
2 Brahminy Kite
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Asian Koel
6 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
8 House Crow
20 Barn Swallow
2 Common Tailorbird
2 Asian Glossy Starling
4 Javan Myna
5 White-rumped Shama
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| Grey Heron |
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| Olive-backed Sunbird |
31/1/2018 Pulau Ubin
31/1/2018 Chek Jawa Wetlands
We followed the magnificent boardwalk around the edge of the island back to the Chek Jawa kiosk and had Long-tailed Macaques, waiting for us.
We then caught a taxi back to the Jetty, where we got the bum boat to the Changi Ferry Terminal.
From the terminal we took a taxi ride to the Changi Museum The Museum is dedicated to all those who lived and died in Singapore, in particular the Changi area during World War II and is quite a sobering experience. In the evening we had a Chinese meal at Wing Seong Fatty's Restaurant.
1/2/2018 Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Jelutong Tower
1/2/2018 Central Catchment Nature Reserve, walk back to car park.
1 Red Junglefowl
1 Asian Emerald Dove, male foraging on path.
1 Eastern Crowned Warbler
1 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
We then stopped off for a mid-morning breakfast before going onto Bukit Batok Nature Park. Good birds here included White-crowned Laughing-Thrush, Pin-striped Tit Babbler and Lineated Barbet. Managed a not so good grab shot of the laughing-thrush.
We also had a Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus) climbing up a tree.
1/2/2018 Bukit Batok Nature Park (mid morning)
1 Red Junglefowl
2 White-throated Kingfisher
1 Lineated Barbet
2 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
9 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
3 White-crested Laughingthrush
30 Asian Glossy Starling, estimate.
From here we went to Buloh Sungai Wetland Reserve in the northwest area of Singapore, where we had some rain. This is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore, and of global significance as a stop-over point for migrating shorebirds (waders).
Unfortunately the tide was high and there were rain showers when we got there, so we saw no migratory shorebirds. We did see some other great birds including Copper-throated Sunbird in the mangroves, Arctic Warbler, Common Iora and Black-naped Oriole. We were told that the Milky Stork we saw roosting in the mangroves was probably an escapee from the Jurong Bird Park or the Singapore Zoo.
1/2/2018 Buloh Sungai Wetland Reserve
1 Milky Stork, possibly from Jurong Bird Park or Singapore Zoo.
6 Great Egret perched along with Little Egret
21 Little Egret
2 Osprey - flying over
2 Black Baza - flying over
1 Japanese Sparrowhawk - flying over
1 Brahminy Kite
2 Spotted Dove
1 White-throated Kingfisher
2 Collared Kingfisher
1 Lineated Barbet
1 Common Iora
5 Black-naped Oriole
2 House Crow
1 Arctic Warbler
1 Ashy Tailorbird
1 Oriental Magpie-Robin
1 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
3 Copper-throated Sunbird
From the wetlands we headed for a late lunch at the Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course club house. There is a nature trail at the golf course, which leads to designated bird-watching sites, that is open to the public - maybe we can visit it next time around. We did see a few birds through the windows whilst we ate lunch.
5 House Crow
3 Common Tailorbird
2 Common Myna
12 Javan Myna
It was now time to return to the hotel and a relaxing night after a good days birding.
2/2/2018
Had a morning off birding exploring some of Singapore. The transport system in Singapore is great with the MRT and plenty of buses, but we decided that we needed some exercise so chose to have a walk.
We passed Raffles Hotel, which was closed due to being refurbished. It is due to re-open in the second half of 2018. Continued on ending up at the Penninsula Excelsior Hotel, where we had stayed in 2015 and 1996. We were ready for a bite to eat and a coffee and knew the Spinelli Coffee cafe under the hotel was quite good. Breakfast Roll and Coffee went down well and recharged us for the walk back to our hotel. Whilst heading back we met this vehicle, Google street maps?
We wandered down to the Singapore River and back to the Village Hotel Albert Court via Bugis Street shopping centre.
In the afternoon we caught the MRT back to the Botanic Gardens and bought a couple of sandwiches, which we ate down at the Keppel Wetland whilst birding. A White-breasted Waterhen was paddling around the edge of the reeds.
From here we checked out Swan Lake, not many birds but we did see plenty Red-eared Slider, not surprising as over nine million of this factory bred terrapin species have been imported into Singapore from the USA since 2006 as pets.
Whilst we were looking at the slider we met a photographer who told us to look for the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo behind the Keppel Wetland. So we headed off there, the first bird seen was the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo! What a great bird but it would not oblige for a photo. Also here was a Common Kingfisher. Celebrated with an ice cream before looking for another rarity, Band-bellied Crake, which we found dodging in and out of a patch of Heliconias. Another great afternoon birding.
2/2/2018 Singapore Botanic Gardens
1 Black Swan, Introduced to ponds.
2/2/2018 Singapore Botanic
Gardens (Swan Lake)
2 Mute Swan, introduced species.
3 Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)
8 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
2 Olive-backed Sunbird
2/2/2018 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Keppel Wetland)
In the evening we went out with our friends for a meal, an expensive Laska and water, cost all of S$20.00 for the four of us! Good value.
3/2/2018
Our last day in Singapore was to be a birding free experience. Packed our bags and left them at reception before wandering down through the market.
We arrived at the Bugis Street shopping Centre but all the shops were shut due to it being before opening time at 10.00am. Back out on the street we found a Baker & Cook Artisan Bakery Ham and cheese croissant with excellent coffee A$26.00. Back to shopping centre where Lindsay bought a backpack with wheels, which has proved its worth at airports. Then caught the MRT to Chinatown and joined the tourist hordes wandering around the markets and interesting buildings.
We wandered back through Chinatown, enjoying taking non bird photos, then down to the Singapore River and onto the Spinelli Coffee cafe to indulge in coffee and cake. Back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and off to the airport to catch a plane for our next adventure in Sri Lanka.
Singapore once again provided good birding opportunities and interesting experiences along with many changes since we last visited in 2015.
One bird we did see but did not mention was the Straw-headed Bulbul, which is classed as a sensitive species. Public information being restricted due to potential harmful impacts to these birds, therefore no location data is given.
Species seen, number, location and date of first sighting
Mute Swan 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Swan Lake) 30 Jan 2018
Black Swan 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Red Junglefowl 11 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Milky Stork 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Oriental Darter 1 Palau Ubin, Quarry 31 Jan 2018
Grey Heron 4 Pulau Ubin 31 Jan 2018
Purple Heron 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Great Egret 6 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Intermediate Egret 1 Palau Ubin, Quarry 31 Jan 2018
Little Egret 21 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Striated Heron 1 Pulau Ubin: Chek Jawa Wetlands 31 Jan 2018
Osprey 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Black Baza 2 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Japanese Sparrowhawk 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Brahminy Kite 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Red-legged Crake 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
White-br. Waterhen 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Band-bellied Crake 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 02 Feb 2018
Common Sandpiper 1 Pulau Ubin 31 Jan 2018
Rock Dove 30 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Spotted Dove 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Asian Emerald Dove 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Zebra Dove 2 Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course 01 Feb 2018
Pink-necked Pigeon 6 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Keppel Discovery Wetland) 02 Feb 2018
Asian Koel 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Large-tailed Nightjar 1 Pulau Ubin: Chek Jawa Wetlands 31 Jan 2018
Plume-toed Swiftlet 2 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Germain's Swiftlet 30 Pulau Ubin: Chek Jawa Wetlands 31 Jan 2018
Common Kingfisher 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Keppel Discovery Wetland) 02 Feb 2018
White-thr. Kingfisher 2 Bukit Batok Nature Park 01 Feb 2018
Collared Kingfisher 1 Palau Ubin, Quarry 31 Jan 2018
Blue-tailed Bee-eater 8 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Swan Lake) 30 Jan 2018
Dollarbird 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Lineated Barbet 1 Bukit Batok Nature Park 01 Feb 2018
Banded Woodpecker 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Common Flameback 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 02 Feb 2018
Blue-rumped Parrot 2 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Rose-ringed Parakeet 8 Singapore Botanic Gardens 02 Feb 2018
Long-tailed Parakeet 14 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 6 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Common Iora 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Black-naped Oriole 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Crow-billed Drongo 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 4 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Keppel Discovery Wetland) 02 Feb 2018
House Crow 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Barn Swallow 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Pacific Swallow 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 02 Feb 2018
Straw-headed Bulbul 4
Yellow-vented Bulbul 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Olive-winged Bulbul 5 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Cream-vented Bulbul 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Red-eyed Bulbul 4 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Arctic Warbler 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Eastern Crowned Warbler 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Common Tailorbird 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Ashy Tailorbird 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Pin-striped Tit-Babbler 9 Bukit Batok Nature Park 01 Feb 2018
White-cr. Laughingthrush 3 Bukit Batok Nature Park 01 Feb 2018
Asian Fairy-bluebird 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Oriental Magpie-Robin 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
White-rumped Shama 5 Pulau Ubin 31 Jan 2018
Green-backed Flycatcher 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Asian Glossy Starling 30 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Common Hill Myna 12 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Common Myna 2 Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course 01 Feb 2018
Javan Myna 30 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Plain-throated Sunbird 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Van Hasselt's Sunbird 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Copper-throated Sunbird 3 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Olive-backed Sunbird 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 6 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
1 Oriental Darter
27 Grey Heron
1 Intermediate Egret
1 Brahminy Kite
1 Collared Kingfisher
1 Olive-backed Sunbird
We then Walked back to the National Parks office where we met Jackie and Alan, two rangers we had met in 2015. They told us the Oriental Darter had been here for several years and that there was a single Black Hornbill also on the island. It was great to catch up with them again
27 Grey Heron
1 Intermediate Egret
1 Brahminy Kite
1 Collared Kingfisher
1 Olive-backed Sunbird
We then Walked back to the National Parks office where we met Jackie and Alan, two rangers we had met in 2015. They told us the Oriental Darter had been here for several years and that there was a single Black Hornbill also on the island. It was great to catch up with them again
Had an early lunch at the nearby cafe overlooking the jetty before getting a taxi for the short ride to Chek Jawa Wetlands at the other end of the island.
We took the 1.1km long boardwalk, around the wetlands. First stop was the Jejawi viewing tower, which overlooks the rainforest and mangrove canopy to the sand bars and mudflats. From here we walked through the mangroves. As it was high tide and no exposed mudflats there were few shorebirds/waders, only two Common Sandpiper and a Striated Heron (Little Heron).
White-rumped Sharma was a standout on the shoreline vegetation along with this large Malayan Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) covered in seaweed.
We took the 1.1km long boardwalk, around the wetlands. First stop was the Jejawi viewing tower, which overlooks the rainforest and mangrove canopy to the sand bars and mudflats. From here we walked through the mangroves. As it was high tide and no exposed mudflats there were few shorebirds/waders, only two Common Sandpiper and a Striated Heron (Little Heron).
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| Striated or Little Heron |
White-rumped Sharma was a standout on the shoreline vegetation along with this large Malayan Water Monitor (Varanus salvator) covered in seaweed.
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| Malayian Water Monitor |
31/1/2018 Chek Jawa Wetlands
1 Striated Heron
1 Brahminy Kite
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Large-tailed Nightjar, Heard near observation tower.
30 Germain's Swiftlet, estimate. (used to be subspecies of Edible-nest Swiftlet)
2 Collared Kingfisher Heard.
5 White-rumped Shama 1 seen, 4 calling nearby.
6 Javan Myna
1 Brahminy Kite
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Large-tailed Nightjar, Heard near observation tower.
30 Germain's Swiftlet, estimate. (used to be subspecies of Edible-nest Swiftlet)
2 Collared Kingfisher Heard.
5 White-rumped Shama 1 seen, 4 calling nearby.
6 Javan Myna
We followed the magnificent boardwalk around the edge of the island back to the Chek Jawa kiosk and had Long-tailed Macaques, waiting for us.
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| Long-tailed Macaques |
We then caught a taxi back to the Jetty, where we got the bum boat to the Changi Ferry Terminal.
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| Changi Ferry Terminal |
From the terminal we took a taxi ride to the Changi Museum The Museum is dedicated to all those who lived and died in Singapore, in particular the Changi area during World War II and is quite a sobering experience. In the evening we had a Chinese meal at Wing Seong Fatty's Restaurant.
1/2/2018
Early start to the day as we had hired bird guide Lim Kim Seng. Kim came around at 5.30 and we then picked up our friends Chris and Andrew. First destination was the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, where we arrived in the dark. This is the largest nature reserve in Singapore, occupying 2880 hectares. Is was a slow walk over the rocky path/creek bed from the car park in the dark, but we managed and eventually reached a flat path. We heard Lesser Sunda Scops Owl and Brown Hawk Owl along the way to Jelutong Tower, but did not see them. Once we reached the tower we climbed to the top and spent a few hours after first light looking over the rainforest canopy observing some great birds.
These included Plume-toed Swiftlet, which was previously considered a sub-species of Glossy Swiftlet, Chestnut-bellied Malkoa, Banded Woodpecker Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker.
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1/2/2018 Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Jelutong Tower
1 Red Junglefowl
1 Purple Heron
19 Pink-necked Pigeon
1 Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
2 Plume-toed Swiftlet Small dark swiftlet with glossy upperparts and white belly, no white markings on rump.
1 Dollarbird
1 Banded Woodpecker
2 Blue-rumped Parrot
14 Long-tailed Parakeet
6 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot,
1 Crow-billed Drongo, flyover
4 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
5 Olive-winged Bulbul
1 Cream-vented Bulbul
4 Red-eyed Bulbul
1 Asian Fairy-bluebird, flyover
50 Asian Glossy Starling, estimate.
12 Common Hill Myna, flying over in small groups.
4 Javan Myna
1 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
1 Plain-throated Sunbird
3 Van Hasselt's Sunbird
On the walk back to the car park we had more good sightings, including Green-backed Flycatcher (Uncommon migrant), Eastern Crowned Warbler and Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker.
1 Purple Heron
19 Pink-necked Pigeon
1 Chestnut-bellied Malkoha
2 Plume-toed Swiftlet Small dark swiftlet with glossy upperparts and white belly, no white markings on rump.
1 Dollarbird
1 Banded Woodpecker
2 Blue-rumped Parrot
14 Long-tailed Parakeet
6 Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot,
1 Crow-billed Drongo, flyover
4 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
5 Olive-winged Bulbul
1 Cream-vented Bulbul
4 Red-eyed Bulbul
1 Asian Fairy-bluebird, flyover
50 Asian Glossy Starling, estimate.
12 Common Hill Myna, flying over in small groups.
4 Javan Myna
1 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker
1 Plain-throated Sunbird
3 Van Hasselt's Sunbird
On the walk back to the car park we had more good sightings, including Green-backed Flycatcher (Uncommon migrant), Eastern Crowned Warbler and Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker.
1/2/2018 Central Catchment Nature Reserve, walk back to car park.
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| Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker (female) |
1 Asian Emerald Dove, male foraging on path.
1 Eastern Crowned Warbler
1 Green-backed Flycatcher, uncommon migrant recorded regularly in Singapore.
1 Orange-bellied Flowerpecker1 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
We then stopped off for a mid-morning breakfast before going onto Bukit Batok Nature Park. Good birds here included White-crowned Laughing-Thrush, Pin-striped Tit Babbler and Lineated Barbet. Managed a not so good grab shot of the laughing-thrush.
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| White-crowned Laughing-Thrush |
We also had a Clouded Monitor (Varanus nebulosus) climbing up a tree.
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| Clouded Monitor |
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| Lineated Barbet |
1/2/2018 Bukit Batok Nature Park (mid morning)
1 Red Junglefowl
2 White-throated Kingfisher
1 Lineated Barbet
2 Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
9 Pin-striped Tit-Babbler
3 White-crested Laughingthrush
30 Asian Glossy Starling, estimate.
From here we went to Buloh Sungai Wetland Reserve in the northwest area of Singapore, where we had some rain. This is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore, and of global significance as a stop-over point for migrating shorebirds (waders).
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| Common Iora |
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1/2/2018 Buloh Sungai Wetland Reserve1 Milky Stork, possibly from Jurong Bird Park or Singapore Zoo.
6 Great Egret perched along with Little Egret
21 Little Egret
2 Osprey - flying over
2 Black Baza - flying over
1 Japanese Sparrowhawk - flying over
1 Brahminy Kite
2 Spotted Dove
1 White-throated Kingfisher
2 Collared Kingfisher
1 Lineated Barbet
1 Common Iora
5 Black-naped Oriole
2 House Crow
1 Arctic Warbler
1 Ashy Tailorbird
1 Oriental Magpie-Robin
1 Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
3 Copper-throated Sunbird
From the wetlands we headed for a late lunch at the Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course club house. There is a nature trail at the golf course, which leads to designated bird-watching sites, that is open to the public - maybe we can visit it next time around. We did see a few birds through the windows whilst we ate lunch.
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| Lazy Birding at the Golf Course |
1/2/2018 Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course
2 Zebra Dove5 House Crow
3 Common Tailorbird
2 Common Myna
12 Javan Myna
It was now time to return to the hotel and a relaxing night after a good days birding.
2/2/2018
Had a morning off birding exploring some of Singapore. The transport system in Singapore is great with the MRT and plenty of buses, but we decided that we needed some exercise so chose to have a walk.
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| Sightseeing Buses |
We passed Raffles Hotel, which was closed due to being refurbished. It is due to re-open in the second half of 2018. Continued on ending up at the Penninsula Excelsior Hotel, where we had stayed in 2015 and 1996. We were ready for a bite to eat and a coffee and knew the Spinelli Coffee cafe under the hotel was quite good. Breakfast Roll and Coffee went down well and recharged us for the walk back to our hotel. Whilst heading back we met this vehicle, Google street maps?
We wandered down to the Singapore River and back to the Village Hotel Albert Court via Bugis Street shopping centre.
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| Singapore River |
In the afternoon we caught the MRT back to the Botanic Gardens and bought a couple of sandwiches, which we ate down at the Keppel Wetland whilst birding. A White-breasted Waterhen was paddling around the edge of the reeds.
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| Keppel Wetland |
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| White-breasted Waterhen |
From here we checked out Swan Lake, not many birds but we did see plenty Red-eared Slider, not surprising as over nine million of this factory bred terrapin species have been imported into Singapore from the USA since 2006 as pets.
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| Red-eared Slider |
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| Red-legged Crake |
9 Red Junglefowl (Domestic type)
1 Red-legged Crake
4 White-breasted Waterhen
1 Band-bellied Crake. been in gardens for sometime. Seen along Heliconia Walk. Black and white stripes on undertail covets, Green Bill.
20 Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon), estimate.
14 Spotted Dove
13 Pink-necked Pigeon
1 Common Flameback
8 Rose-ringed Parakeet
1 Black-naped Oriole
4 Pacific Swallow
30 Asian Glossy Starling, estimate.
30 Javan Myna, estimate.
1 Olive-backed Sunbird
6 Eurasian Tree Sparrow
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| Common Kingfisher |
Gardens (Swan Lake)
2 Mute Swan, introduced species.
3 Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)
8 Blue-tailed Bee-eater
2 Olive-backed Sunbird
2/2/2018 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Keppel Wetland)
4 White-breasted Waterhen
6 Pink-necked Pigeon
1 Chestnut-winged Cuckoo
1 Common Kingfisher
2 Collared Kingfisher
1 Lineated Barbet
1 Malaysian Pied-Fantail
3 Pacific Swallow
6 Yellow-vented Bulbul
1 Olive-winged Bulbul
2 Common Tailorbird
6 Javan Myna
3 Eurasian Tree Sparrow
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| Red-vented Bulbul |
In the evening we went out with our friends for a meal, an expensive Laska and water, cost all of S$20.00 for the four of us! Good value.
3/2/2018
Our last day in Singapore was to be a birding free experience. Packed our bags and left them at reception before wandering down through the market.
We arrived at the Bugis Street shopping Centre but all the shops were shut due to it being before opening time at 10.00am. Back out on the street we found a Baker & Cook Artisan Bakery Ham and cheese croissant with excellent coffee A$26.00. Back to shopping centre where Lindsay bought a backpack with wheels, which has proved its worth at airports. Then caught the MRT to Chinatown and joined the tourist hordes wandering around the markets and interesting buildings.
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It was coming up to Chinese New Year so there were plenty of decorations in the streets.
We found a Chinese Restaurant, where we had fried rice and water for A$30.00 - not good value.
We then visited the Singapore City Gallery .This was very interesting learning about Singapore's past and future developments. The Central Area Model, within the gallery, is an 11 metre by 10 metre architectural model of Central Singapore. Modeled at a scale of 1:400, it is mainly constructed from balsa wood and acrylic, and is composed of various individual area models built for public consultations in past decades, which were then assembled in 1998 into one large model for display in the Gallery. The model is frequently updated and is used by Urban Redevelopment Authority architects as a working model of the area to simulate new growth areas and discuss options between community, developers and government. In addition to showing currently existing buildings in the area, the model also models plans for as-yet-unbuilt buildings. (info: Wikipedia). Very impressive display, there are various other displays, some interactive.
We then visited the Singapore City Gallery .This was very interesting learning about Singapore's past and future developments. The Central Area Model, within the gallery, is an 11 metre by 10 metre architectural model of Central Singapore. Modeled at a scale of 1:400, it is mainly constructed from balsa wood and acrylic, and is composed of various individual area models built for public consultations in past decades, which were then assembled in 1998 into one large model for display in the Gallery. The model is frequently updated and is used by Urban Redevelopment Authority architects as a working model of the area to simulate new growth areas and discuss options between community, developers and government. In addition to showing currently existing buildings in the area, the model also models plans for as-yet-unbuilt buildings. (info: Wikipedia). Very impressive display, there are various other displays, some interactive.
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| Central Area Model |
We wandered back through Chinatown, enjoying taking non bird photos, then down to the Singapore River and onto the Spinelli Coffee cafe to indulge in coffee and cake. Back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and off to the airport to catch a plane for our next adventure in Sri Lanka.
Singapore once again provided good birding opportunities and interesting experiences along with many changes since we last visited in 2015.
One bird we did see but did not mention was the Straw-headed Bulbul, which is classed as a sensitive species. Public information being restricted due to potential harmful impacts to these birds, therefore no location data is given.
Species seen, number, location and date of first sighting
Mute Swan 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Swan Lake) 30 Jan 2018
Black Swan 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Red Junglefowl 11 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Milky Stork 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Oriental Darter 1 Palau Ubin, Quarry 31 Jan 2018
Grey Heron 4 Pulau Ubin 31 Jan 2018
Purple Heron 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Great Egret 6 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Intermediate Egret 1 Palau Ubin, Quarry 31 Jan 2018
Little Egret 21 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Striated Heron 1 Pulau Ubin: Chek Jawa Wetlands 31 Jan 2018
Osprey 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Black Baza 2 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Japanese Sparrowhawk 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Brahminy Kite 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Red-legged Crake 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
White-br. Waterhen 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Band-bellied Crake 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 02 Feb 2018
Common Sandpiper 1 Pulau Ubin 31 Jan 2018
Rock Dove 30 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Spotted Dove 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Asian Emerald Dove 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Zebra Dove 2 Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course 01 Feb 2018
Pink-necked Pigeon 6 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Chestnut-bellied Malkoha 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Keppel Discovery Wetland) 02 Feb 2018
Asian Koel 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Large-tailed Nightjar 1 Pulau Ubin: Chek Jawa Wetlands 31 Jan 2018
Plume-toed Swiftlet 2 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Germain's Swiftlet 30 Pulau Ubin: Chek Jawa Wetlands 31 Jan 2018
Common Kingfisher 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Keppel Discovery Wetland) 02 Feb 2018
White-thr. Kingfisher 2 Bukit Batok Nature Park 01 Feb 2018
Collared Kingfisher 1 Palau Ubin, Quarry 31 Jan 2018
Blue-tailed Bee-eater 8 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Swan Lake) 30 Jan 2018
Dollarbird 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Lineated Barbet 1 Bukit Batok Nature Park 01 Feb 2018
Banded Woodpecker 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Common Flameback 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 02 Feb 2018
Blue-rumped Parrot 2 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Rose-ringed Parakeet 8 Singapore Botanic Gardens 02 Feb 2018
Long-tailed Parakeet 14 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot 6 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Common Iora 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Black-naped Oriole 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Crow-billed Drongo 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo 4 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Malaysian Pied-Fantail 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens (Keppel Discovery Wetland) 02 Feb 2018
House Crow 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Barn Swallow 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Pacific Swallow 4 Singapore Botanic Gardens 02 Feb 2018
Straw-headed Bulbul 4
Yellow-vented Bulbul 2 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Olive-winged Bulbul 5 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Cream-vented Bulbul 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Red-eyed Bulbul 4 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Arctic Warbler 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Eastern Crowned Warbler 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Common Tailorbird 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Ashy Tailorbird 1 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Pin-striped Tit-Babbler 9 Bukit Batok Nature Park 01 Feb 2018
White-cr. Laughingthrush 3 Bukit Batok Nature Park 01 Feb 2018
Asian Fairy-bluebird 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Oriental Magpie-Robin 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
White-rumped Shama 5 Pulau Ubin 31 Jan 2018
Green-backed Flycatcher 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Asian Glossy Starling 30 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Common Hill Myna 12 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Common Myna 2 Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course 01 Feb 2018
Javan Myna 30 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker 1 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Plain-throated Sunbird 1 CCNR--Jelutong Tower 01 Feb 2018
Van Hasselt's Sunbird 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Copper-throated Sunbird 3 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 01 Feb 2018
Olive-backed Sunbird 1 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 6 Singapore Botanic Gardens 30 Jan 2018
