Singapore Bird Report – November 2014

A very rare resident Yellow-eared Spiderhunter at Dillenia Hut by Francis Yap.

The Central Catchment Forest was the center of attention this November with the appearance of  four mega rare resident species. The Yellow-eared Spiderhunter was spotted (FY) feeding on a flowering Eugenia tree near the Dillenia Hut on 20^th. It was last seen 8 years ago at Rifle Range Link (YDL). Two days later two rare flowerpeckers, the Thick-billed and the Yellow-vented followed the spiderhunter out to check on a flowers on 22^nd (DL,LJS,TKH). It was good to know that they are still around in our central forests besides Bukit Timah NR. Even the rarely seen Lesser Green Leafbird was attracted by the flowers. It came out on the 23^rd together with the larger Greater Green Leafbird giving us (LKS, LKK, AOY) a few brief views.

Another rare resident the Thick-billed Flowerpecker at Dillenia Hut by See Toh Yew Wai.

Elsewhere there were many notable sightings include a Gull video swimming at the main pond at SBWR on 7^th (LeC). Unfortunately it was too far away for a proper id. An irruption of over 200 Ashy or Cinereous Bulbul was seen over at Chek Java on 4^th (LKK,WT). We are still looking for answers as to where they come from. They were later reported all over the island throughout the month. The first Common Kestrel was seen over Tuas South on 1^st (LC) with more sightings in the following days. A Greater Spotted Eagle over at Tuas on 13^th (AOY) was the third sighting of the year. The Japonensis Peregrine Falcon returned to the CDB on14th (LEL) after a year of absence.  A very rare non-breeding visitor the Streaked Bulbul was seen feeding with the Ashy Bulbuls at Canterbury Road on 13^th (LKK). Two days later another two were photographed at Tuas South Ave16 bush (FY) and another on 23^rd at the same area (LJS). The rare Japanese Paradise Flycatcher passed through at Bida on 28^th (FY,STYW). A surprise Green Broadbill was seen feeding at East Coast Park on 27^th (STYW) and 28^th. This former resident is now extinct. The Records Committee will have to deliberate on its status.  And right up to the last day, an Oriental Darter was seen at the Ketam Quarry, Ubin (AL). Will this find help to determine the status of one seen in August at the Seng Chew Quarry?

Rare migrant Green-backed Flycatcher, male, at Bidadari by Alan Ng.

Bidadari remains the top spot for incoming migrants while we had some surprises from Tuas South.

First the migrants at Bidadari. A juvenile Oriental Cuckoo seen on the first two days of the month (AL) could very well be the same cuckoo reported last month. A passing Black-backed Kingfisher was a good find on 1^st (BQ) followed by a late Dark-sided Flycatcher on the 2^nd (AR) and 20^th (KLH). An early Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo was photographed on the 8^th (AR). This was followed by another Hodgson’s at SBWR on the 15^th (LKK).  The Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoos are normally seen towards the end of November. Female Mugimaki Flycatchers made their land fall on the 12^th (FY) followed by a few males later on. They were still around at the end of the month. The long awaited Hooded Pitta appeared on 24^th (LKK). An Eye-browed Thrush on 27^th (LKS) was the first for the season while a male Green-backed Flycatcher was seen on the same day (AN). A skittish uncommon Malayan Night Heron was reported on 28^th (STWY), rounding off with a Eastern Crown Warbler on 30^th (KLH)

A very rare non-breeding visitor Streaked Bulbul at Tuas South by See Toh Yew Wai.

Over the skies at Tuas South we had a few surprises. A Brown Hawk Owl was photographed flying over on 1^st (LCH). Could this be the northern migrant race of Boobook that is not on our Checklist. A Eurasian Curlew on 7^th (TGC), a Black-capped Kingfisher on 9^th (STYW) and flocks of Oriental Pratincoles were still coming in with 12 on 13^th (AOY) and 73 counted on 15^th (LCH). Three Little Ringed Plovers flying pass on 16^th (STYW). A single Black Drongo at Tuas Avenue 9 on 20^th (RA). The bush in the middle of the open field at Tuas South seems to be the preferred land fall for the passerine migrants with at least two Malayan Night Herons seen on 21^st (FY) and 28^th (LCH). A juvenile Hodgson’s Hawk Cuckoo on 22^nd (LKS, AOY). STYW photographed his Streak Bulbul here on the 23^rd after being alerted by LJS.

Reports from other parts of the island include a warbler was mist-netted at the Ecolink on 8^th by NParks team (CYF, DT) and appeared to be the Sakhalin Leaf Warbler. Blood samples are being analysed.  Flocks of migrating Fork-tailed or Pacific Swifts were seen all over the island,  40 over Kent Ridge Park feeding on flying termites on 4^th (AOY), 50+ thermaling over Telok Blangah Hill on the 9^th (AOY). A juvenile Rosy Starling was seen together with the Glossy Starlings at Kent Ridge Park on 10^th (FY).  It stayed for a few days. A first winter male Blue and White Flycatcher was reported at Tampines Eco Park on 11^th (JA) and later a female on 21^st (SA). The White Wagtails of both Leucopsis and Ocularis races were seen at Seletar Dam on 14^th (GP). A Green-backed Flycatcher was photographed at Bishan Park on 23^rd related by YDL.  The Reed Warblers are back with the Black-browed  seen at Bishan Park on 23^rd (JL) and the Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler at Sengkang Wetlands on 27^th (AC). A first of the season Black Bittern was seen at Bishan Park on 27^th (LKS).

Probable rare Pomarine Jaeger at the Straits of Singapore by Francis Yap.

The only pelagic trip to the Straits of Singapore on the 23^rd was organised by STYW and the lucky day trippers photographed a probable rare Pomarine Jaeger and a Common Tern besides the usual Swift and Lesser Crested Terns.

The casualties continued to mount as expected. A Lanceolated Warbler crashed into a window at Sengkang Square on 9^th, recovered after resting, but was eaten by a House Crow much to DT dismay. A Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, first winter male found dead at Jervios Hill on 14^th.  A Black Bittern found dead at Jurong West on 16^th and a dead Cinnamon Bittern, probably a migrant at NTU Building the next day. The globally threatened Brown-chested Flycatcher was also a casualty crashing into a flat at Woodlands Ave 8 on the 26^th (KK). Meanwhile over at Jurong Island, LKC nursed back to health a Blue-winged Pitta that crashed into his office on 22^nd but was not able to save a Hooded Pitta that was found dead on 24^th.

A comprehensive Raptor Report for November will be published by Tan Gim Cheong at a coming date.

Reference: The Avifauna of Singapore Lim Kim Seng 2009.  Edited by Francis Yap. Bird crashed records are from David Tan. All other records were taken from postings in the various facebook, bird forums and individual facebook pages belonging to Francis Yap (FY), Seng Alvin (SA), Rey Aguila (RA), See Toh Yew Wai (STYW), Lim Kim Seng (LKS), Lim Kim Keang (LKK), Wellington Tan (WT), Lau Jiasheng (LJS), Lawrence Cher (LC), Lena Chow (LeC), Ben Quek (BQ), Low Choon How (LCH), Aldwin Recinto  (AR), Tan Gim Cheong (TGC), Chung Yi Fei (CYF), David Tan (DT), Danny Lau (DL), Tan Kok Hui (TKH), Janice Ang (JA), Koh Lian Heng (KLH),  George Persanis (GP), Jimmy Lee (JL), Kennneth Kee (KK) and Alan OwYong. Many thanks for your records..