Singapore Raptor Report – January 2016

Japanese Sparrowhawk, immature male, showing a mix of old (brown) and new (grey) feathers, Bidadari, 14 Jan 16, by Con Foley.

Summary for migrant species:

The highlight for January must be the single juvenile Himalayan Vulture that turned up at Toa Payoh on the 5th, greatly emanciated and unable to stand firm. It was rescued and given medical treatment at the Jurong Bird Park. A total of 96 migrant raptors of 13 species were recorded. The Black Baza claimed the top spot with 41 birds, relegating the Oriental Honey Buzzard to the second place with 32 birds.

There were 6 Japanese Sparrowhawks including an immature showing an interesting mix of brown and grey feathers.  3 Jerdon’s Bazas were wintering in the Tampines-Lorong Halus area and 3 Ospreys frequented the northern shores. 3 Peregrine Falcons and 2 Chinese Sparrowhawks were also reported.

Now for the single birds. An adult dark morph Common Buzzard was photographed at Tuas on the 8th. A juvenile Booted Eagle was photographed on the 25th at Punggol Barat. The juvenile Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle was still present at the Bukit Timah area, photographed on the 10th and the 24th. A male Common Kestrel was wintering at Pulau Punggol Barat, making appearances in the late afternoon/sunset period, on the 5th and 25th.  Lastly, a nocturnal raptor, the Northern Boobook was photographed at Pasir Ris Park mangroves on the 31st.

Oriental Honey Buzzard, torquatus tweeddale morph, Pasir Ris Park, 10 Jan 16, by Lim Kim Seng.

Highlights for sedentary species:

January was a good month for the rare Crested Serpent Eagle as 3 birds were recorded – one at SBWR, one at Pasir Ris Park and one at Kent Ridge Park. There were 2 records of juvenile Crested Goshawks, one at NTU and the other at Sentosa, indications of successful breeding. Last month’s Crested Goshawk records were all adults. The torquatus tweeddale morph Oriental Honey Buzzzard was photographed a few times and the other torquatus OHB at Bidadari was still present. The young Grey-headed Fish Eagle at Little Guilin had left the nest but was still in the vicinity. It will probably still depend on its parents for food for a while more. The White-bellied Sea Eagle, Brahminy Kite, Changeable Hawk-Eagle and Black-winged Kite completed the roundup for the month.

Table 1

S/N	Species	No.		S/N	Species	No.
1	Osprey	3			Residents / Sedentary Species
2	Jerdon’s Baza	3		14	Black-winged Kite	2
3	Black Baza	41		15	Brahminy Kite	10
4	Oriental Honey Buzzard	32		16	White-bellied Sea Eagle	12
5	Himalayan Vulture	1		17	Grey-headed Fish Eagle	10
6	Chinese Sparrowhawk	2		18	Crested Serpent Eagle	3
7	Japanese Sparrowhawk	6		19	Crested Goshawk	5
8	Common Buzzard	1		20	Changeable Hawk-Eagle	8
9	Booted Eagle	1
10	Rufous-bellied Hawk-Eagle	1			Unidentified
11	Common Kestrel	1		21	Unidentified Raptors	3
12	Peregrine Falcon	3		22	Unidentified Accipiters	2
13	Northern Boobook	1
	Total for Migrants	96			Grand Total	151

For a pdf copy with more details, please click Singapore Raptor Report Jan16.