A Her-man BY with Kit 2021

[elefromoz]

@KitsafariIm speechless at what you're seeing there, congrats on 50 to the both of you. 

On 2/21/2021 at 8:51 AM, Kitsafari said:

strip of woodlands across a canal behind a bus depot

Who'd have thought!

Like last year I find myself imagining seeing a Bittern or Kingfisher whilst enjoying lunch at "Satay by the Bay". What a tease you are.

[Kitsafari]

Thank you @elefromoz

 

54. Asian Brown Flycatcher, Eastwood Green

 

It's the last day of February today. and the beginning of the reverse migration order when our transcient bird species get all fuelled up for the start of their long marathon flight back to then north. Our temporary Asian Brown flycatcher resident has been fattening up very nicely over the last few months, and still catching lots of flies in the tree in front of our house. He looks fattened and in good shape. I'll miss his chirruping when he finally leaves but hope to welcome him back again at the end of the year. Because i've grown fond of this tiny cute fella, i'm going to put in more photos!

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

55. Blue-and-white Flycatcher, Dairy Farm Park Reserve

 

This is a female, and nearly all times, the female blue-and-white flycatchers are almost indistinguisable from the female Zappey's. both are rare migrants. 

 

[Kitsafari]

56. Green-backed Flycatcher, Rifle Range Link

 

We had gone to look for the barred eagle owl but along the long trail, a green-backed flycatcher had been sighted. While females have been seen more often, a male is rare, so this male flycatcher was a big draw. I played spotter that afternoon for the tiny but bright yellow migrant flycatcher for a change!

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

Now for some herons.

 

57. Black-Crowned Night Heron, Eastwood Green

 

A large flock had been roosting in the thick crowns of the trees that line the public road in my neighbourhood. On  my early morning walks, around 6.30am, they would silently wing their way in.  I've counted over 10-15 flying into just one tree each time, while many others head for mango trees scattered in the area. 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

58. Chinese Pond Heron, Central Boulevard

 

[Kitsafari]

59. Grey Heron, Pasir Ris Park/ Changi Business Park

 

A roosting and nesting park in Pasir Ris for a large flock of the resident grey herons. 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

60. Great-billed Heron, Marina East Drive

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

61. Pacific Reef Heron, Marina East Drive/Jurong River

 

A migrant species, both the white and dark morphs come to our shores. 

 

a white morph was busy feeding on prawns during low tide at Marina East

 

a handsome dark morph which has found a good temporary location with no competition from other birds at a quiet lake

 

[Kitsafari]

62. Purple Heron, Satay by the Bay

 

The resident birds nest at Ang Mo Kio-Bishan Park as well.

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

63. Striated Heron, Satay by the Bay

 

[Kitsafari]

64. Grey-headed Lapwing, Marina East Drive

 

The very skittish but very rare vagrant grey-headed lapwing tested every birder's patience. A lone one had been hanging out with the resident red-wattled lapwings but would often take flight into a nearby golf course when anything alarmed it. One day, a very small group of us (at least, the rest of the group did while I and another photographer waited on the high ground) decided to walk in slowly to get better shots but it was startled when a couple of red-wattled lapwings flew in. An exercise in patience and perseverence!

 

 

 

 

Edited February 28, 2021 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

65. Red-wattled Lapwing, Marina East Drive

 

 

[Kitsafari]

66. Masked Lapwing, Marina East Drive

 

[Kitsafari]

66. Blue-winged Leafbird, Dairy Farm Nature Park

 

an uncommon resident in the parks. 

 

[Kitsafari]

some other common birds in the garden now, although going through our photos, I realised that we've overlooked the zebra dove and the yellow-vented bulbuls - both of which are daily visitors to our garden! they'll have to wait for another day...

 

67. Spotted Dove, Eastwood vicinity

 

 

Edited February 28, 2021 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

68. Black-naped Oriole, Eastwood vicinity

 

A pair has been chasing the crows away over the last few weeks, and we think their nest is somewhere in the Rose of India tree in front of our house. i still can't find it though.

 

 

[Kitsafari]

69. Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Eastwood Green

 

The population seems to have dwindled a fair bit if anecdotes are to go by. We used to have a flock of 5-8 birds but now i only see two or three and not frequently as before. Other people have also reported similar incidents. we are not sure what is causing the disappearance of the native sparrows. 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

70. Asian Glossy Starling, Eastwood vicinity

 

 

[Kitsafari]

71. Common Tailorbird, Eastwood garden

 

 

[PeterHG]

Another batch of beautiful photos by both of you! You do try for the more unusual species and the rewards speak for themselves.

[Soukous]

Crikey, you don't do things by halves do you? That is quite some list of additions. 

[Galana]

Good to see you getting your hands on the camera now and again. I was worried.

And do tell us this rush of subjects was a months work and not an afternoon walk.

[Kitsafari]

thanks @PeterHG @Soukous @Galana

 

the entire list was over two months - the order depends on when Herman remembers to pass me the photos! LOL!  

[Kitsafari]

5 hours ago, Soukous said:

Crikey, you don't do things by halves do you? That is quite some list of additions. 

 

the count here will start to slow down when the migration ends in about a month or two. by then, europe count will surely pick up as the birds return up north.