The Salaryman Birder

Tag: BGP

  • 10 Aug 26 – Bukit Gombak Park

    Refresher course

    It’s been 2 months since I last went out to bird. I’ve been using the time for personal commitments and to revisit another past hobby, reading (don’t get me started on the crazy hot weather of late). Nevertheless, I thought it’d be nice to just spend a few hours for some casual birding at my favorite “backyard” today.

    The first bird of interest I spotted was a pair of Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker calling and foraging. These beautiful little birds are always a joy to photograph provided they stay still.

    Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker

    On the same plant was a lone female Brown-throated Sunbird busy feeding on a flower. It didn’t mind my presence too much as I tried to find a better angle to photograph it amongst the congested leaves and branches.

    Brown-throated Sunbird @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Brown-throated Sunbird

    This was the first time I’ve spotted a flock of Eurasian Tree Sparrows in the middle of the park. I’ve always observed them on the fringes of the park perhaps to avoid the many Javan Mynahs that forage in the same area.

    Eurasian Tree Sparrow @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Eurasian Tree Sparrow

    Lastly, I spotted a pair of Collared Kingfisher swoop down to the ground to catch an insect. Unfortunately, the action happened too fast for me to capture a meaningful photograph so here’s a shot of the bird post-meal.

    Collared Kingfisher @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Collared Kingfisher

    eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S381992814

  • Birding Flashbacks #02: The Brown Shrike of Bukit Gombak Park

    Date: Oct 2023 to Mar 2024, Nov to Dec 2024
    Location: Bukit Gombak Park

    Over the winter migration seasons of 2023 and 2024, I would frequent my “backyard” Bukit Gombak Park to photograph a lone wintering Brown Shrike.

    Brown shrike @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Brown Shrike (taken in 2023)

    I do not know if they are the same bird across both years. But I assumed they are since both were not skittish and allowed me to photograph them at a relatively close distance.

    Brown shrike @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Brown Shrike (taken in 2024)

    I managed to get many photographs of the bird during that time including a flight shot and pictures of it with various prey in mouth.

    Brown shrike @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Brown Shrike in flight (taken in 2024)
    Brown shrike @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Brown Shrike with katydid(taken in 2024)

    The most memorable encounter had to be the time I observed it pull an earthworm out of the ground before settling on it’s favorite perch to finish it’s meal. As a child, I’ve seen so many picture books of birds pulling worms out of the ground but witnessing it in real life is quite something.

    Brown shrike @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Brown Shrike with earthworm (taken in 2024)

    Unfortunately, I have not seen the bird in recent years. It may be wintering elsewhere but it’s also possible that it may have perished. Winter migration is a perilous journey and birds die for various reasons from predation, exhaustion to window strikes.

    Brown shrike @ Bukit Gombak Park
    Brown Shrike (taken in 2024)

    Wherever you may be, I hope you are in a better place.

    eBird checklist: Various (too many to put here)

  • 07 Jun 26 – Bukit Gombak Park, Singapore

    Backyard birding on a hot weekend

    The extremely hot weather the day before kind of turned me off from going birding in the morning. So I decided to just go for another session of casual birding at my “backyard”.

    Common Iora @ Bukit Gombak Park, Singapore
    Common Iora

    Today I observed a Collared Kingfisher regurgitate a pellet of undigested food for the first time (this is a normal behavior). Unfortunate that I could not get a photo when the pellet was expelled.

    Collared Kingfisher @ Bukit Gombak Park, Singapore
    Collared Kingfisher
    Collared Kingfisher @ Bukit Gombak Park, Singapore
    Collared Kingfisher

    The other first time is spotting a White-bellied Sea Eagle perched high atop a tree. I’ve seen them fly-by a few times but never perched on this tree. It didn’t stay for long before taking off.

    White-bellied Sea Eagle @ Bukit Gombak Park, Singapore
    White-bellied Sea Eagle

    I’m glad that I’m still seeing “first times” here despite having birded here so many times (this is my 56th eBird checklist for this location).

    eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S353779529

  • 27 May 26 – Jurong Lake Gardens / Bukit Gombak Park, Singapore

    In search of more resident birds.

    It’s a public holiday today so let’s go for some “overtime” birding. I decided to try my luck again at Jurong Lake Gardens for the Barred Buttonquail. But I’m just going to preface this post that it was another fruitless attempt for the target bird.

    Scaly-breasted Munia @ Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore.
    Scaly-breasted Munia

    Nevertheless, there are still plenty of other resident birds to see. Starting with the Scaly-breasted Munia which is commonly seen in the grassland area.

    Scaly-breasted Munia @ Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore.
    Scaly-breasted Munia

    The Zitting Cisticola is another commonly spotted grassland species. This one caught a grasshopper for breakfast.

    Zitting Cisticola @ Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore.
    Zitting Cisticola

    Next, I spotted a juvenile Oriental Magpie Robin. It flew from tree to tree following it’s parents around to look for food.

    Oriental Magpie Robin (juvenile) @ Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore.
    Oriental Magpie Robin (juvenile)

    I finally spotted the Lesser Coucal which I’ve heard calling on multiple past visits.

    Lesser Coucal @ Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore.
    Lesser Coucal

    I also spotted the Watercock at Alstonia Island again. Quite surprised it was still around as it is a migratory visitor. Unfortunately, I could not snap a photo before it disappeared into some bushes. So here’s a photo of the White-breasted Waterhen instead.

    White-breasted Waterhen @ Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore.
    White-breasted Waterhen

    Of course, I can’t miss out on the Sunbirds. They are always fun to photograph (as I’ve mentioned many times in past posts).

    Ornate Sunbird @ Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore.
    Ornate Sunbird

    In the evening, I decided to end the day with some casual birding at Bukit Gombak Park. It was a hot, sunny evening and In the far distance, I could see a raptor thermalling to gain altitude. Through the camera, I can see it’s a Changeable Hawk Eagle which is a first for me at Bukit Gombak.

    Changeable Hawk Eagle @ Bukit Gombak Park, Singapore.
    Changeable Hawk Eagle

    All in all, a midweek break well spent.

    eBird checklists:
    1. https://ebird.org/checklist/S347750054
    2. https://ebird.org/checklist/S347753546

  • 01 May 26 – Bukit Gombak Park / Dairy Farm Nature Park, Singapore

    Labor Day birding.

    It’s a public holiday today so there’s more birding to be done. I had a really unremarkable walk at Bukit Gombak Park in the morning that I wanted to pretend it did not happen. But anyway, here’s a photo of a White-crested Laughingthrush with an insect for breakfast.

    White-crested Laughingthrush @ Bukit Gombak Park
    White-crested Laughingthrush

    In the late afternoon, I decided to bird at Dairy Farm Nature Park (DFNP). Unfortunately, the weather was crap – overcast skies and intermittent showers of rain. Nevertheless, I soldiered on. 

    For some reason, the Rufous-tailed Tailorbird had eluded me all the times I’ve visited DFNP. Finally, today, I managed to get a record shot of the bird. That’s another tick to my life list.

    Rufous-tailed Tailorbird @ Dairy Farm Nature Park
    Rufous-tailed Tailorbird

    I spent the rest of the evening camped at the viewing platform. Another birder mentioned he saw a Chestnut-bellied Malkoha earlier but no such luck for me. I finally saw the White-rumped Shama in the open after hearing it’s call during the last few visits to the area.

    White-rumped Shama @ Dairy Farm Nature Park
    White-rumped Shama

    Last photo to showcase – the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. They are quite common in DFNP but always a joy to photograph.

    Greater Racket-tailed Drongo @ Dairy Farm Nature Park
    Greater Racket-tailed Drongo

    eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S330442115