Searching for the Cinnamon Bittern
Today, I am birding at Hampstead Wetlands Park. This location was one of the first that I visited when I started birding in 2023. However, I have not been back since because it is a pain to travel here without a car. Nevertheless, I am here today to see the Cinnamon Bittern (CB).
Arriving at 6:50AM, I immediately set up my gear to wait for any signs of the CB on the other side of the pond. It didn’t take long before the CB suddenly sprung out from the tall grass and landed on some bushes. Thankfully, there was a small opening to get some photos.
After a short while, the CB flew along the pond and disappeared once again into the tall grass from where it came. This time, I managed to get some flight shots of the CB which I’m really pleased with.
I observed a pair of Oriental Pied Hornbills hawking for insects by launching themselves from a perched position to catch prey in the air. This is the usual feeding technique of Bee-eaters and Flycatchers, but it is the first time I’ve seen Hornbills do this.
Even the Yellow-vented Bulbuls were having success catching insects for breakfast. Is there a high concentration of wasps or other insects in the area?
Meanwhile, the resident Buffy Fish Owl was perched on its usual tree scanning for prey.
The call of the Violet Turaco (VT) from a nearby tree attracted a group of birders to track it down. This individual had been spotted in the area since 2025. It is very likely an escapee from an aviary or pet trade because it is not naturally found in this part of the world (they are from Africa).
Besides that, some raptors were also spotted. First was the Crested Goshawk which was seen soaring in the air as it startled a flock of Asian Glossy Starlings which took off to escape.
Next raptor was the Crested Honey Buzzard. It circled in the sky slowly gaining elevation before disappearing into the distance.
Lastly, I noticed a pair of Ornate Sunbirds that kept perching on a log in the middle of the pond. On closer inspection, there was a nest to the side of the log, but I could not see if there were any chicks inside.
With that, I have finally seen all four species of Bitterns that occur in Singapore (Yellow, Cinnamon, Black and Von Shrenk’s).
eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S331541563
The Salaryman Birder 