Tag: SBG

Other miscellaneous birds of the interest.

Here’s one last batch of photos from the productive day of birding at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on 21-Mar. Starting at the Eco Lake, I spotted a Grey-rumped Treeswift (lifer) flying overhead.  

I also counted eight Oriental Pied Hornbills flying across the Eco Lake one after another. That was the first time I’ve seen such a large flock traveling together. 

While photographing the Crested Serpent Eagle, I spotted a small bird perched on the canopy of the same tree. Surprise, surprise. It was a Mugimaki Flycatcher. This one is a bit late on the migration as they mostly should have returned north by now.

Lastly, I decided to check out the Raffles Building car park which is a known hiding spot for a pair of Collared Scops Owls. I managed to see both owls but they were quite high up and well hidden. I left them to their slumber after taking a few quick shots.

eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S311805155

Fairy Pitta revisited.

After the encounter with the Crested Serpent Eagle (CSE), I decided to revisit the Fairy Pitta (FP). Reports had emerged in the birding community that the FP had started to forage nearer to the boardwalk which allowed for better views of the bird. 

I arrived at the Rainforest Trail boardwalk packed with birders and photographers who were eagerly searching for the FP. Meanwhile a lone staff member was struggling to handle the crowd control. Not wanting to add to the crowd situation, I decided to wait at the edge in the hopes that the FP may come my way instead. 

I guess I was at the peak of my lucky streak that day as the FP began to hop my way, so I managed to snap some close-up open photographs of the FP. 

The FP picked up a snail but dropped it shortly after.

At one point, the FP was so near that my lens could not focus but I guess that’s a good problem to have. 

The FP then surprised everyone by somehow flying through the crowd of birders from one side of the boardwalk to the other. It continued to forage after that unfazed

eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S311805155

An audience with the Crested Serpent Eagle.

I spent Saturday morning birding at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Reports emerged a few days ago on the sighting of the Crested Serpent Eagle (CSE) at the Healing Gardens. So that was where I was headed. 

As I entered the area, I immediately noticed a large brown protrusion sticking out of a tree branch. It did not look like an extension of the branch. As I was trying to make sense of what I was looking at, it turned its head and gave me a side eye.  There it is, the CSE! 

I managed to photograph the CSE from various angles as it remained still, keeping a lookout for prey. 

Soon, a small crowd of birders and curious parkgoers began to congregate around the CSE, but it did not seem fazed. 

After an hour plus, the CSE took off to perch on a higher tree and began to call. I waited with anticipation to see if there was another CSE nearby that would return its call. 

About 10 minutes later the CSE took off to the skies and slowly gained elevation before going out of sight. Pleased to get a photograph of the CSE in-flight showing it’s characteristic wing patterns. 

eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S311805155