Singapore Bird Report – June 2021 by Geoff Lim, Isabelle Lee & Tan Gim Cheong (Ed.)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Singapore Bird Report – June 2021 by Geoff Lim, Isabelle Lee & Tan Gim Cheong (Ed.) Singapore Bird Report – June 2021 by Geoff Lim, Isabelle Lee & Tan Gim Cheong (ed.) Not one but five spectacular species were reported in a hitherto quiet month of June. Read on to find out more! Black Magpie by Kenneth Chow, 9 June 2021 at Hindhede Nature Park. The first surprise find for June was a Black Magpie, Platysmurus leucopterus, on 9 June 2021 at Hindhede Quarry by Vinod Saranathan. Vinod reported that its “weird raucous call” gave it away when he saw it at 6:40pm that day. Another birder, Kenneth Chow, reported seeing the bird at 4:30pm, which he thought was a “strange crow with dirty wings” at the quarry area, and at 5:20pm when he thought it was a Greater Coucal. 1 Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler by Lawrence Cher, 15 June 2021 at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park. While the community was reeling from the appearance of the Magpie, a hitherto unexpected find in the form of a Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler, Macronus ptilosus, was made on 15 June 2021 around 2pm at the Upper Seletar Reservoir Park by Lawrence Cher. Lawrence was at the park looking for butterflies to photograph that afternoon as June was relatively quiet in terms of interesting bird life, when he noticed several Pin-striped Tit-Babblers and Chestnut-winged Babbler calling in the background. The birds were popping in and out from view as they foraged, when one popped into the open. Lawrence managed to obtain one clear photo from the series taken; he had thought that it was a Chestnut-winged Babbler until post-processing revealed that it was a different babbler species. 2 Wedge-tailed Shearwater by Art Toh, 23 June 2021 at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. The third report to take the community by storm was the appearance of a Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Ardenna pacifica, a seabird more likely to be encountered in the seas and oceans, than at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, as reported by William Khaw on 23 June 2021. The bird was apparently found at one of the apartment blocks of the housing estate that morning, and brought to the park by an unknown person. Concerned parties alerted ACRES, who collected the bird that evening. While the shearwater appeared to be far from any body of sea-water, these birds travel across long distances and may well have been in transit across our island when it possibly came into contact with one of our tall concrete structures. Unfortunately, the bird expired shortly after its rescue. 3 Green Broadbill at Pulau Ubin by Alan Owyong, 28 June 2021. A Green Broadbill, Calyptomena viridis, was discovered on 27 June 2021 along Jalan Batu Ubin, Pulau Ubin, by Adrian Silas Tay and Jerold Tan. The bird continued to remain visible for the rest of that Sunday, and was seen for subsequent days. According to our records, the bird was last reported in 1941 as a resident and thought to have been extirpated ever since. So, where did this Green Broadbill, a former resident come from? That was a question venerable birder, Alan Owyong, asked and an excerpt of his social media post is reproduced here: It is always a difficult question to answer especially if the species is being sold in the pet shops in Singapore or a popular caged bird. On 27 November 2014, one was photographed at East Coast Park and another was photographed a month later on 25 December at Pulau Ubin. These were assigned to Category [D] but were reassigned to Cat A in 2020 and listed in the 2021 Checklist. [I was reminded of one heard at Nee Soon in 2002.] The Green Broadbills can be nomadic and are known to wander afar in search of fruits. The continuous forest cover at Pulau Ubin must surely be a welcome sight for those birds that fly over from the forest of southern Johor. This Green Broadbill should be the same bird spotted on 11 April 2021 along the same stretch of road. [On] 28 June, we noticed that the Green Broadbill flew to a MacArthur’s Palm by the roadside to feed on the young green palm fruits. Most broadbills are insectivorous. But the Green Broadbill is [mainly] frugivorous and feed on berries, figs and small fruits. This may be the reason why it stayed around the same area for the past three days. 4 Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) Barred Eagle Owl by Lim Kim Chuah, 5 June 2021, Rifle Range Link. Within the core CCNR area, a Barred Eagle-Owl, Bubo sumatranus, was spotted on 5 June 2021, along Rifle Range Link (Lim Kim Chuah), while on the same day a single Black-headed Bulbul, Pycnonotus atriceps, was seen along the same track (Lau Jia Sheng). Visitors also spotted Malaysian Hawk-Cuckoo, Hierococcyx fugax, on 15 June 2021 (Max Khoo), and heard a Chestnut-winged Babbler, Stachyris erythroptera, on 19 June 2021 at Mandai Road Track 7 (Tan Kok Hui). From Jelutong Tower, two Blue-rumped Parrot, Psittinus cyanurus were spotted by Yap Bao Shen on 3 June 2021, as well as two Chestnut-bellied Malkoha, Phaenicophaeus sumatranus, (T. Ramesh), and a pair of Asian Red-eyed Bulbul, Pycnonotus brunneus, (Chan Mei Yee) on 20 June 2021. Fringe parks abutting the CCNR yielded good forest species such as the Violet Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus, seen at Hindhede Nature Park on 10 June 2021 by Yip Jen Wei, a Red-crowned Barbet, Megalaima rafflesii, spotted on 20 June 2021 at MacRitchie Reservoir Park by Marcel Finlay. At Thomson Nature Park, a Short-tailed Babbler, Malcocincla malaccensis, was recorded by Fitri Adnan on 20 June 2021, and a family of White-rumped Shama, Copsychus malabaricus, with two fledglings were recorded by Khong Yew on 30 June 2021. A Blue-eared Kingfisher, Alcedo meninting, was spotted at Hindhede Nature Park on 21 June 2021 by Raghav Narayanswamy. 5 Central Singapore Juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle at Goldhill Avenue by Tan Gim Cheong, 22 June 2021. There was much rejoicing over the sighting of a juvenile Crested Serpent Eagle, Spilornis cheela, together with adults at Goldhill Avenue. One sighting of the juvenile eagle was on 19 June 2021 by Matthew Teng. More reports of the confirmation of a successful nesting can be found in this link. Central Singapore also yielded the afore-mentioned Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Ardenna pacifica, which was reported on 23 June 2021 at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park by William Khaw, Art Toh and others. On 13 June 2021, Ash Foo found a pair of Striated Herons, Butorides striata, at their nest at the same park. 6 Northern Singapore The Lorong Halus Wetland continued to support the Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis, which was spotted on 15 June 2021 by Yip Jen Wei, who also saw an Asian Palm Swift, Cypsiurus balasiensis, at the same location. On 24 June, 2021, Yeong WaiKai found a male Common Iora, Aegithina tiphia, sitting on its nest. Further afield, a Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea, was reportedly seen at Sengkang Riverside Park/ Sengkang Floating Wetland on 21 June 2021 by Vilis Lu. At Punggol Barat on 4 June 2021, Keith Hutton found a Large-tailed Nightjar, Caprimulgus macrurus, nest with two eggs. Eastern Singapore Mangrove Pitta at Pasir Ris Park by Danny Khoo, 28 June 2021. 7 Pasir Ris Park continued to support a diverse range of residents, including the single Mangrove Pitta, Pitta megarhyncha, spotted on 4 June 2021 by Danny Khoo, and on 9 June 2021 by Low Zhi Hao, a pair of adult and two juvenile Spotted Wood Owl, Strix seloputo, on 15 June 2021 by Mae Wong, as well as reports of a Green Imperial Pigeon, Ducula aenea, a Tanimbar Corella, Cacatua goffiniana, and an over-summering Crested Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus, on 22 June 2021 by Shuna Maekawa. At the nearby Tampines Eco Green, a Rufous Woodpecker, Micropternus brachyurus, was reported on 22 June 2021 by Lim Kim Keang, who also reported the presence of two Asian Golden Weavers, Ploceus hypoxanthus. Pulau Ubin continued to dazzle with reports of the Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon, Treron fulvicollis, spotted on 12 June 2021 by Lim Kim Chuah, a Black-winged Flycatcher- shrike, Hemipus hirundinaceus, on 21 June 2021, at the Chek Jawa Wetlands by Jeff Tan, and the spectacular Green Broadbill, Calyptomena viridis, on 27 June 2021 at Jalan Batu Ubin, discovered by Adrian Silas Tay and Jerold Tan. On another northeastern island, Frankie Cheong found a small colony of 20-30 breeding Little Terns, Sternula albifrons, with some 8-10 chicks hatching around mid-June; later on a single stilt was seen on 25 June 2021, and then he reported 4 stilts, which appeared to be an interesting mix of at least one Pied Stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus, (which was the fifth exceptional species for the month) and one Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus, on 28 June 2021. Southern Singapore Over at Gardens by the Bay, two House Swift, Apus nipalensis, were reported on 6 June 2021 by Yip Jen Wei, while two species of raptor were reported on 20 June 2021 – a single Changeable Hawk-Eagle, Nisaetus cirrhatus, and a Crested Goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus, by budding birder, Kaeden Sim, who also saw the Ruddy-breasted Crake, Porzana fusca. On 20 June 2021, Abegale Queddeng witnessed a snake catching one of the Sunda Pygmy Woodpeckers, Yungipicus moluccensis, that tried to defend their nest, and on the next day Kelvin Ng found the remaining parent still attending to the nest. Kelvin also spotted a fledgling Olive- backed Sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis on the same day. Then on 23 June 2021, Jayden Woo found a Yellow-vented Bulbul’s, Pycnonotus goiavier, nest that held two chicks.
Recommended publications
  • NSS Bird Group Report – November 2019
    NSS Bird Group Report – November 2019 By Geoff Lim, Alan Owyong (compiler), Tan Gim Cheong (ed.). November was spectacular, with the first record of two species – the Fairy Pitta and Shikra at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve; an Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher (the locally extinct rufous- backed subspecies), found inside a camera shop in the city; and, a rare Red-footed Booby at St John’s Island. Also, it was and has always been a great month to spot migrating raptors in southern Singapore. A Fairy’s Visitation in November The first Fairy Pitta discovered in Singapore on 8 Nov 2019 – photo by Francis Yap. On 8 November 2019, Francis Yap and Richard White were en route to Jelutong Tower, when the duo spotted a paler than usual pitta along the trail under the darkening morning sky as a storm threatened from Sumatra. When Francis managed to regain phone reception and were able to refer to other photos on the internet, the two confirmed that they had Singapore’s first record of the Fairy Pitta, Pitta nympha. Francis’ electrifying account can be accessed here. The Fairy Pitta stopped over for a week, with daily records from 8-13 November 2019. 1 The Fairy Pitta has been recognised as part of a superspecies comprising the Blue-winged Pitta, P. moluccensis, Mangrove Pitta, P. megarhyncha, and Indian Pitta, P. brachyura (Lambert & Woodcock, 1996:162), hence the superficial resemblance with one another. BirdLife has classified the species as Vulnerable, with key threats being habitat loss and conversion, as well as local trapping pressure (BirdLife, 2019).
    [Show full text]
  • NSS Bird Group Report – February 2020
    NSS Bird Group Report – February 2020 By Geoff Lim & Isabelle Lee, & Tan Gim Cheong (ed.) February continues with unusual species – the first occurrence of the Chinese Blackbird in Singapore, the first occurrence of the nominate subspecies of the White Wagtail, and our third sighting of the very rare Chinese Blue Flycatcher. Chinese Blue Flycatcher, photographed by a casual birder on 25 February 2020 at the CCNR. The third sighting of the very rare Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Cyornis glaucicomans, was made by a casual birder on 25 February 2020 inside the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR). On 29 February 2020, the bird was spotted again and heard in the early morning by Geoff Lim and Isabelle Lee, and subsequently seen by several others in the late morning. Previous occurrences for the species included a sighting in November 1997 at Sungei Buloh, and a male bird photographed at Bidadari in November 2013 (the supposed occurrence in December 2015 was a mis-identification). 1 The Chinese Blue Flycatcher was previously lumped together as a subspecies of the Blue-throated Flycatcher, Cyornis rubeculoides, (for more taxonomic info, see Zhang, et al., 2016). Although classified as Least Concern, the bird is generally uncommon and widespread across its breeding range, which extends from southern Shaanxi and western Hubei to Yunnan, and its non-breeding range in west, central and southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia (del Hoyo, Collar and Christie, 2020), and Singapore. This species prefers dense thickets, and the low and shady understorey, rarely 3m above the ground (del Hoyo, Collar and Christie, 2020); though observations by volunteers have shown that the species does visit the mid to upper canopy levels of the rainforest.
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore for Families Asia Pacificguides™
    ™ Asia Pacific Guides Singapore for Families A guide to the city's top family attractions and activities Click here to view all our FREE travel eBooks of Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and Bangkok Introduction Singapore is Southeast Asia's most popular city destination and a great city for families with kids, boasting a wide range of attractions and activities that can be enjoyed by kids and teenagers of all ages. This mini-guide will take you to Singapore's best and most popular family attractions, so you can easily plan your itinerary without having to waste precious holiday time. Index 1. The Singapore River 2 2. The City Centre 3 3. Marina Bay 5 4. Chinatown 7 5. Little India, Kampong Glam (Arab Street) and Bugis 8 6. East Coast 9 7. Changi and Pasir Ris 9 8. Central and North Singapore 10 9. Jurong BirdPark, Chinese Gardens and West Singapore 15 10. Pulau Ubin and the islands of Singapore 18 11. Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore and "Resorts World" 21 12. Other attractions and activities 25 Rating: = Not bad = Worth trying = A real must try Copyright © 2012 Asia-Pacific Guides Ltd. All rights reserved. 1 Attractions and activities around the Singapore River Name and details What is there to be seen How to get there and what to see next Asian Civilisations Museum As its name suggests, this fantastic Address: 1 Empress Place museum displays the cultures of Asia's Rating: tribes and nations, with emphasis on From Raffles Place MRT Station: Take Exit those groups that actually built the H to Bonham Street and walk to the river Tuesday – Sunday : 9am-7pm (till city-state.
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore Raptor Report February 2020
    Singapore Raptor Report February 2020 Common Buzzard, juvenile pale morph, at Bedok North Avenue 3, on 27 Feb 2020, by Danny Khoo Summary for migrant species: In February 2020, 126 raptors of 10 migrant species were recorded. A scarce Common Buzzard perched on top of a HDB apartment block at Bedok North Avenue 3 was photographed by Danny Khoo on the 27th. A single dark morph Booted Eagle was photographed in flight at Coney Island on the 23rd by Yip Jen Wei, who also photographed a Grey-faced Buzzard at Puaka Hill, Pulau Ubin on the 29th. Three Chinese Sparrowhawks were recorded, one at Pasir Ris, one at Lorong Halus – Coney Island area, and one female wintering at Ang Mo Kio. Of the six Jerdon's Bazas, five were recorded in the Lorong Halus – Coney Island area between the 7th to the 22nd, and one at Pulau Ubin on the 23rd. At our coastal areas, six Western Ospreys were recorded, including one at Lorong Halus on the 25th, mobbed by a Peregrine Falcon. As for the Peregrine Falcons, seven were recorded around the island, including one that mobbed an Oriental Honey Buzzard at Lorong Halus on the 25th. Page 1 of 9 Nine Japanese Sparrowhawks were recorded, all singles, at various localities. Rounding off the migrant raptors were 45 Oriental Honey Buzzards and 47 Black Bazas, including a flock of 14 at Kranji Marshes on the 28th. Grey-headed Fish Eagle, flying off with a Cinnamon Bittern that it had caught in the river, at Pandan River, on 18 Feb 2020, by Yeak Hwee Lee.
    [Show full text]
  • The Singapore Urban Systems Studies Booklet Seriesdraws On
    Biodiversity: Nature Conservation in the Greening of Singapore - In a small city-state where land is considered a scarce resource, the tension between urban development and biodiversity conservation, which often involves protecting areas of forest from being cleared for development, has always been present. In the years immediately after independence, the Singapore government was more focused on bread-and-butter issues. Biodiversity conservation was generally not high on its list of priorities. More recently, however, the issue of biodiversity conservation has become more prominent in Singapore, both for the government and its citizens. This has predominantly been influenced by regional and international events and trends which have increasingly emphasised the need for countries to show that they are being responsible global citizens in the area of environmental protection. This study documents the evolution of Singapore’s biodiversity conservation efforts and the on-going paradigm shifts in biodiversity conservation as Singapore moves from a Garden City to a City in a Garden. The Singapore Urban Systems Studies Booklet Series draws on original Urban Systems Studies research by the Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore (CLC) into Singapore’s development over the last half-century. The series is organised around domains such as water, transport, housing, planning, industry and the environment. Developed in close collaboration with relevant government agencies and drawing on exclusive interviews with pioneer leaders, these practitioner-centric booklets present a succinct overview and key principles of Singapore’s development model. Important events, policies, institutions, and laws are also summarised in concise annexes. The booklets are used as course material in CLC’s Leaders in Urban Governance Programme.
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore Raptor Report January 2021
    Singapore Raptor Report – Jan 2021 Singapore Raptor Report January 2021 Western Osprey, at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin, 29 Jan 2021, by Tan Gim Cheong Summary for migrant species: The end of the month seemed to be a good time for scarce migrants. A Himalayan Vulture was photographed in flight at Marina East on the 30th, a Black Kite photographed at Changi Boardwalk on the 31st, and an Oriental Scops Owl photographed at the vicinity of Hindhede Nature Park on the 30th. The wintering juvenile Rufous-bellied Eagle was spotted at Dairy Farm Nature Park on the 6th and 31st. Only one Chinese Sparrowhawk was recorded, at Telok Blangah Hill Park on the 3rd. Two Jerdon’s Baza were still around the Changi Business Park canal in January. Page 1 of 12 Singapore Raptor Report – Jan 2021 Four Western Ospreys were around at the northern areas, thirteen Peregrine Falcons were recorded, often perched on buildings. Of the 61 migrant Oriental Honey Buzzards, one at Changi Business Park on the 17th & 18th appeared to be a juvenile ruficollis. Finally, there were 15 Japanese Sparrowhawks, and 37 Black Bazas. White-bellied Sea Eagle, in flight with a half-eaten prey (possibly an eel), SBWR, 16 Jan 2021, by Teo Chee Yong. Highlights for sedentary species: Breeding-related activities were noted for four species. Two chicks of the Brahminy Kite were observed on a nest at West Coast Park on the 23rd. On the 30th, mating was observed for a pair of White-bellied Sea Eagles at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. At Pasir Ris Park on the 3rd, it appeared that the Crested Goshawks had built a new nest; in the middle of the month, there were two newly fledged juvenile goshawks at West Coast Park; and another two at Sin Ming Drive.
    [Show full text]
  • Factsand Figures
    52.53 FactsAnd Figures Indicators FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005 FY 2006 FY 2006 Target WITS Participation Rate (%) 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 WITS Project Ratio (%) 212.00 188.00 190.00 181.00 172.00 171.00 170.00 WITS Implementation Ratio (%) 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 SSS Participation Rate 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 SSS Suggestion Ratio 5.30 5.23 5.07 5.10 5.20 5.20 5.00 SSS Implementation Ratio 0.67 0.63 0.78 0.60 0.62 0.59 0.53 Awards Bridge of Hope Award SHARE Gold Award Excellent Service Award – 1 Star, 6 Gold and 3 Silver 5-Year Outstanding SHARE Award Green Mark Award – 1 Gold Plus and 2 Gold Singapore HEALTH Award – Platinum ISO 9001:2000 Recertification Singapore Innovation Class National IQC Convention – 2 Gold and 1 Star Staff Information Staff Strength 16% Breakdown of Staff Strength 766 by Educational Level Staff Turnover 31.7% Degree & above 243 0.99% Diploma 115 Training Places GCE “A” Level 59 98.07% 29.6% Secondary & “O” Level 227 Primary & below 122 15.0% Total 766 7.7% Regional Parks & Recreation Areas Managed by NParks Area (ha) Area (ha) Ang Mo Kio Town Garden East 4.88 Marina Promenade 8.17 Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West 20.63 Mount Faber Park 56.46 Bedok Reservoir Park 42.62 One-North Park 3.31 Bedok Town Park 14.62 Pasir Ris Park 70.52 Bishan Park 60.24 Pasir Ris Town Park 14.01 Bukit Batok Nature Park 35.74 Pearl’s Hill City Park 8.50 Bukit Timah Nature Reserve 162.64 Pulau Ubin Recreation Area Central Catchment Nature Reserve 455.00 (including
    [Show full text]
  • Building Owner / Carpark Operator Address Postal Code
    NETS TOP UP MACHINES Building Owner / Carpark Operator Address Postal Code ZHAOLIM PTE LTD 115 EUNOS AVENUE 3 EUNOS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE SINGAPORE 409839 YESIKEN PTE LTD 970 GEYLANG ROAD TRISTAR COMPLEX SINGAPORE 423492 WINSLAND INVESTMENT PTE LTD 163 PENANG RD WINSLAND HOUSE II SINGAPORE 238463 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 461 CLEMENTI ROAD P121-SIM SINGAPORE 599491 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 118 ALJUNIED AVENUE 2 P204_2-GEM SINGAPORE 380118 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 30 ORANGE GROVE ROAD P203-REL RELC BUILDING SINGAPORE 258352 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 461 CLEMENTI ROAD P121-SIM SINGAPORE 599491 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 461 CLEMENTI ROAD P121-SIM SINGAPORE 599491 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 5 TAMPINES CENTRAL 6 TELEPARK SINGAPORE 529482 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 49 JALAN PEMIMPIN APS IND BLDG CARPARK SINGAPORE 577203 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD SGH CAR PARK BOOTH NEAR EXIT OF CARPARK C SINGAPORE 169608 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 587 BT TIMAH RD CORONATION S/C CARPARK SINGAPORE 269707 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 280 WOODLANDS INDUSTRIAL HARVEST @ WOODLANDS 757322 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 15 SCIENCE CENTRE ROAD SCI SINGAPORE SCIENCE CEN SINGAPORE 609081 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 56 CASSIA CRESCENT KM1 SINGAPORE 391056 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 19 TANGLIN ROAD TANGLIN SHOPPING CENTRE SINGAPORE 247909 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 115 ALJUNIED AVENUE 2 GE1B SINGAPORE 380115 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 89 MARINE PARADE CENTRAL MP19 SINGAPORE 440089 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD 32 CASSIA CRESCENT K10 SINGAPORE 390032 WILSON PARKING (S) PTE LTD
    [Show full text]
  • MEDIA RELEASE for Immediate Release Nparks Announces That
    MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release NParks announces that over 500 species have been discovered or rediscovered locally over the past five years 48 new targets have been added to the species recovery programme 27 May 2017 – The National Parks Board (NParks) announced that over 500 species have been discovered and rediscovered over the past five years in Singapore by NParks staff, research partners and naturalists. These species include both marine and terrestrial animals, plants including orchids, and insects. These discoveries were made during in-depth surveys, such as the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve survey, as well as concerted efforts to survey Singapore’s nature reserves and nature areas in the past five years. The list of discoveries and rediscoveries includes a bee species that is potentially new to science, and a very rare orchid. A small carpenter bee of the genus Ceratina that is potentially new to science was found by chance in 2014 while NParks staff were studying a clump of flowering Tiger Orchids. In 2016, a clump of the Acriopsis ridleyi growing on a tall tree in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was collected. When it flowered, the Singapore Botanic Gardens herbarium verified that it was a species of orchid thought extinct for over 100 years. More details about the discoveries and rediscoveries can be found in Factsheet A. Despite Singapore being highly urbanised, the fact that we are able to discover and rediscover over 500 species in our city-state in the last five years shows that there is a lot more biodiversity in our City in a Garden that have yet to be discovered and studied.
    [Show full text]
  • List of Chinese Terms Windsor Nature Park
    List of Chinese Terms Desmond Lee 李智陞 Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and National 内政部兼国家发展部高级政务部长 Development Chong Kee Hiong 鍾奇雄 Adviser to Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC GROs 碧山--大巴窑集选区基层组织顾问 Dr Leong Chee Chiew 梁志超博士 Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Professional 国家公园局 Development & Services Cluster 专业发展与服务 Commissioner of Parks and Recreation 副局长 National Parks Board 公园及康乐总监 Wong Tuan Wah 黄墩华 Group Director, Conservation 国家公园局 National Parks Board 自然保护处高级署长 Sharon Chan 曾巧銮 Director, Central Nature Reserve 国家公园局 National Parks Board 中央自然保护区处长 Toh Yuet Hsin 卓悦歆 Deputy Director, Conservation 国家公园局 National Parks Board 自然保护处 副处长 Windsor Nature Park Bukit Timah Nature Reserve 武吉知马自然保护区 Central Catchment Nature Reserve 中央集水区自然保护区 Dairy Farm Nature Park 牛乳场自然公园 Hindhede Nature Park 海希德自然公园 Windsor Nature Park 温莎自然公园 Thomson Nature Park 汤申自然公园 Springleaf Nature Park 春叶自然公园 Chestnut Nature Park 策士纳自然公园 Rifle Range Nature Park 射靶场自然公园 Zhenghua Nature Park 正华自然公园 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve 双溪布洛湿地保护区 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Extension 双溪布洛湿地保护区扩展区 TreeTop Walk 树梢吊桥 Green buffer 缓冲绿带 Hanguana Trail 匍茎草步道 Drongo Trail 大盘尾步道 Squirrel Trail 松鼠步道 Sub-canopy walk 次冠层走道 Marsh habitat 沼泽栖息地 Freshwater stream 淡水溪流 Visitor pavilion 访客亭阁 Boardwalk 木栈道 Singapore Ginger (Zingiber singapurense) 新加坡姜 Singapore Durian (Durio singaporensis) 新加坡榴莲 Drum-stick Ginger (Etlingera maingayi) 马来瓷玫瑰 Memali (Leea angulata) 刺火筒树 Kayu Gaharu (Aquilaria malaccensis) 沉香树 Kayu Arang (Cratoxylum cochinchinense) 黄牛木 Red Dhup (Parishia insignis) 帕里漆木 Greater Racket-tailed
    [Show full text]
  • Singapore Raptor Report February 2021
    Singapore Raptor Report – Feb 2021 Singapore Raptor Report February 2021 Brown Fish Owl, at Hindhede Nature Park, 17 Feb 2021, by Jackie Yeo The highlight for February 2021 must have been the incredible sighting of the first Brown Fish Owl in Singapore, and the Black-thighed Falconet which had not been seen for decades, more on these later. Summary for migrant species: In February 2021, 139 raptors of eight migrant species were recorded. The only Rufous- bellied Eagle wintering in Singapore was recorded at Dairy Farm Nature Park on the 1st, Woodlands on the 6th, and Hillview MRT vicinity on the 21st. Only two Chinese Sparrowhawks were recorded, the wintering female at Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West on the 12th and 13th, and a male at Lorong Halus Wetlands on the 20th. Five Jerdon’s Bazas were recorded, singles at Pulau Ubin, Changi Business Park, Pasir Ris Park, Tampines Eco Green, and Lorong Halus-Punggol Waterway area. There were also five Western Ospreys and they were recorded at Changi Business Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Upper Seletar Reservoir, Jelutong Tower, and Hindhede Nature Park. Fourteen Peregrine Falcons were recorded, often perched on buildings. There were also 22 Japanese Sparrowhawks, 39 Black Bazas, and 51 Oriental Honey Buzzards. Page 1 of 12 Singapore Raptor Report – Feb 2021 Highlights for sedentary species: Jackie Yeo was at Hindhede Nature Park on 17 Feb 2021 when he photographed an unusual- looking large brown owl that proved to be a Brown Fish Owl, the first sighting of the species in Singapore. The nearest known population is at northern Peninsular Malaysia, some 500- 600 kilometres away.
    [Show full text]
  • An Unprecedented Influx of Vagrants Into Malaysia and Singapore During the 2019–2020 Winter Period
    142 BirdingASIA 33 (2020): 142–147 FROM THE FIELD EXTRA An unprecedented influx of vagrants into Malaysia and Singapore during the 2019–2020 winter period YONG CHEE KEITA SIN, DILLEN NG & MARTIN KENNEWELL Introduction Phylloscopus inornatus by making a semi-quantitative The northern winter of 2019–2020 brought an unprecedented comparison of their sightings in Singapore over the last three number and variety of vagrants to West Malaysia and Singapore, winter seasons. producing an exceptional number of records, including 10 country The observers’ initials are given after their sightings and firsts (four for Malaysia and six for Singapore) as well as notable their full names are given here: high counts of several uncommon migrants. Many of the unusual Arfar Nasution (ANa), Adrian Silas Tay (AST), Arthur Toh (AT), species recorded have broadly similar wintering ranges in the Ang Teck Hin (ATH), Chris Chapman (CC), Chris Gibbins (CG), East Asian and Indochinese regions, as shown in Figure 1, which Caroline Ho Bee Geok (CH), Chan Kai Lin (CKL), C. Y. Tan (CYT), depicts the ‘normal’ wintering ranges of some 31 non-pelagic Chua Yingzhi (CYZ), Dave Bakewell (DB), David Beaver (DaB), species (indicated by † in the species accounts), all of which Esther Ong (EO), Fadzrun Adnan (FA), Geraldine Lee (GL), Keith appeared unexpectedly in Peninsular Malaysia and/or Singapore Hutton (KH), Johnny Chew (JC), Khor Harn Sheng (KHS), Kee Jing during this winter period and are included in the species accounts Ying (KJY), Kenneth Kee (KK), Kelvin Ng (KN), Koh Swee Seng below. Their wintering ranges were adapted from individual (KSS), Lynette Chia (LC), Long Roslee bin Ngah (LR), Lim Ying Hien species accounts in HBW Alive (del Hoyo et al.
    [Show full text]