SSIINNGGAAPPOORREE AAVVIIFFAAUUNNAA A monthly bulletin of the Nature Society (Singapore) Bird Group Volume 24 Published by Nature Society (Singapore) Bird Group, 510 Geylang Road, #02-05, The Sunflower, Singapore 389466. Number 4 Tel : 67412036, Fax : 67410871, Email : [email protected] , Website : http://www.nss.org.sg MICA(P) 239/11/2005 CONTENTS NSS Bird Group 1 Bird Report: April-June 2010 Compiled by Lim Kim Seng Chairman 39 Singapore Raptor Report: April-May 2010 Compiled by Tan Gim Cheong Alan OwYong 41 Where Have All The House Swifts Gone? By Lim Kim Seng ([email protected] ) 46 Letter: Birding in Singapore By Lim Kim Seng Vice-Chairman Ho Hua Chew ([email protected] ) SINAV Secretary Editorial Committee Willie Foo Lim Kim Chuah, Lim Kim Seng, Yong Ding Li, Andrew Chow, Albert Low ([email protected] ) Mangrove Blue Flycatcher Cyornis rufigastra at Pulau Ubin on 25 May 2010 By Lee Tiah Kee Nature Society (Singapore) is the national partner of Singapore Avifauna Volume 24 No 4 _____________________________________________________________________________ Bird Report Quarter 3 – April to June 2010 Compiled by Lim Kim Seng SINGAPORE HIGHLIGHTS April marked the last month of stay for many migrant birds in Singapore. In April 2010, 36 migrant species were still present though this was expected to reduce sharply in the following month. Amongst the more interesting ones included two different Chestnut- winged Cuckoo , the last Black Baza , a kettle of 30 Japanese Sparrowhawks , at Tuas, Javan Pond Heron , Watercock , ten shorebird species, Blue-winged Pitta , Asian Paradise Flycatcher and four species of warblers. Resident species were active as well and notable species included six cuckoo species, Spotted Wood Owl , inclusive of a new site for this species, Grey-headed Fish Eagle , Crested Serpent Eagle , Changeable Hawk Eagle , Mangrove Pitta , Mangrove Whistler and Straw-headed Bulbul . In addition, 17 species were recorded breeding this month including the nationally threatened Little Grebe and 5 species of escapees, including an addition to the growing escapee list – Red-headed Quelea . May 2010 saw just 13 migrants present including 5 shorebirds and three warblers. Also interesting were reports of over-wintering Japanese Sparrowhawks . The highlight of the month and perhaps the entire quarter under review was the discovery of a new site for Mangrove Blue Flycatcher followed by the first reported nest for Singapore on Pulau Ubin. There were 13 nesting records and 4 records of escapees. There was considerable reduction of birding activity and hence fewer records in June 2010. Migrants were also conspicuous by their near-total absence and included just 5 species – Whimbrel , Common Redshank , Little Egret , Cattle Egret and Blue- winged Pitta . The pitta record was noteworthy as it indicates a breeding population somewhere in Singapore, which would be a breeding range extension of over 300 km! An Osprey seen at Kranji Marsh was again indication that the status of this non- breeding species has changed regionally. Probably the most noteworthy resident this month were sightings of the nationally threatened Blue-rumped Parrot from Central Catchment, Dairy Farm and MacRitchie Reservoir. There were 8 breeding records and 4 records of escapees. JOHOR HIGHLIGHTS Activity was again centred on the jewel of south Johor, Panti Forest Reserve. Birding efforts revealed the presence of some real noteworthy species. Undoubtedly the centerpiece of the period (April-June 2010) was a Brown-backed Flowerpecker , _______________________________________________________________________________________________ - 1 - Singapore Avifauna Volume 24 No 4 _____________________________________________________________________________ photographed here in May. This is a rare bird not only in Panti but throughout its range. Another highlight of this period was the discovery of a family of Blyth’s Frogmouths in May. Other megabird highlights included Jambu Fruit Dove , Bat Hawk , Rail Babbler , Black Magpie , Pale Blue Flycatcher , Rufous-tailed Shama , Horsfield’ Babbler , Grey-breasted Babbler and White-bellied Munia . Female Pied Triller feeding young at Kranji Dam on 23 April 2010 By Lee Tiah Khee. SUMMARY This report covers noteworthy bird sightings in April to June 2010 for Singapore and the surrounding region. In general, the report will include but are not limited to the following categories: rarities, breeding or nesting records, arrival and departure dates for migratory species, new locality records, escapees and unusual behaviour. In addition, contributors are also advised to be as precise as possible concerning records. Please remember to include details such as how many birds were seen, the plumage, sex and age of the birds, the type of habitat in which they were observed, the food they were eating (if possible, identify the plant or animal), the weather encountered (what was the wind direction, tide conditions, etc.). Although it is not necessary to have such details for all record submissions, it is a good habit to cultivate and is normally required for very rare or unusual species. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ - 2 - Singapore Avifauna Volume 24 No 4 _____________________________________________________________________________ Please send all your records of interest to Lim Kim Seng @ [email protected] or Lim Kim Chuah @ [email protected] or Yong Ding Li at [email protected] . Alternatively you can also post your sightings at the NSS Bird Group website at http://wildbirdsingapore.nss.org.sg Please send your records no later than one week after the end of every month. Your contributions will be greatly appreciated and acknowledged. Unless stated otherwise, nomenclature and systematic follow K.S. Lim’s (2009) “The Avifauna of Singapore”, K.S. Lim & K.C. Lim’s (1999) “Pocket checklist of the birds of Johor, Peninsular Malaysia” for Johor, and B.L. Monroe Jr. & C.G. Sibley’s (1993) “A World Checklist of Birds “ for the rest of the region. We would like to thank the following contributors: Doreen Ang (DA), Samatha Ang (SMA), Howard Banwell (HB), Steve Bershader (SB), Mike Bush (MB), Jimmy Chew (JC), Alfred Chia (AC), Avian Chia (AVC), Jason Cho (JCo), Andrew Chow (ACW), FSC Fang (FSC), Willie Foo (WF), Gerard Francis (GF), Margie Hall (MH), Ho Hua Chew (HHC), Kenneth Kee (KK), Raj Krishnan (RK), Danny Lau (DL), Lau Jiasheng (LJS), Ben Lee (BL), Jimmy Lee (JLe), Pauline Lee (PL), Lee Tiah Khee (LTK), KC Leo (KCL), Jeremy Lewis (JL), Janet Lim (JLi), Lim Kim Chuah (LKC), Lim Kim Keang (LKK), Lim Kim Seng (LKS), Richard Lim (RL), Lim Wen Hui (LWH), Lim Wen Xiu (LWX), Low Choon How (LCH), Jeanne Miller (JM), Randal Ong (RO), Alan Owyong (AOY), Ulf Remahl (UR), Ian Rickword (IR), Neil Robertson (NR), Safizah Abdullah (SA), See Toh Yew Wai (ST), See Swee Leng (SSL), Sim Chong Hong (SCH), Martti Siponen (MS), Tan Gim Cheong (TGC), Tan Hui Boon (THB), Tan Ju Lin (TJL), Tan Kok Hui (TKH), Tan Yong Hong (TYH), Alan Tang (AT), KP Teh (TKP), Robert Teo (RT), Alex Ting (ALT), Angela Wade (AW), Ken Wade (KW), Wing Chong (WC), Wong Chung Cheong (WCC), Joanne Xue (JX), Yang Pah Liang (YPL), Margaret Yeo (MY) and Yong Ding Li (YDL) as well as all those who contributed by posting their sightings in the wildbirdsingapore E-group. In addition, we would like to Howard Banwell, Ben Lee, Lee Tiah Khee and Robert Teo for allowing us to use their photos in this report. ABBREVIATIONS USED: BBNP Bukit Batok Nature Park BTNR Bukit Timah Nature Reserve CCNR Central Catchment Nature Reserve DFNP Dairy Farm Nature Park KM Kranji Marsh PFR Panti Forest Reserve SBWR Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve SBG Singapore Botanic Gardens Sev obs Several observers _______________________________________________________________________________________________ - 3 - Singapore Avifauna Volume 24 No 4 _____________________________________________________________________________ APRIL 2010 SINGAPORE WANDERING WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna arcuata 7 were seen at SBG on 11/4 (sev obs). LESSER WHISTLING-DUCK Dendrocygna javanica 11 were counted at SBG on 11/4 (sev obs). RUFOUS WOODPECKER Celeus brachyurus 1 was seen in albizia woods at Neo Tiew Lane 2 on 25/4 (sev obs). At Lorong Halus, 2 were seen on 10/4 (LKS/YDL), and 1 on 14/4 (LKS) and 17/4 (LKS/YDL). BANDED WOODPECKER Picus miniaceus 1 was seen at SBG on 11/4 (sev obs). LACED WOODPECKER Picus vittatus 1 female was seen at Lorong Halus on 17/4 (LKS/YDL) and 1 female at BBNP on 18/4 (sev obs). COMMON GOLDENBACK Dinopium javanense A male was seen at Lorong Halus on 24/4 (LKS/YDL) and a pair at Neo Tiew Lane 2 on 25/4 (sev obs). LINEATED BARBET Megalaima lineata 1 was seen at SBG on 11/4 (sev obs), 5 at BBNP on 18/4 (sev obs) and 2 at Singapore Quarry on 20/4 (LKS). COPPERSMITH BARBET Megalaima haemacephala At Lorong Halus, 2 were seen on 2/4 (LKS/YDL), and 1 on 14/4 (LKS) and 24/4 (LKS/YDL).1 was also seen at SBG on 11/4 (sev obs) and 1 at BBNP on 25/4 (WC). ORIENTAL DOLLARBIRD Eurystomus orientalis At Lorong Halus, 1 was seen on 7/4 (LKS), 10/4 (LKS/YDL) and 17/4 (LKS/YDL), and 2 on 24/4 (LKS/YDL). 1 was also seen at SBG on 11/4 (sev obs). COMMON KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis 1 seen at Sungei Blukar on 2/4 (LKS/YDL), 7/4 (LKS) and 10/4 (LKS/YDL). STORK-BILLED KINGFISHER Pelargopsis capensis 1 was seen fishing at Sungei Buloh on 4/4 (LKS). _______________________________________________________________________________________________ - 4 - Singapore Avifauna Volume 24 No 4 _____________________________________________________________________________ BLUE-THROATED BEE-EATER Merops viridis 5 were seen at Lorong Halus on 2/4 (LKS/YDL) and 17/4 (LKS/YDL), 2 at SBWR on 4/4 (LKS), 2 at SBG on 11/4 (sev obs) and 4 at BBNP on 18/4 (sev obs). BLUE-TAILED BEE-EATER Merops philippinus At Lorong Halus, 3 were seen on 2/4 (LKS/YDL) and 1 on 7/4 (LKS).