It has been quite a year, birding wise.
Here are some highlights (* indicates first reported sighting in Singapore):
Cotton pygmy-goose – hongbao for Lunar New Year at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park, pond near Grub bistro.
Mandarin duck – male in breeding plumage with ring on left leg at Hougang Avenue 10.
Green broadbill – at Pulau Ubin, along Jalan Noordin. A police patrol car drove by when the crowd was getting too big.
*Spotted flycatcher – at Kent Ridge park. Walked a long way from the MRT station; thankfully the bird was active and everyone was rewarded with good views when it flew several times to the ground to forage.
*Tree pipit – at Dover Forest West. Went on Saturday afternoon, walked around and waited for about three hours, no show. Went again on Sunday morning, almost gave up when it appeared to a joyous crowd; everyone formed a big circle around the pipit (we practise social distancing, even with the bird) and cameras were clicking away enthusiatically; I think there was a smile on every masked face.
Fairy pitta – this is the second time that this pitta is seen in Singapore; I tried twice unsuccessfully when it first appeared in 2019.
Went to Hindhere Nature park on Deepavali and queued for about an hour (yes, NParks inroduced a queue system after some unpleasant incidents between birders/photographers and other park users when “star” birds appear).
Amur falcon – at Lorong Halus. This is a female who loves to eat green grasshoppers/katydids.
*Black redstart – in someone’s backyard at Springwood Crescent. The most unlikely place to find a rare bird.
Grey-faced buzzard – at Telok Blangah Hill park, carpark 3. A police patrol car was stationed there to ensure social distancing.
Mangrove whistler – at Berlayer Creek boardwalk. Paced up and down for more than 2.5 hours to see this bird, which is usually found on the Southern islands.
Looking forward to 2022!