2008 May 17 – Southern Ridges

Started my walk from Canopy Walk, Kent Ridge Park at 0805hr.
Then went down the winding path to HortPark.

Went up the Alexandra Arch at about 0930hr.

While on the Forest Walk, saw a female Common Iora on a rubber tree near exit staircase 3. She has some cotton in her beak. A male was sitting in a nest on a nearby branch.

The male flew out immediately when the female came in. She quickly unloaded the cotton and started to arrange the nest, while the male was vocalizing on another branch.

Went up the Henderson Waves at about 1040hr.

Walking towards Jewel Box, at Mount Faber Road/Loop between lamppost 24 and 25, saw a bird nest on a tree. A Changeable Hawk-eagle was standing on the rim. Think it noticed me when it shifted position to the central and behind a branch. Just then, another Hawk-eagle (pale morph) flew in and landed on a branch to the left. Guess the second bird also noticed me when it turned its back to me while moving higher up the branches. When I shifted position to have a better view, I was distracted by a White-rumped Shama that flew across and that is when I lost both Hawk-eagles.

A dark raptor was perched atop one of the telecoms tower. It was uniformly dark. I could not see any features to identify it.

Went down the Marang Trail and finished my walk at 1205hr.

Full list of species recorded:

1. White-throated Kingfisher
2. Asian Koel
3. Greater Coucal
4. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot
5. Common Pigeon
6. Spotted Dove
7. Pink-necked Green Pigeon
8. White-breasted Waterhen
9. Changeable Hawk-eagle
10. Black-naped Oriole
11. Common Iora
12. White-rumped Shama
13. White-vented Myna
14. Pacific Swallow
15. Straw-headed Bulbul
16. Yellow-vented Bulbul
17. White-crested Laughingthrush
18. Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker
19. Brown-throated Sunbird
20. Olive-backed Sunbird
21. Crimson Sunbird