2009 February 8 - Rifle Range

Contributed by Doreen Ang.
This is an edited version.

Ian, Freda, NK, AH, Jane and I birded in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve this morning. We walked in from Rifle Range Road and then turned left at the cross junction for a short walk up to Upper Peirce Reservoir. Some notable sightings to share:

1. Olive-winged Bulbul - There were quite a few. Of interest was a pair in a tree at the cross junction - one was carrying nesting material (thin twig) in its bill while the other was twittering away. Both birds later flew down to a low bush.
2. Chestnut-bellied Malkoha (2) mid-storey foraging in the late morning.
3. Common Hill Myna (2).
4. Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (2).
5. Cream-vented Bulbul (2 - at different locations).
6. Red-crowned Barbet (heard calling briefly in the distance).
7. Drongo Cuckoo (heard only)

We spent quite a while sitting by the reservoir's edge enjoying the cool breeze, serenity and some raptor-watching. In all, we saw these birds in flight over Upper Peirce Reservoir :

1. Changeable Hawk Eagle (1 dark morph & 1 pale morph - separate occasions).
2. Grey-headed Fish Eagle (1 adult).
3. Crested Serpent Eagle (1) - called 'pwee hee, pwee hee' as it patrolled the sky back and forth.
4. Whte-bellied Sea Eagle (1 adult).