NSS Bird Report- July 2019

July 2019 was an amazing month, with the first record of the Pied Stilt, not just occurring, but also

breeding, in Singapore; and the first breeding record of the rare Black-winged Stilt, so far only

known as a visitor. The month also closed with the complete loss of a brood of 11 ducklings of a

pair of Lesser Whistling Ducks.

First record of Pied Stilt in Singapore.

In July 2019, Frankie Cheong reported the first record of the Pied Stilt Himantopus

leucocephalus in Singapore, on the new reclaimed land around Pulau Tekong. It was on 17 July

2019 that he saw an adult Pied Stilt and four juveniles that appeared to associate with the adult.

The four juvenile stilts were seen again on 23 July 2019.

Adult Pied Stilt (above) and four juvenile stilts (below) spotted on 17 July 2019, by Frankie Cheong.

First breeding record of Pied Stilt in Singapore.

Just three days later, on 20 July 2019, he found that a pair of Pied Stilts were nesting! The nest

contained one egg on 20 July 2019, and by 23 July 2019, the nest yielded four eggs. On 27 July

2019, the Pied Stilts were still sitting on their eggs.

Pied Stilt showing its long black ‘mane’ on back of neck, 20 July 2019. Photo by Frankie Cheong.

Pied Stilt with nest containing one egg on 20 July 2019. Photo by Frankie Cheong.

Pied Stilt nest containing four eggs on 23 July 2019. Photo by Frankie Cheong.

Pied Stilt sitting on its nest on 27 July 2019, by Frankie Cheong.

The rare Black-winged Stilts

A rare Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus was also seen in the same vicinity on 17 July

2019, and again on 23 July 2019, fighting with the Pied Stilt.

Black-winged Stilt spotted on 17 July 2019 by Frankie Cheong.

Black-winged (left) and Pied (right) Stilts fighting on 23 July 2019. Photo by Frankie Cheong.

First breeding record of Black-winged Stilt in Singapore.

On 25 July 2019, Frankie stumbled on yet another nest with four eggs. This time, it belonged to a

pair of Black-winged Stilts, which was unexpected as these birds have so far been known as rare

migrants. By 27 July 2019, one chick was visible and tended to by its parents, while the nest only

had one egg visible. The two other eggs had disappeared. By 29 July 2019, the Black-winged

Stilt’s nest was empty, while two chicks were seen nearby, in the presence of two adult birds.

Black-winged Stilt with chick on 27 July 2019, by Frankie Cheong.

The Black-winged Stilt is widely distributed and is found from France and Iberia S to sub-Saharan

Africa and Madagascar, and E to C Asia and NC China, Indian Subcontinent (including Sri Lanka),

Indochina and Taiwan; winters S to Africa (Pierce and Kirwan, 2019), while the Pied Stilt, also

known as the White-headed Stilt, occurs in Sumatra and Java, E to New Guinea, and S to Australia,

Tasmania and New Zealand; winters N to Philippines, Greater Sundas and Sulawesi, and as far as

Sri Lanka (Pierce and Kirwan, 2019). Historically, the Black-winged Stilt is listed as the only

species of stilt found in the Malay Peninsula (Wells, 1999:273-274).

Hitherto, the Black-winged Stilt has been listed as a rare migrant to Singapore. The last three

sightings were at the main hide at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in November 2011, Punggol

Barat in December 2012 and Kranji Marsh in November 2015. Hence, Frankie’s breeding records

presents new knowledge on the status of the bird in Singapore.

The Pied Stilt had previously been considered a sub-species of the Black-winged Stilt (Pierce and

Kirwan, 2019) and is notably a largely Indonesian/Australasian species. In recent years, it has more

frequently been accorded full species status (Sonobe & Usui, 1993; Robson, 2005). There are no

previous records of the Pied Stilt in Singapore, much less a breeding record, therefore Frankie’s

sightings constitute the first records of the Pied Stilt in Singapore.

Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) & Fringes

While resident species continued to hold sway, early migratory species have begun to reach our

shores. In the heart of the CCNR, observers reported regular forest residents such as the Violet

Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus on 10 July 2019 (Francis Yap), Black-headed

Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps on 13 July 2019 at Jelutong Tower (Joseph Lim), the Chestnut-

winged Babbler Stachyris erythroptera on 23 July 2019 (Martin Kennewell), Short-tailed

Babbler Malacocincla malaccensis on 23 July 2019 (Martin Kennewell – 2 heard) and on 25 July

2019 (Kelvin Ng Cheng Kwan – 1 bird seen on trail to Jelutong Tower), and Greater Green

Leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati (Evelyn Lee – female at Jelutong Tower). A migratory Brown-

streaked Flycatcher Muscicapa williamsoni was reported as being seen on 22 July 2019 by

Raghav N.

Violet Cuckoo at Jelutong Tower on 10 July 2019 by Francis Yap.

Short-tailed Babbler at CCNR on 25 July 2019 by Kelvin Ng Cheng Kwan.

CCNR fringe parks also received a fair amount of attention. Dairy Farm Nature Park (DFNP)

hosted a conference of Van Hasselt’s Sunbird Leptocoma brasiliana between 1 and 4 July 2019

(Peter Lim), beginning with 11 individuals on 1 Jul 2019, to 7 birds and eventually 4 birds by 4

July 2019. The Chestnut-bellied Malkoha Phaenicophaeus sumatranus was spotted on 27 July

2019 (Yeong Wai Kai) and a female Thick-billed Pigeon Treron curvirostra was seen on 31 July

2019 (Roberta Cheok). Along the Rail Corridor, a Tanimbar Corella Cacatua goffiniana was

spotted on 5 July 2019 (Lim Sheen Taw).

Chestnut-bellied Malkoha at DFNP on 27 July 2019 by Yeong Wai Kai.

Tanimbar Corella along Rail Corridor on 5 Jul 2019 by Lim Sheen Taw.

Further away at the Singapore Quarry, a foraging Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus was spotted on

3 July 2019 (Kelvin Ng Cheng Kwan), a pair of Barred Eagle Owl Bubo sumatranus and its

juvenile were variously spotted on 16 July 2019, from 21 to 25 July 2019 by Art Toh and friends,

and heard on 28 July 2019 by Yong Ding Li and Geoff Lim; while a Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx

xanthorhynchus was spotted on 30 July 2019 by Francis Yap. Observers also noted the presence

of the Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata at Hindhede Park on 4 and 26 July 2019 (Terence Tan

and Joseph Lim).

Barred Eagle Owl at Singapore Quarry on 31 July 2019 by Herman Phua.

A Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo Hierococcyx fugax was spotted at Upper Peirce Reservoir on 24 July

2019 by Morten Strange and Bee Choo.

Malaysian Hawk Cuckoo at Upper Peirce Reservoir on 24 July 2019 by Morten Strange & Ng-Strange Bee Choo.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Two Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata were seen on 2 July 2019 by Mike Smith, while

the White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata was spotted on 13 July 2019.

Red-legged Crake at SBG on 2 Jul 2019 by Mike Smith.

Central Singapore

A White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster was seen at Potong Pasir Park Connector on

5 July 2019 by Paul Tan, while three Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela were seen at

Goldhill Avenue on 6 July 2019 by Soon Yi Pak

Northern Singapore

The Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis was spotted at the Lorong Halus Wetland by Dean Tan

and Siew Mun on 5 and 17 July 2019. Towards the end of July, Common Greenshank Tringa

nebularia were spotted at Yishun Dam on 28 July 2019 (Art Toh), as were up to four Lesser Sand

Plover Charadrius mongolus on 31 Jul 2019 (Khoo Mei Lin), together with Malaysian

Plover Charadrius peronii, on 28 July 2019 (Art Toh) and 31 July 2019 (Khoo Mei Lin).

Malaysian Plover at Yishun Dam on 28 July 2019 by Art Toh.

Eastern Singapore

Singapore’s eastern flanks contain habitats that yielded surprises. Pulau Ubin delivered spectacular

species, such as a rare Black-and-Red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos discovered

during a joint NParks-NSS Ubin survey on 7 July 2019, a Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis

cheela on 2 July 2019 by Feroz Ghazali, while the Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus

hirundinaceus put up two appearances on 14 and 21 July 2019 at Chek Jawa for Francis Yap.

There were also shorebirds lingering farther away – three Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus and

two Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos spotted on 18 July 2019 by Feroz Ghazali, and Grey

Plover Pluvialis squatarola, Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia and more Whimbrel on 21

July 2019 by Francis Yap.

Black-winged Flycatcher-shrike at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin on 21 July 2019 by Francis Yap.

Pasir Ris Park continued to support Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea (14 July 2019;

Steven Cheong), the adult and juvenile Spotted Wood Owl Strix seloputo (28 July 2019; Jimmy

Ng), the one-eyed Buffy Fish Owl Ketupa ketupu (28 July 2019; Jimmy Ng), and the

juvenile Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting with a deformed foot (31 July 2019; Dean Tan).

Nearby at the Sungei Tampines Canal East, Little Tern Sternula albifrons had been seen earlier

on 1 July 2019 foraging above the waters by Alvin Seng.

Changi Business Park continued to be a stronghold for the Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea,

which was reported on 14 July 2019 (T. Ramesh) drinking water in the canal, and on 19 July 2019

at a more conventional location. Also spotted was an early arriving Grey Wagtail Motacilla

cinerea, seen on 17 July 2019 by T. Ramesh.

Juvenile Spotted Wood Owl at Pasir Ris Park on 28 July 2019 by Jimmy Ng.

Southern Singapore

Gardens by the Bay gave nature lovers much grief and anxiety when the ducklings belonging to a

pair of Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica were systematically decimated through the

course of the month. (From 11 ducklings on 27 June 2019), by 1 July 2019, there were seven

ducklings, as counted by Isabelle Lee and other birders. Staff from the Gardens took pains to build

a floating platform for the birds to provide a safe haven from suspected underwater predators.

Despite everyone’s best effort, the family was eventually reduced to four survivors by 22 July

2019 (Ronnie Koh), as individuals were picked off by predatory fish lurking beneath the murky

waters under the lotus pads. On 24 July 2019, the family decided to move to the ponds at Gardens

by the Bay East, and by 25 July 2019, the family was down to a single duckling (Mary Yeo). Then,

on 26 July 2019, there were no more ducklings (Jeremiah Loei).

Lesser Whistling Duck and young using platform built by Gardens by the Bay staff on 7 July 2019, by Isabelle Lee.

Barely a kilometre away, another family of birds captured the attention of photographers and

birders. A pair of Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles made a nest out of a scrape on the ground next

to a construction site at Marina Bay East. Four eggs were reported on 16 July 2019, which

eventually hatched by 19 July 2019. The chicks were rescued by construction workers when they

could not surmount the kerb when their parents moved to the golf course across the construction

site.

Masked Lapwing with chicks at Marina East Drive on 25 July 2019 by Norhafiani A. Majid.

Further away, White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata were reported at Telok Blangah Hill Park

on 19 July 2019 by John Marriott, who also reported Yellow-crested Cockatoo Cacatua

sulphurea at Sentosa on 23 July 2019.

Western Singapore

The Kranji Marshes and surrounding habitat comprising Turut Track and Neo Tiew Harvest Lane

received reports of migrants and residents alike. Two Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus

indicus were reportedly inspecting a hole at Turut Track on 3 July 2019 by Steven Wong, who

also reported the sighting of a Changeable Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus in the vicinity on the

same day. A Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus was reportedly seen on 7 July 2019 at

Neo Tiew Harvest Lane by William Legge, who noted that “a small bittern uniformly salmon

cinnamon coloured flew away from us”. Two Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus were

spotted on 17 July 2019 within Kranji Marshes by Vincent Chin, while a juvenile Banded Bay

Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii was seen on 28 and 29 July 2019 by Yeong Wai Kai; the young

cuckoo was being fed by a Common Iora Aegithina tiphia on 28 July 2019. An adult Scaly-

breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata was also seen regurgitating food for three young birds on

30 July 2019 at Kranji Marsh by Yeo Seng Beng. Migratory Wood Sandpiper Tringa

glareola and Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius were reported to have arrived at Neo Tiew

Harvest Lane on 28 July 2019 by Art Toh.

Juvenile Banded Bay Cuckoo fed by adult Common Iora at Kranji Marsh on 28 July 2019 by Yeong Wai Kai.

Wood Sandpiper at Neo Tiew Harvest Lane on 28 July 2019 by Art Toh.

Shorebirds were also reported at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. As early as 7 July

2019, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus were seen huddling together at the main pond by William

Legge. Other shorebirds reported were a lone Common Redshank Tringa totanus on 14 July

2019 (Adrian Silas Tay), and Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva on 23 July 2019 (YK Han).

The Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus were also spotted on 7 July 2019 by YK Han, 14 July

2019 perched on a tree at Platform 2 by Adrian Silas Tay and two overflying birds on 20 July 2019

by Ng Wei Khim & Ng Wee Hao.

Two adults and a juvenile Buffy Fish Owl Ketupa ketupu were reported at the newly opened

Jurong Lake Garden on 21 July 2019 by Yeong Wai Kai and seen again on 27 July 2019 by Ang

Siew Siew, while the White-headed Munia Lonchura striata was also spotted on 23 July 2019

by Vincent Chin. The munia species was also seen along the Ulu Pandan Park Connector Network

on 18 July 2019 by Brenda Chua LH, while further afield, a Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra was

spotted at the West Coast Park on 22 July 2019 by John Marriott.

Abbreviations:

CCNR: Central Catchment Nature Reserve

DFNP: Dairy Farm Nature Park

This report is written by Geoff Lim and edited by Tan Gim Cheong. We are grateful for the birders

and photographers whose postings in various Facebook birding pages, bird forums, individual

reports and extracts from eBird make up this report. This compilation is not a complete list of

birds recorded for the month and not all the records were verified.

Many thanks to Frankie Cheong, Francis Yap, Kelvin Ng Cheng Kwan, Yeong Wai Kai, Lim Sheen

Taw, Herman Phua, Morten and Bee Choo Strange, Mike Smith, Art Toh, Jimmy Ng, Isabelle Lee,

and Norhafianni A. Majid for allowing us to use their photographs.

REFERENCES

Pierce, R.J. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). In: del Hoyo,

J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World

Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53759 on 26 August

2019).

Robson, C. (2005). Birds of South-east Asia. New Holland Publisher: UK.

Sonobe, K. & Usui, S. (1993). A Field Guide to the Waterbirds of Asia. Wild Bird Society of Japan:

Tokyo.

Wells, D. R. (1999). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula. Academic Press: London.

LIST OF BIRDS REPORTED IN JUNE 2019

Family Species name Scientific Name Date

Anatidae Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica 1 Jul 2019

Anatidae Lesser Whistling Duck Dendrocygna javanica 22 Jul 2019

Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 5 Jul 2019

Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 17 Jul 2019

Ciconiidae Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 7 Jul 2019

Ciconiidae Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 14 Jul 2019

Ciconiidae Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 20 Jul 2019

Ardeidae Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus 7 Jul 2019

Ardeidae Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra 22 Jul 2019

Family Species name Scientific Name Date

Accipitridae Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela 2 Jul 2019

Accipitridae Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela 6 Jul 2019

Accipitridae

Changeable Hawk-

Eagle Nisaetus cirrhatus 3 Jul 2019

Accipitridae Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus 3 Jul 2019

Accipitridae

White-bellied Sea

Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster 5 Jul 2019

Rallidae Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata 2 Jul 2019

Recurvirostridae Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 17 Jul 2019

Recurvirostridae Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus 17 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus 3 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 16 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 19 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles 19 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 23 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 21 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius 28 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Malaysian Plover Charadrius peronii 28 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Malaysian Plover Charadrius peronii 31 Jul 2019

Charadriidae Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus 31 Jul 2019

Scolopacidae Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 7 Jul 2019

Scolopacidae Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 18 Jul 2019

Scolopacidae Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 21 Jul 2019

Scolopacidae Common Redshank Tringa totanus 14 Jul 2019

Scolopacidae Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 21 Jul 2019

Scolopacidae Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 28 Jul 2019

Scolopacidae Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 28 Jul 2019

Scolopacidae Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 18 Jul 2019

Family Species name Scientific Name Date

Laridae Little Tern Sternula albifrons 1 Jul 2019

Columbidae

Thick-billed Green

Pigeon Treron curvirostra 31 Jul 2019

Columbidae Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea 14 Jul 2019

Columbidae Green Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea 19 Jul 2019

Cuculidae

Chestnut-bellied

Malkoha Phaenicophaeus sumatranus 27 Jul 2019

Cuculidae Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus 10 Jul 2019

Cuculidae Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus 30 Jul 2019

Cuculidae Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii 28 Jul 2019

Cuculidae Banded Bay Cuckoo Cacomantis sonneratii 29 Jul 2019

Cuculidae

Malaysian Hawk-

Cuckoo Hierococcyx fugax 24 Jul 2019

Strigidae Barred Eagle-Owl Bubo sumatranus 16 Jul 2019

Strigidae Barred Eagle-Owl Bubo sumatranus 18 Jul 2019

Strigidae Barred Eagle-Owl Bubo sumatranus 30 Jul 2019

Strigidae Buffy Fish Owl Ketupa ketupu 21 Jul 2019

Strigidae Buffy Fish Owl Ketupa ketupu 27 Jul 2019

Strigidae Buffy Fish Owl Ketupa ketupu 28 Jul 2019

Strigidae Spotted Wood Owl Strix seloputo 28 Jul 2019

Strigidae Brown Hawk-Owl Ninox scutulata 4 Jul 2019

Strigidae Brown Hawk-Owl Ninox scutulata 26 Jul 2019

Alcedinidae Blue-eared Kingfisher Alcedo meninting 31 Jul 2019

Cacatuidae Tanimbar Corella Cacatua goffiniana 5 Jul 2019

Cacatuidae

Yellow-crested

Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea 14 Jul 2019

Cacatuidae

Yellow-crested

Cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea 23 Jul 2019

Eurylaimidae

Black-and-Red

Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos 7 Jul 2019

Family Species name Scientific Name Date

Tephrodornithidae

Black-winged

Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus hirundinaceus 14 Jul 2019

Tephrodornithidae

Black-winged

Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus hirundinaceus 21 Jul 2019

Pycnonotidae Straw-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus 17 Jul 2019

Pycnonotidae Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps 13 Jul 2019

Timaliidae

Chestnut-winged

Babbler Stachyris erythroptera 23 Jul 2019

Pellorneidae Short-tailed Babbler Malacocincla malaccensis 23 Jul 2019

Pellorneidae Short-tailed Babbler Malacocincla malaccensis 25 Jul 2019

Muscicapidae

Brown-streaked

Flycatcher Muscicapa williamsoni 22 Jul 2019

Chloropseidae Greater Green Leafbird Chloropsis sonnerati 27 Jul 2019

Nectariniidae Van Hasselt’s Sunbird Leptocoma brasiliana 1 Jul 2019

Estrildidae White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata 13 Jul 2019

Estrildidae White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata 19 Jul 2019

Estrildidae Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata 30 Jul 2019

Estrildidae White-headed Munia Lonchura maja 18 Jul 2019

Estrildidae White-headed Munia Lonchura maja 23 Jul 2019

Motacillidae Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 17 Jul 2019