Bird watching trip report


Introduction

Back home from Cyprus and I had to go pick up a parcel in Singapore. I have a bird watching tour booked for Chiang Mai and I will go to India on the 5 March 2018 for a tiger safari. But I had time for 2 days of bird watching in Singapore. I booked a flight and I went to pick up my parcel.

I arrived to Singapore and I went to pick up my parcel when I had checked in to my hotel. Then I had 2 days of bird watching before flying back home to Bangkok and my flight to Chiang mai.


Visa

No need for me to have any visa to Singapore and I get 90 days at arrival to the immigration at the airport.


Guide

No need for any Guide in Singapore as I know the birding spots and as it is pretty much the same birds a sin Thailand I can identify many of them without any help from a Guide.


Flights

Thai Airways
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Intl   -   Changi Intl Singapore
  Thai Airways
Changi Intl Singapore   -   Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Intl

Booked on Thai International´s web page.


Land transportation

• AOT Limousine between my home and Bangkok International Airport

AOT Limousine

I recommend the AOT or any other taxi service if you are leaving early morning. The price per trip is 1200 Baht comparing to around 220 Baht + about 80 Baht road toll. But the taxi can easily be 1000 baht if you´re getting desperate when not finding a taxi.

Early morning flight and it can be a hassle to find a taxi that want to take you to the airport so I book AOT and the car wait for me outside my apartment.

Leaving Suvarnabhumi and AOT have desks in the luggage claim area, where I use to book my car while waiting for my luggage. There are also desks just outside the custom and you cannot miss them.




•Taxi meter (Public Taxi) from Bangkok International Airport

Arriving to Suvarnabhumi International and they have TAXI Meters leaving from the ground floor. It is quite organised and I was surprised the first time I used a TAXI meter from Suvarnabhumi back home.

Bangkok Airport Public Taxi Service

• Public taxi stand is located on Level 1 (Ground Level).

• Contact Taxi counter, Level 1 – Ground Level, near entrances 3, 4, 7 and 8.

• Receive a ticket from a taxi queue machine, proceed to the lane number printed on your ticket.

• Taxi fare: metered taxi fare plus 50 Baht airport surcharge, and expressway fees.

• Public taxis serving Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport must be less than 5 years old.

• Public taxi drivers must be certified by Airports of Thailand.

• Passenger drop off at Departures (level 4 – outer curb).

From www.bangkokairportonline.com

Bangkok Taxi meter


• TAXI in Singapore
In the rush hours it is next to impossible to get a taxi and long waiting time. And it is not just to stop a taxi along the road. They must pick up at special “stations” at hotel and shopping malls etc. And just forget to get a taxi in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

SO I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU TO DOWNLOAD A TAXI APP!!!!! One of the best thing happened to Singapore. I tried to avoid Singapore for many years, same as Kuala Lumpur, impossible to get a taxi. But I started to use UBER, no more available as GRAB bought UBER. Anyway, now it is very convenient.

And one TAXI driver complained to me, GRAB are allowed to stop and pick up passenger along the road but the TAXI are not. And by the way, many of the TAXIS are also running for GRAB. The driver hire the TAXIS by the day and they have GRAB on their phone as well, so don´t be surprised when a normal TAXI comes to pick you up.

ComfortDelGro Taxi


ComfortDelGro Taxi Click and download their app for your phone

GRAB


GRAB Click and download their app for your phone

UBER


GRAB bought UBER so use the GRAB app.


Accommodations

Park Regis Hotel
23 Merchant Rd, Singapore 058268

Park Regis Hotel


Guide

I never use any birding Guide in Singapore. But I have had help many times by other friendly bird watchers that I meet during my bird watching in Singapore. Everyone share information, no secrets and it is very enjoyable to do bird watching and meet other bird watchers when in Singapore.


Equipment

Canon 5D Mk. III
Canon EF 28-300/3,5-5,6 L IS USM
Canon EF 70-200/2,8L IS II USM
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
Canon Speedlite 600EXII-RT flash
Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II
Panasonic HC-W585 video camera

Sound recorder
ZOOM H5 Handy Recorder


Weather / climate

Singapore - Climate & Temperature
Pictures from www.climatemps.com

Singapore - Climate & Temperature - Click picture for full size
Pictures from www.climatemps.com



References/Resources

Singapore National Parksthey have an excellent web page. National Parks have information on all the parks in Singapore. For more information visit their web page: www.nparks.gov.sg There is maps, bird checklists and much more.

NParks


Singapore Bird Group The Bird Group is a Special Interest Group of the Nature Society (Singapore) (NSS). The Group was inaugurated in 1986 when NSS was the Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society. Here you can find monthly bird reports etc.

Birdwatching Sites in Singapore - BirdGuides

ebird - Find birding hotspots with bird checklists from all over the world

Avibase - is an extensive database information system about all birds of the world, containing over 25 million records about 10,000 species and 22,000 subspecies of birds, including distribution information for 12,000 regions, taxonomy, synonyms in several languages


www.oiseaux.net This web page is also excellent for identifying birds. There is information and range maps for many many birds from all over the world. This page is almost guaranteed to give you any answer you have about any bird in the world.

Cloudbirders - Read birding trip reports from all over the world

Fatbirder - Linking birders worldwide... Wildlife Travellers see their sister site: WAND


Fatbirder is a fantastic web page with information from, I think every country in the world. My first stop when I plan for my bird watching trips. There is information about locations and guides, well, pretty much everything you need to know. Sometimes this is the only place I need to visit to plan my trip.

BirdingPal - find a birding Guide around the world

BirdingPal


And the web page you cannot live without. I have been around the world looking for birds. I usually have a Guide, but sometimes it is not possible to find a Guide. So, well, I have lost count on how many times I have had help to ID birds at BirdForum. Joining this forum have been very very good for my bird watching experience.

www.birdforum.net

ClimaTemps.com is the place to learn about the worlds climates with more than 4000 locations documented. Each aspect of the climate is represented using colour enhanced tables and professional graphs so that data can easily be compared by switching between locations in different tabs in your browser.

“A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig Robson”


A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig Robson

A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig Robson. New edition updated with 76 species since previous edition “A Field Guide to the Birds of Thailand and South East Asia by Craig” Nick Upton at www.thaibirding.com wrote “This quite excellent book is packed full of quality illustrations and written information on 1251 species recorded in Southeast Asia”

I bought this book for bird watching in Thailand, but it goes for all over SE Asia


Places to visit

Step into the embrace of nature and immerse yourself in a slower rhythm of life. Take a good listen to the sweet chirpings and let their cheerful chitchatting welcome you to a whole new world. Revel in the many species of birds that reside in our parks and nature reserves. You will be delighted to hear of, or even witness, the wide species of birds that have made Singapore their home or their ideal stopover.

Our parks and nature reserves are maintained to help facilitate the birds in creating the right homes. Many different species of birds can be found in the various parts of Singapore.

In particular, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a wonderland for bird watching enthusiasts. During the migratory season between September and March, the Reserve functions as a significant stopover point for birds. From commonly seen birds such as the Common Redshank, to the incredible ones, such as the tiny Pacific Golden Plover's uncanny ability to travel over great distances (from Siberia to Singapore), Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve has many other interesting sights to amaze you. In fact, it is recognised by the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership as an internationally important site for migratory bird conservation. Here, visitors can look forward to witnessing some of the rare migratory birds such as the Nordmann's Greenshank and the Chinese Egret.

Enjoy the panoramic view of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve from the TreeTop Walk and capture a few snapshots of the birds going about their daily activities. Stroll along the Mangrove Boardwalk in Pasir Ris Park and try spotting these little flying creatures. Wander into the idyllic Sembawang Park and discover the many different species of birds living in harmony amongst the lush environment of the park. Hear the sweet songs by Oriental Magpie-robin and Black-naped Oriole as you walk around Labrador Nature Reserve. Climb the 7-storey high (20m) Jejawi tower at the offshore wetlands of Chek Jawa and take in the breathtaking view of birdlife amongst the tree canopy. Who knows, you may be lucky enough to spot the Oriental Pied Hornbill!

Join a guided tour, participate in a bird watching workshop or gather fellow enthusiasts and pop into our parks and nature reserves. A handy camera and a trusty pair of binoculars could very well be your dependable tools as you try to catch a glimpse or more of these flying jewels, so do not forget to bring them!
- www.nparks.gov.sg



Bring water and something for a picnic lunch. BRING CASH!!!!! Especially at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, there is only vending machines. And they only sold “sweet water” I usually pack water and some “energy bars” as there are plenty places to sit down for a picnic. And there are plenty water fountains and the water seems to be good as I have never felt sick.

So don´t throw your bottle, refill it at any of the fountains around the parks. Believe me, I have learned the hard way. You really get desperate in the heat and no water to be bought around. Well, the Botanical Gardens have snacks for sale so it won´t be necessary there.


Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Location

Visitor Centre:
60 Kranji Way, #01-00
Singapore 739453

Wetland Centre:
301 Neo Tiew Crescent
Singapore 718925

Parking lots are available near both entrances.




Park Information

Opening hours:
7 am to 7 pm daily (entering or remaining in the nature reserve after 7pm is not allowed);
Tel: 67941401
Fax: 67937271
Email: nparks_sbwr(at)nparks.gov.sg

Park Size: 202 hectares

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

No smoking Smoke-free park

From www.nparks.gov.sg


september to March: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve mudflats functions as a "refuelling point" for the waders to feed and roost. These habitat-specific birds feed on the polychaetes (worms) found in the mudflats of the Reserve.

Throughout the year: Look out for resident birds such as herons, kingfishers, bitterns, sunbirds, tailorbirds and fruit pigeons.

Click HERE for information about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve nature walks

Click HERE for a Map of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve walking trails

The Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 158-year-old tropical garden located at the fringe of Singapore's Orchard Road shopping district. It is one of three gardens, and the only tropical garden, to be honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Botanic Gardens has been ranked Asia's top park attraction since 2013, by TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards.

It was declared the inaugural Garden of the Year, International Garden Tourism Awards in 2012, and received Michelin's three-star rating in 2008.


Location

Located in central Singapore and just five minutes away from Orchard Road (Singapore's main shopping street).

Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569
















Park Information

Opening Hours:
5am to 12 midnight daily

Admission:
Free (except National Orchid Garden)

Visitor Services & General Enquiries:
Opening hours: 8am to 5.30pm daily

Counter locations: Botany Centre (Tanglin Gate), Visitor Centre (Nassim Gate), Tyersall Gate, Bukit Timah Gate and Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
Phone: 1800 471 7300
Email: NParks_sbg_visitor_services(at)nparks.gov.sg

Things to note:
For the safety of all visitors, please observe the Rules and Regulations of our Gardens.

No smoking Smoke-free park

From www.nparks.gov.sg


Singapore Botanical Garden map
From www.nparks.gov.sg - Click HERE for full size map

They have a range of trails that you can refer to if you wish to explore the Gardens. Ranging from 40 to 90 minutes in duration, there should be one that suits your needs. These trail guides (PDF files) can be accessed through your smartphone or tablet from www.nparks.gov.sg.

Telok Blangah Hill Park

Indulge in the beauty of the secondary forests at the fringes of Telok Blangah Hill Park by trekking the Forest Walk – a 1.3-kilometre-long elevated walkway that links HortPark to Telok Blangah Hill Park, or get up close and personal with the forest understory vegetation by heading through Earth Trail. Complete your visit to Telok Blangah Hill Park by crossing the Henderson Waves to Mount Faber Park. This 274m long structure is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore, and is frequently visited for its artistic, distinctive wave-like structure consisting of a series of undulating curved 'ribs'.

Another highlight is the Terrace Garden. A popular spot for wedding couples, Terrace Garden consists of a series of semi-circular terraces situated at the top of the park. From here, you will be able to enjoy a breath-taking 360-degree view of Singapore.

Come in the morning or evening, and join the residents of the nearby neighbourhoods for their exercises such as taiqi and jogging. If you are looking for an outdoor picnic, the park is well equipped with picnic tables and shaded by magnificent tall trees such as Eugenia, Alstonia and Rain trees.

Sit back and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, and watch the birds, squirrels and butterflies in their natural surroundings.

Aptly themed 'Recapturing the Past Splendour', Telok Blangah Hill Park has a history that few other parks can boast. This park has long been a place of gathering for trading communities since the early nineteenth century. The prosperity of the traders is symbolised by the Alkaff Mansion, an elegant colonial bungalow built by a family of Arab Traders, which used to host grand parties for the social elite.

Telok Blangah Hill Park is part of the Southern Ridges, which also comprises Mount Faber Park, HortPark, Kent Ridge Park and Labrador Nature Reserve.

nparks



Singapore bird watching map


Bird checklist

I never use any bird lists, but since I try to make it in to Cloudbirders. A very helpful site when planning your birding trips. But they ask for a bird checklist, and if I use their service, of course I want to contribute as well. My two first bird watching trip reports was rejected by Cloudbirders.

So I started to take ideas from the reports I found on Cloudbirders. So I have started to use bird lists, eBird generate one for me and I can post it on Cloudbirders. I will post my birds on eBird and on my different “BIRDS THAT I HAVE OBSERVED” pages.

Check lists can come in handy to find out the local name of the bird etc. And Avibase have a list with pictures and sounds, excellent!

So I will post bird checklists here and if my Guides provide me with checklists I will also post them here.

Cloudbirders


Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World

Singapore bird checklist from Avibase, click HERE

Click HERE for the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve´s bird checklist

Avibase is providing you with bird checklists from all over the world. And I´m impressed by their web page. Select country and area and you get the bird checklist. Like the PDF files I got from Avibase on the links above. You also get the checklist with pictures and sounds.

The best part is that you get the local names of the birds and the online checklist gives the names in English plus the language you have selected. But it seems like the PDF cannot handle some alphabet.

For example the Japanese language so it is blank in the PDF checklist. But it worked excellent with Swedish. But you get them in the local language on the online version.


Bird list

I only listed birds I have got on picture before I started with eBird in November 2019. Now I record all the birds that I can identify. Before that see the DAY TO DAY reports and my lists of observed birds in different countries.

And you can visit my list of “Birds I have seen in Singapore

My eBird checklists can be found HERE


Itinerary

Click on the links below for daily bird watching results:

23 February 2018: Bird watching at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Telok Blangah Hill Park

24 February 2018: Bird watching in Telok Blangah Hill Park



Bird watching trip report



       
                  


                                       

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