woody woodpecker @ yishun ave 1

Was observing a pair of white-bellied sea eagles close to their nest when I was interrupted by a screeching bird flying past me. This was undoubtedly a Common Goldenback woodpecker chasing after another. The chase was rather rigorous and loud with the two birds flying in and around a tree for

some time. After about a minute, they stopped when the bird being chased flew off and the victor remained on the trunk of the prized tree.

It slowly made its way up the trunk. However, instead of flying, it chose to hop up the trunk. I suppose this enabled it to get a closer look at the trunk.

Here is a short clip of the goldenback hoping up the tree :

common goldenback @ Yishun Ave 1 from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

Read more about this native woodpecker :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Flameback

http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/100600737/0

http://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-common-flameback.html

There was even a stamp issued by SingPost in June 2007. 

The goldenback was featured on the 65c stamp!

http://www.singpost.com/downloads/media/press_release/07/PR20070601.pdf

wbse & eaglet & mynah @ pasir ris

Was keeping an eye on the eaglet after the adult wbse had returned with food when a mynah flew in to rest on the branch just above the nest...well within reach of the adult wbse. The mynah stayed for about a minute before flying off to another nearby branch. Obviously, the mynah did not feel threatened by the adult eagle which was busy nibbling some recently dead kill which it had brought to the nest.

eagle & mynah @ pasir ris - April 2012 from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

coppersmith barbet @ pasir ris

Heard the characteristic dull tukh tukh sound which comes from a coppersmith barbet whilst at the Pasir Ris Mangroves. I have heard the characteristic call at other forested locations around Singapore, but have never managed to see the bird in action. I made it a point to search it out and located the tree which I thought it was in by walking around it and listening to the repeating 'tukh tukh' sound. After a few frustrating minutes at each branch looking for what was essentially a needle in a haystack, I did managed to spot it on a high branch near the edge of the mangrove.

There were quite a few other bird chirps from other birds in the area as well as the ding-ding from a passing cyclist.

coppersmith barbet @ pasir ris from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

It stayed on the tree for about ten minutes in total (at least from when I first heard it) afterwhich it flew to another tree in the park about 50 metres away where it stayed and called out for about a minute before flying off again further into the park.

Why is it called a Coppersmith Barbet? This is because of the characteristic dull tukh tukh sound which somewhat resembles the sound made by a coppersmith's hammer repeatedly hitting a copper sheet.

Read more about this bird :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppersmith_Barbet

http://www.besgroup.org/2011/04/06/vocalisation-of-coppersmith-barbet/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/mar/26/4

http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/nis/bulletin2009/2009nis47-54.pdf

http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/coppersmith-barbet-megalaima-haemacephala

wbse chased @ pasir ris - April 2012

White-bellied sea eagles are a common sight over the skies at Pasir Ris. Especially over the forest bordered by Elias Road and Pasir Ris Drive 3 as there are at least 3 nests in this small patch of forest.

Eventhough these eagles are the Singapore's largest resident birds, they are sometimes mobbed by smaller birds keen to keep their air clear of large raptors.

WBSE chased @ pasir ris from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

The clip shows a much smaller bird mobbing a wbse in the sky over Pasir Ris Drive 3.

This is going to be a rare sight once the forest patch is developed. Last chance to see.

The following link is to a poignant article about another patch of forest at Yishun which was cleared some years ago. The Vanishing Forest of Yishun by Melissa Lin.

WBSE eaglet @ nest 2 @ pasir ris - 22Apr2012

A short clip of the eaglet at nest 2 (opposite Blk 626 Pasir Ris Drive 3).

The adults were nowhere to be seen. They may have been away looking for food. This eaglet did not move very much and stayed rather still in its nest for the most part.

Time : about 3.15pm

Unfortunately for the eagles, this patch now also has its own 'Land for Sale' signboard. Nest 2 is situated in a tall tree just behind the signboard. Last chance to see.

The following link is to a poignant article about another patch of forest at Yishun which was cleared some years ago. The Vanishing Forest of Yishun by Melissa Lin 

WBSE eaglet @ nest 1 @ pasir ris - 22Apr2012

Was pleasantly surprised to see an unfledged white-bellied sea eagle chick in two of the nests within the coastal forest at Pasir Ris. There was an earlier post about this patch. See this link.

Here is a collection of clips of the nest #1 eaglet :-

One interesting observation was when it raised itself to a higher part of the nest edge and ejected liquid projectile poo from its posterior right out of the nest area. Toilet training from such a young age! 

Nest #1's eaglet was rather active. It popped up its head to look around every now and then in addition to stretching its wings. My guess is that this eaglet is about 5 weeks old. (see this link for info about the Bald Eagle)

one of the adult birds kept a close watch on the eaglet... can you spot the adult?

Unfortunately for the eagles, this patch now also has its own 'Land for Sale' signboard.

Seeing that the Tender Submission date is June 2012, I hope that the eaglets would have outgrown the need for the nest in good time before the land is developed further.

It's a 'last chance to see' moment. Bring a good pair of binos though.

The following link is to a poignant article about another patch of forest at Yishun which was cleared some years ago. The Vanishing Forest of Yishun by Melissa Lin