Thought I should have a go at doing a trip report for my recent excursion to the Antipodes. It was really rather a top trip, with good birding throughout. The basic itinerary was as follows:
18th - 21st June, Singapore
21st - 29th June, Perth and SW Western Australia
30th June - 7th July, Cairns and NE Queensland
8th - 11th July, Brisbane and Lamington National Park, Queensland
11th - 21st July, Newcastle and Sydney, New South Wales
During the last part I was attending a conference but still had time to do some birding (some was even laid on as part of the conference!).
I flew out with Qantas and returned with BA. The east coast internal flights were all with Virgin Blue. I mostly hired cars to get around, which was interesting in itself given that I'm not a particularly experienced driver. In fact I'd relearnt to drive specifically for this trip, so there was quite a lot to figure out. I won't say I drove perfectly, but I managed to avoid hitting anything, which is always good. I hired through Britz except in Newcastle, although it turned out that this meant I was actually hiring from Thrifty. I used a local company in Newcastle. They drive on the left in Australia, which I was rather grateful for.
So how was your trip?? It sounded like an amazing time just from the itinerary!
[QUOTE=jennakellogg;1542940]So how was your trip?? It sounded like an amazing time just from the itinerary![/QUOTE]
From previous experience of writing trip reports, it might be quite a long slog of doing a report for each day. So, starting as I mean to go on, here's the first day, in which I did my first ever birding in southeast Asia, before heading 'below the equator'.
I arrived the previous evening in Singapore and settled in to my noisy but comfortable accommodation at Footprints Hostel in Little India. If you like Indian food, and I think it's fair to say that I do, then Little India is a good place to stay. It's also well situated for transport links.
I wasn't absolutely sure where I was going to head for in the morning. Initially I was going to go to MacRitchie Reservoir in the central catchment area, but the taxi drivers I hailed all gave me rather bewildered looks when I mentioned the name. I decided to change tactics and ask to be taken to the slightly more well-known forest reserve of Bukit Timah. This seemed to be a bit more effective and I was soon on my way.
It's been said before I know but Singapore is quite a warm place. This in itself isn't a problem but it becomes a bit of an issue when you head out of an air-conditioned environment and into the heat. On getting out of the taxi at Bukit Timah I found that my bins and glasses were soon covered in a thick film of condensation and so it was extremely difficult to actually see anything for the first twenty to thirty minutes, until they warmed up a bit.
I did manage to see one or two birds initially but was frustrated by murky views of fast moving specks in the canopy. I was able to identify a very lovely male Crimson Sunbird, the ubiquitous Yellow-vented Bulbul and Asian Glossy Starling and a smart looking Black-naped Oriole. Long-tailed Macaques were prowling around the car park.
I headed up Bukit Timah hill and along the forest trails, having some good views of Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo and some less satisfactory views of a Pink-necked Green Pigeon. As the sun climbed higher the birds seemed to get more active and it was quite busy along the trail. I began to see a few of the smaller passerines, including a lovely Orange-bellied Flowerpecker and the only Common Tailorbird of the trip, zipping briskly through the trees and calling loudly. A few Purple-throated Sunbirds were busying themselves in the foliage and overhead a couple of subadult White-bellied Sea-eagles darkened the sky.
A little further along, numerous birds seemed to be mobbing some unseen threat. I didn't see what they were having a go at, but I did see quite a few new birds while I looked including Red-eyed and Olive-winged Bulbuls and Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker. A tight group of Striped Tit-babblers were very confiding at the side of the trail. A good sighting was a luminous Greater Green Leafbird moving quietly through. Saving the best for last, I came across a wonderful Asian Fairy Bluebird singing from a branch in the middle of the canopy.
After a refreshing midday downpour I got on the bus and headed for the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Despite being full of people this was a really good place to spend a few hours. The various lakes held some interesting waterfowl, including 8 Lesser Whistling Ducks, several White-breasted Waterhens and a Striated Heron. The gardens were awash with Common and Javan Mynahs and Spotted and Zebra Doves.
I spent most of my time around Eco Lake, where the birding was busy throughout. Pink-necked Green Pigeons were regularly flying over and eventually I had some good views of a pair. Over the lake were a few Pacific Swallows and various confusing swiftlets. In Singapore you get both Black-nest and Edible-nest Swiftlets and, without seeing the nests, they're extremely difficult to identify. I certainly saw one or other or both, but that's about all I can tell you. A bit easier were the white-rumped Germain's Swiftlets.
Long-tailed Parakeets were easily seen around the lake, exploring holes in some of the larger trees and gathering in a large and noisy group to roost. I was pleased to a see a tiny Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot as it stopped briefly in a tree. I had excellent views of a Banded Bay Cuckoo as it sat quietly for a few minutes. A spankingly vivid White-breasted Kingfisher perched up prominently.
A big feature were the sunbirds attracted to the many flowering shrubs and trees. I had good views of Olive-backed and Brown-throated Sunbird. These were accompanied by Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers, some busy Ashy Tailorbirds and a smart Common Iora. Several Oriental Magpie Robins and Pied Fantails were busying themselves in the understory.
As dusk fell I heard a gruff hoot coming from some of the tall trees near the lake. Then a large broad-winged bird flew out and across the water before disappearing to the other side: a Spotted Wood Owl. A splendid end to a very pleasant and relaxed day's birding.
I'll try to sort out a few pictures tomorrow, but here's a recording of the Asian Fairy Bluebird.