Home of the Endangered Straw-headed Bulbul
This was my first birding trip to Bukit Batok Nature Park with my trusted Nikon Coolpix P1000, and I was surprised that it was busy with people at their morning walks and jogs at 8 AM. I saw a map at the start of the park which I fully intended to follow but there were so many turns that I gave up and turned whichever way I wanted.
I wandered until the quarry cliff and immediately heard the singing of a songbird. I looked around for the source of the singing, and spotted the Straw-headed Bulbul across the lake. There were a few of them perched on different branches, singing their song. I had not realized the critically endangered Straw-headed Bulbul, which has managed to thrive in Singapore, could be found at Bukit Batok Nature Park.
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| Straw-headed Bulbul at Bukit Batok Nature Park |
Home of the Bulbuls?
Later in the morning, around 10 AM, another 3 types of Bulbuls were found to be having mid-morning tea at the same tree. The Asian Red-eyed Bulbul, Olive-winged Bulbul, and Yellow-vented Bulbul were jumping around different branches on the same tree.
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| Olive-winged Bulbul at Bukit Batok Nature Park |
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| Asian Red-eyed Bulbul at Bukit Batok Nature Park |
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| Yellow-vented Bulbul at Bukit Batok Nature Park |
Cooperative Sunbird and Laughingtrush
I did not have much luck spotting many other uncommon birds, but the Crimson Sunbird was very helpful and perched just long enough on a branch in front of me for me to take its photo. The resident White-crested Laughingtrush was also there, a very adorable bird with a cool hairdo! The Laughingtrush was rather accommodating and seemed unafraid to come up close to the visitors at the Nature Park.
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| Male Crimson Sunbird at Bukit Batok Nature Park |
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| White-crested Laughingtrush at Bukit Batok Nature Park |
Unexpected Find
The most exciting part of the visit were the 2 Malayan Colugos that I noticed in different parts of the park. They are extremely amusing creatures as they barely moved and always resumed the same position (e.g. looking up) after any movement. The Malayan Colugo is a kind of flying lemur, with winged arms and big wide eyes. Very interesting find!
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| Malayan Colugo at Bukit Batok Nature Park |
What Birds Can You Spot at Bukit Batok Nature Park?
It was a pretty quiet day in my birding book...But it was good to see the different bulbuls, and of course the unexpected star, the Malayan Colugo!
So next time you head over to Bukit Batok Nature Park in Singapore, see if you can spot the following:
- White-crested Laughingtrush
- Yellow-vented Bulbul
- White-throated Kingfisher
White-throated Kingfisher at Bukit Batok Nature Park - Asian Red-eyed Bulbul
- Olive-winged Bulbul
- Straw-headed Bulbul
- Crimson Sunbird
- Lineated Barbet
- Black-naped Oriole
