The first of our planned guided walks this year took place in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Led by Kaeden, Zachary, Jeff, and Pluem, the walk guided members of the Biodiversity Friends Forum (BFF) through the park’s naturalized river, framed by greenery. The goal was to introduce participants to birdwatching fundamentals and familiarise them with Singapore’s common garden birds.
On February 22nd, the walk began with a highlight: a Javan Pond Heron in breeding plumage. It soared against the backdrop of the park’s remaining longkang section before landing in front of us. Nearby, a Striated Heron demonstrated its precision as it hunted along the canal’s edge.
Further along the river, a Purple Heron was spotted preening itself, unaware of the eyes trained upon it. Next to the heron, White-breasted Waterhens strutted across the grass. Overlooking Recycle Hill, a Grey Heron stalked the reedbeds, providing views for the group.
Crossing a bridge opposite the recycling hill, a few Pacific Swallows put on aerial displays hunting insects. Meanwhile, a White-throated Kingfisher showed its namesake white chest. The kingfisher sightings continued as our guides spotted a Common Kingfisher. It was perched upon rocks in the stream. Though distant, watching its blue plumage shimmer as it dove was impressive.
Reaching an area with dense vegetation, a pair of Common Flamebacks were spotted. The female moved around a tree trunk just above our heads. The male remained more elusive, but its crimson crest gave it away amidst the foliage. A pair of our Society’s mascot – Pink-necked Green Pigeons – were seen on a distant bare branch. Next, we had eye-level views of a pair of Brown-throated Sunbirds. The male’s iridescent throat shone as it foraged through the petals of a flowering tree. We then found a Yellow-vented Bulbul within arm’s reach.
A persistent chorus from unseen birds rewarded our patience when a pair of Common Ioras emerged, accompanied by an Arctic Warbler. The walk concluded with the sighting of a pair of Asian Koels, followed by a last-minute surprise – a Chinese Pond Heron that appeared just as we began our debrief.
Throughout the tour, our guides shared birding techniques, such as identifying species by call and using the “clock” system (locating birds by imagining a clock face overlaid on the landscape, with 12 o’clock directly ahead) to help participants pinpoint sightings more easily. Along the way, our guides shared facts about the species encountered and introduced resources to help newcomers embark on their birding journeys.
Below are some reflections from the guides and participants:
“This was my first ‘official’ birding trip, and I was glad to be led by enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides from the Bird Society of Singapore. Through this walk I learnt a lot about different birds, both native and non-native to Singapore. Such as the importance of parks like Bishan-AMK park in providing suitable habitat for local birds like the Purple Heron which are less adapted to urban environments. I enjoyed the walk a lot, with the cool morning weather and plethora of birds spotted, I would love to do this again sometime.” – Jone, one of the walk’s participants
“On 23 Feb, we visited Bishan-Ang Mo Kio and learnt a lot about the many species of birds found in Singapore. The guides were very knowledgeable and were able to identify many species just by their call!” – Xinya, another one of the walk’s participants
“One of the best parts of a bird walk is being able to see the spark in participants’ eyes as they go, “Wowww, I can see the bird!” This bird walk at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park was no different. As a guide, from this experience, I learned about catering to the various interests of participants in my group, one of the intangible skills to add to my arsenal.” – Pluem, one of the guides of the walk
With such an enriching start to the year, we look forward to more guided walks ahead!