Quarterly Roundup: Apr-Jun 2026

Highlights for Apr-Jun 2026.

At Jelutong Tower, a Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia was photographed in flight on 22 Apr (RW, FY)—the 4th record for Singapore. The Singapore Bird List had its newest addition with a female Fiery Minivet Pericrocotus igneus also photographed in flight at the same location (27 May; YZN, WHL, CNL, SP, CYL). This is the first modern record for Singapore.Mountain Imperial Pigeon at Jelutong Tower.Fiery Minivet at Jelutong Tower.One Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon Treron fulvicollis continued to be seen at Pulau Ubin on 3 Apr (KW, WHL). Up to five Little Grebes Tachybabtus ruficollis continued to be sighted at Marina Grove (m.o.) and one at Pekan Quarry at Pulau Ubin (KW) throughout the period of reporting. Another individual was seen at the waterlogged field at Park Street (27 May; SB). The only record of Chestnut-winged Babbler Cyanoderma erythropterum for the year was two birds at Upper Peirce Reservoir (16 Apr–7 Jun; WHL, KW). Multiple Indian Pond Herons Ardeola grayii were seen around the island—at Park Street (until 27 Apr; ZYW), Seletar End (7–11 Apr; TO), Jurong Lake Gardens (8–25 Apr; BC, KGT), Punggol Field (27–29 Apr; XX), and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (9–18 May; SC). The period from April to May is the best time of the year to spot this species as pond-herons develop their breeding plumage before returning back home to breed. At Chek Jawa, a single Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes was found by TW (8 Apr–10 May). This continues to be the only reliable spot in Singapore to see this rare species annually. Chinese Egret at Chek Jawa.The Chek Jawa picnic table continued for its fifth consecutive year. The female Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker Prionochilus percussus continued to be sighted until 21 Apr (m.o.), while a Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni was only seen for two days from 11–12 Apr (DL). Both birds could have been the same individuals continuing from the previous year. Three Ruby-cheeked Sunbirds Chalcoparia singalensis were sighted—two females (until 14 Apr; CNL, DT) and a male (23 Apr; EL). Up to four Black-headed Bulbuls Microtarsus melanocephalos continued to be seen at the location and were even observed collecting nesting material (until 4 Jun; TW). The last sighting on the main island of Singapore was three years ago on 12 Mar 2023. The biggest sighting at Chek Jawa ended up being a White-bellied Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca  which was first heard on 12 Apr and later photographed on 14 Apr (WHL, CNL). While the bird remained until 26 Apr, its appearances were extremely inconsistent and proved to be difficult for birders to connect with.White-bellied Erpornis at Chek Jawa.A female Black-winged Flycatcher-Shrike Hemipus hirundinaceus was also found at the same location (13 May–4 Jun; TR). The final bird spotted at the picnic table was a Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringillarius on 1 Jun (WTK). The individual at Punggol Seventeenth Avenue continued to be spotted until the end of the month (JT). A Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica was spotted on the mudflats on 21 Jun, which could be the same individual subsequently spotted at Tanah Merah Coast Road (WHL, SP, CYL).Black-thighed Falconet @ Punggol Seventeenth Avenue.Those making the long walk in to Chek Jawa Wetlands managed to spot the rare local subspecies minor of Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda and Mangrove Pitta Pitta megarhynca at the mangroves near Kelichap Hut. On 2 May, while looking for these birds at midday, AL photographed a White-chested Babbler Pellorneum rostratum at the water’s edge, which was also later found to have been spotted by others as early as 18 Apr (KSC). The bird remained until at least 12 May. This was a very welcome find as the previous two recent records in 2023 were not twitchable. White-chested Babbler at Pulau Ubin.For shorebirds, Tanah Merah Coast Road continued to yield a number of scarce species, such as a Sanderling Calidris alba and two White-faced Plovers Anarhynchus dealbatus (10 Apr; CNL, DL, TW, WHL), and up to four Broad-billed Sandpipers Calidris falcinellus (1–10 Apr; TR). Following on from a sighting in February, two Javan Plovers Anarhynchus javanicus were also found at this location (10–17 May; TR, WHL, FY). Javan Plover at Tanah Merah Coast Road.Interestingly, several migratory shorebird species were observed to be present at the location in the later part of June, including a Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica (possibly the same one earlier seen at Chek Jawa), Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis, Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea, Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus, Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola and Tibetan Sand Plover Anarhynchus atrifrons which could either be early arrivals or overstayers (CNL, TR, DL). There were multiple sightings of Pied Stilts Himantopus leucocephalus, with two each at East Coast Park (3 Apr; GBK), Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (27 Apr; KaT), Marina East (7 May; FY), and Tanah Merah Coast Road (29 May–22 Jun;...