Quarterly Roundup: Jan-Mar 2026

Jan to Mar 2026 was packed with action, with rarities such as Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Fairy Pitta, Chestnut-cheeked Starling, and Brown-breasted Flycatcher keeping the community occupied. Late February also signified the start of the Chek Jawa picnic table for the fifth year running.

A Himalayan/Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus saturatus/optatus was found at Pasir Ris Park from 19 Feb–1 Mar (SMW). An Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis was recorded in a housing estate in Bukit Timah on 11 Jan (JT). As with other recent records of this species it was considered to be either a release from captivity or a ship assisted bird. The regular Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeons Treron fulvicollis continued to be sighted at their usual location at Pulau Ubin Living Lab during the period of reporting (TW). Oriental Turtle Dove at Bukit Timah A Silver-backed Needletail Hirundapus cochinchinensis and a White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus were sighted on 29 Mar at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (MF). A single Little Grebe Tachybabtus ruficollis was spotted at Pekan Quarry at Pulau Ubin (17 Jan–22 Mar; CNL), and up to eight birds continued to be sighted at Marina Grove (m.o.), with up to two were seen at a waterlogged field a short distance away at Park Street (TW, DL). Also found at the same field was an Indian Pond Heron Ardeola grayii from 24 Mar to the end of the month (ZYW, WW). A Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus moving around the fields around Marina Grove from 18–28 Feb was the first twitchable bird since 2022 (NR). Indian Pond Heron at Park Street Black Drongo at Marina Grove A welcome find for birders keeping a Singapore list were up to two Javan Plovers Anarhynchus javanicus at Tanah Merah Coast Road on 20–21 Feb (RT, CNL, JT, VY). This species has been difficult to connect with in Singapore and has teased local observers for several years since a breeding record in an inaccessible area in 2021. At the same location, other scarce shorebirds were seen, with up to three Sanderling Calidris alba (21 Jan onwards; RT), nine Broad-billed Sandpiper Calidris falcinellus (16 Jan onwards; RT), and two White-faced Plover Anarhynchus dealbatus (17 Jan onwards; WHL, JT). The sighting of White-faced Plover at this site is a new location for this species apart from its usual wintering site at Marina East, where up to four birds were spotted until 28 Mar (m.o.). Elsewhere at Kranji Marsh, a Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta was spotted on 2 Feb, only staying for a short while (WHL, TW). This species has become increasingly rare in Singapore in recent years. Long-toed Stint at Kranji Marsh A Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica at Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin, on 18 Mar was the first March record in 40 years and a rare sighting of a bird in full breeding plumage (TW). Discussions about whether this bird shows characters associated with Australian Tern Gelochelidon (n.) macrotarsa have not yet reached a clear conclusion. Elsewhere at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, up to two Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus were seen from 11–16 Jan (CYL). Gull-billed Tern at Chek Jawa Hundreds of Asian Openbills Anastomus oscitans continued their large scale invasion with flocks seen at multiple sites around the island (m.o.). The range expansion of this species continues from the first large arrival of this species in 2019 and this subsequent smaller, but sustained, arrival which began in 2024. A Black-headed Ibis flyover at Mount Faber on 15 Feb was only the 2nd national record and was seen among a flock of Asian Openbills (CYL). The birding year got off to a fine start for many with multiple sightings of up to four Himalayan Griffon Vulture Gyps himalayensis which visited Singapore as part of their tour of the Malay Peninsula in early Jan with up to four birds seen roaming the island from 3–11 Jan (MR, VY, ZF). As is always likely with this species the lack of suitable food sources resulted in two of the birds being taken into care, both of which subsequently died. A Common Buzzard was sighted over Mount Faber on 13 Mar, which was probably a bird making its way back north to its breeding grounds (CNL). The Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringllarius at Punggol Seventeenth Avenue remained at least until 14 Mar (m.o.). Himalayan Griffon Vulture at Dover Common Buzzard at Mount Faber The Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros first seen at Sungei Buloh in Oct 2025 remained in the area until 29 Jan, and was later spotted at Sembawang Park from 6–16 Feb (KT). A Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops at Branksome Road from 17–29 January (Anon.) created a high degree of excitement. After close examination of images the bird was deemed likely to be an escapee based on feather damage and asymmetrical claw length on the hind toe. Eurasian Hoopoe at Branksome Road In addition to the two birds found in late 2025, two more migratory Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis of the diffusus subspecies were spotted at Thomson Nature Park on (12 Jan; WHL) and Khatib Bongsu (26 Jan; YJW). The hard work of RT who meticulously scanned a murmuration of about 5,500 Daurian Starlings Agropsar sturninus in the Woodlands area paid off, being rewarded with the discovery of up to three Chestnut-cheeked Starling Agropsar philippensis (24 Feb–5 Mar). A...