The Magical Land of Chek Jawa

This article examines the historical decline of Singapore’s avifauna and the recent influx of rare visitors from Malaysia. It highlights the significance of northern coastal areas like Chek Jawa as key locations for spotting extirpated species and natural dispersers that cross the straits into Singapore.

Introduction Singapore is an island located at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula. Although just separated by a short distance of 2 km by the Straits of Johor from neighbouring Johor, Malaysia, there are many species found in Peninsula Malaysia which have not been recorded or have been found to be locally extirpated from Singapore. Species such as Grey-chested Jungle Flycatcher Cyornis umbratilis and Wreathed Hornbill Rhyticeros undulatus have never been recorded in Singapore, while Moustached Babbler Malacopteron magnirostre, Garnet Pitta Erthyropitta granatina and Black-and-Yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus ochromalus are a few examples of those which have become locally extirpated. According to Chisholm et al. (2016), around 30% of bird species have gone extinct from Singapore in the past 200 years. This may most likely be attributed to the clearing of habitat for rubber plantations and urban redevelopment. Despite the lack of breeding records of these species in Singapore, there have still been sporadic records of visiting birds from across the causeway. While it may be difficult to truly ascertain the reasons for their arrival, these visiting birds could be a result of displacement due to habitat loss or natural dispersal events. Some more recent sightings of rare visitors on Singapore’s main island in recent years include the 5th record of Whiskered Treeswift Hemiprocne comata (2011) and the 1st record of Large Woodshrike Tephrodornis virgatus since the 1940s (2018) at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, as well as the 1st records of White-bellied Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca (2020) and Malayan Black Magpie Platysmurus leucopterus (2021) at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Female Whiskered Treeswift at Rifle Range Link While these records come from further inland, areas along the northern coast of the main island undoubtedly have a higher geographical probability of encountering visiting species given their close proximity to Johor. Some examples include Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Chalcoparia singalensis (2020–2022) and Black-and-Red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus macrorhynchos at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (2023–present), Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus at Woodlands Waterfront Park (2022), and Black-thighed Falconet Microhierax fringillarius (2023–present) and Little Green Pigeon Treron olax (2024) at Punggol Seventeenth Avenue. Ruby-cheeked Sunbird at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve The islands of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, being sandwiched between the northeastern coast of Singapore and Johor, offer large areas of secondary forest for visiting birds to land for shelter and to search for food. While Pulau Tekong is used for military training and off-limits to the public, Pulau Ubin is accessible via a 10 minute bumboat ride. Pulau Ubin has thus also had a history of occasionally yielding sightings of rare visitors such as the long-staying Black Hornbill Anthracoceros malayanus (2015–2023), Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia (2016–2017), and Green Broadbill Calyptomena viridis (2021). Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon Treron fulvicollis have also been annual on Pulau Ubin since 2016. Green Broadbill at Pulau Ubin Female Black Hornbill at Pulau Ubin Due to their rarity, these visitors from Peninsula Malaysia are always a welcome surprise for local birdwatchers in Singapore. However there has not been a particular pattern to point to where and when they would appear, that is, until 2022. Chek Jawa Wetlands Chek Jawa Wetlands is located on the eastern side of Pulau Ubin. Originally designated as a site for land reclamation, lobbying by nature enthusiasts caused the government to defer plans for redevelopment of the area in 2001. While well-known for its mudflats which support shorebird migration and its mangrove habitat which houses mangrove specialists such as Copper-throated Sunbird Leptocoma calcostetha, Mangrove Pitta Pitta megarhyncha and Ruddy Kingfisher Halcyon coromanda, Chek Jawa’s coastal forest has usually not been one of its main selling points. However, it should be noted that prior to the events detailed below, Cinereous Bulbul Hemixos cinereus had already been sighted at this location in various months throughout the year from 2014–2021, as well as Streaked Bulbul Ixos malaccensis in Nov/Dec in 2019 and 2021. Mangrove Pitta at Chek Jawa Chek Jawa Coastal Forest 2022 The story starts on 2 Apr 2022, the tail end of the migration season. The sighting of Singapore’s 6th Red Knot Calidris canutus in the late afternoon at Chek Jawa Wetlands prompted a handful of birders scrambling to twitch for it, which they did successfully (AST). While technically not sighted at the coastal forest, this bird was the one which started the whole sequence of events. Red Knot at Chek Jawa Those who attempted to look for it the next day were left disappointed as the bird had already departed, however their disappointment quickly turned to elation as they discovered the 2nd national record of Large Woodshrike...