Nature walk Apr 9 2022 - Coney Island

 Weather forecast : Cloudy

However it was drizzling when we set off and cloudy later. Good for us.

We decided to take a walk from home to Coney Island, car free to reduce carbon footprint.

Told him we should just walk without any weight, leave the camera at home.

He said, why? What if? He can carry, not heavy at all. Indeed, lucky we did not own a professional camera. So this all in one camera is only 900 grams and we also need to carry water etc.

To get to Coney Island, we usually walk via Punggol Waterway from Kelong Bridge.
Usually, we will see a number of sooty headed bulbul on the way. 

We will walk via the trial opposite Oasis Terrace.
At the same time, stop by here for toilet break.

Then walk towards Coney via Punggol Nature Promenade. Along the way, we can hear birds chirping sounds, spot parrots in group. Long Tailed shrike seems to be a Punggol resident. We can spot them almost everywhere (Well, we also need our bird luck to spot birds). This pretty one was spotted on 11 Apr, when I walk doing my walk. I did not bring along my camera and took it using my mobile phone. 

Finally, the toilet is completed and located just at the East Entrance.
Do note that there are only 2 cubicles and wheelchair friendly.
However, I cannot find a hand washing basin.
Only low taps located in a row at a low height (look like for feet washing).
So we need to make use of these taps to wash our hands.

The casuarina trees are still here and I love them. I was quite annoyed when I walked westward and found out that almost 1/3 of the trees in the island(west entrance) were cut down for construction of Outward bound school. This was the forest where most of the Buaya Weavers birds nesting with their nest handing on the trees. Why would they build this school here? Whey can't they just stay at their original place? So much so about eco awareness, wonder what the Npark were doing?

The trees at the east island is untouched and hope it remain.

Sometimes, we may spot egret in the canal.

With casuarina trees as a backdrop, pictures usually look good with it. Spotted Wood Dove.

The Iora

Then I spotted a small bird flying like a fairy across us. He did not noticed it when I told him. We immediately when for a search for this mysterious bird. 

I realised it is a Paradize flycatcher. But not sure if it is Amur, Japanese or Indian. So I just named it the Asian Paradize Flycatcher.

A shy and elusive bird, we have a hard time capturing it. We need to keep as quiet and move as little as possible to prevent it from flying away. The bird was still there when we left cause I need to look for toilet. Intended to come back after toilet break but realised the toilet at the west entrance has been taken away by the construction.

We have no choice but to walk towards Lorong Halus wetland.
The water has overflowed and need to walk through these wet roads.

Captured this from the wetland pond. Very pretty.

We ended up tracking 13km and 20K steps.