Wednesday 5 September 2018

Birdwatching at Pasir Ris Park


Pasir Ris Park is a very large park, with a 6.6km stretch of coast and is located at the North-eastern part of Singapore. It has 3 sections. The first section stretches from the Pasir Ris Farmway area until Sungei Api-api (Sungei means river in Malay). The 2nd section is located between Sungei Api-api and Sungei Tampines. The 3rd section is connected to Downtown East, a playground with holiday chalets.

My favourite section of the park is the 2nd section, where there is a small plot of mangrove forest next to Sungei Tampines. This area has been very happening for the last few years because many bird species have been spotted here. They include the Spotted Wood Owl, Buffy Fish Owl, Sunda Scops Owl, Oriental Pied Hornbill, Red Junglefowl, Stork-billed Kingfisher, Black-crowned Night Heron, Malaysian Pied Fantail and a Grey Heron heronry. If you are really lucky, you may even see wild boars and Smooth-coated Otters! It is not unusual to find bird photographers with their bazooka lenses looking for their favourite birds there at any time of the day.

Getting here is easy. Take the MRT East-West line to Pasir Ris Station and walk towards Pasir Ris Park. Look for Car Park B or Car Park C. These two places are good locations to start your birdwatching.

Happy birding!

Mangrove forest at Sungei Tampines.

Red Junglefowl. Isn't he handsome?






Nesting Malaysian Pied Fantail.

Black-crowned Night Heron.

Laced Woodpecker.

White-throated Kingfisher.

Smooth-coated Otters.