I usually scan the map online for some green areas to visit. This time it leads me to the Admiralty Park. From Woodlands MRT station, I walked about 10 minutes to get to the park. My initial impression of the park was a family friendly park, but not friendly to nature. Man-made pond, paved road, wide staircase, etc. It looks more an urban park than a nature park.
Since I'm already there, I might as well took a stroll around. The first bird that signals their presence were 2 loud blue-collared kingfisher. I tried to follow it until it decided to fly to a distant tree across the street.
As I went deeper through the park, the surrounding area starts to change a bit. Man-made structures start to disappear. I even saw a family of monkeys there. At one point, I noticed some movement on the grasses and saw an immature white-breasted waterhen trying to cross the road.
Then on a distant branch, I spotted a dollarbird in a typical dollarbird-pose - sitting still on an open branch turning its head around looking for food.
There's a section where the paved road seems to end. But later I found out that it must be unfinished, since after about a hundred meters or so, the road is paved again.
The park runs straight until it reaches a street. Opposite the street is another park, the Woodlands Waterfront which covers the sea shore overlooking Malaysia.
It was already midday when I reached this park and the weather was getting hot. I took a short break from the hot sun, cool myself and proceed to the seashore where I can see the opposite bank.
There were a few olive-backed sunbirds and zebra doves there.
When I grew tired of staring blankly at the sea while savoring the fresh sea breeze, I decided to head back. Because it was hot and there's no way I could avoid the hot sun, I decided to walk faster on the way back. I didn't bother to look at the trees because I know the birds must be hiding too until I reached a shaded area. While cooling myself, I heard a few bird calls on a tall tree which I couldn't identify. I initially thought they were flowerpeckers or flycatchers, but after I took some shots, I identified them as the Common Iora due to my previous experience with this species of bird at Sungei Buloh.
Near the exit, I also saw some sunbirds feeding on a flowering shrub.
As I move closer to admire their beauty, I heard the pygmy woodpecker's TI-RI-RI-RI-RIT call.
Then I also saw a scaley breasted munia hiding from the sun.
On my way back to the MRT station, I also saw 2 raptor hovering above at a distance, I assume they were white-breasted sea-eagle, but can't be sure. I wasn't able to observe them too long because of the blinding sun and before I could photograph them, they were gone.
I ending my birding activity with a nice bowl of Laksa (coconut milk) noodle soup for lunch before heading home.
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