Coney Island is located at northeast of Singapore and between the mainland and Pulau Ubin. It was acclaimed to be rustic with 80 species of birds. The first time we visited the small island was about 4 years ago, at the end of 2021. The highlight then was watching long tailed parakeets.
We visited Coney Island again on a pleasant, Sunny Sunday October 19, with my Tamron lens in a backpack. We walked along the shore on the southwest side of the island. We saw and heard long tailed parakeets flying overhead, but did not see them anywhere close.
Walking slowly and stopping when I heard bird chirps, I spotted two baby spotted doves, quite a few Asian brown flycatchers. There were many butterflies flying in the bushes, and around blooming flowers.
 |
| they were on the ground foraging before flying away from us to perch on the tree branches |
 |
| Asian Brown Flycatcher |
Just when I was thinking that I had no use of my big lens, I heard unfamiliar bird chirps then saw something moving high up on the main trunk of a tall pine tree - it was a flame backed woodpecker. I installed the big lens and started to flow it with my camera. It moved pretty fast and helically, in and out of my views.
This one had a red crest - a male flame backed woodpecker. I saw the woodpeckers quite a few times before, but never heard them chirping. it must be mating time for them.
It flew away, and I saw a couple more flame backed woodpecker. Another flame backed woodpecker came into view, it had the black and white strips at its head, brownish back, but no red crest; its head was all black. That was a female flame backed woodpecker! The first time I noticed the female flame backed woodpeckers in my bird watching.
Then I saw two woodpeckers get close to each other, on a branch way above me. It was backlight, I could only see their silhouette.
The northeast side of the island is the beach side. It was high tide this morning, and the beaches were mostly under water. From there, southwest tip of Pula Ubin was in sight across the water. It should be a good place to Kayak to from nearby Punggol point Park.
It was a slow, pleasant walk, 7 km total on the island.
 |
| a male flame backed woodpecker |
 |
| this one had red crest |
 |
| submerged beach |
Notes
1. Construction of Outward Bound Singapore Campus
There was construction 4 years ago when we first visited Coney island. We were annoyed by the constant loud noises from driving piers into ground. 4 years later the construction was not completed - from Google map we could tell that the campus occupies about 1/5 ~ 1/4 of the island.
2. Bug bites - use bug repellent if you are prone to bug bites. There are many bugs on the island.
3. Right by the island, a big HBD community, Punggole point cove was just built.
