Birding at UNISZA and UMT

Recently i went back to Kuala Terengganu to see my mother-in-law who was very ill on X'mas day. I took the opportunity to visit two universities which are located nearby to each other at a place called "Gong Badak" i.e. Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT). A local birder (Mr Annuar McAffee) has written and published a book on birding at UNISZA alone, listing close to 135 birds seen around its campus. I must say that the guards at both the universities were friendly and allowed us (me and my kids) in without much questioning.

Although Mr Annuar McAffee was in KL during my visit, we did not have any problems locating the birding area as the guards are kind enough to show us the lake area in UNISZA. Here are some of the birds seen along the way:

The first bird we saw was this White-Throated Kingfisher.

Then we saw this lone Yellow-Bellied Prinia.

My kids spotted this juvenile Purple Heron across the lake.

We saw plenty of this Pond Heron, not only around the campus area but in most places in KT. We also saw a juvenile Yellow Bittern, about 15 Scally-Breasted Munias, lots of swallows flying around and a Common Sandpiper near the lake area.

Since the birds were probably having a X'mas holiday, we decided to visit UMT which is just 5 minutes drive away from UNISZA. Its signage can be seen here from the boundaries of UNISZA.

The first bird we saw at UMT was this Asian Brown Flycatcher. 

Then we also saw a Common Sandpiper along the banks of a man-made canal which was built on a mangrove area.

We saw close to 15 of these Ashy Minivets. They seem to enjoy the strong wind blowing from the sea front.

At a glance this bird could have been a white wagtail but after further observation this was just an Ashy Minivet - probably an adult male.

Amongst the minivets, we saw this Olive-Backed Sunbird.

As i was crossing the bridge near the mangrove area i saw this kingfisher. Before i could raise my camera again, it flew away @3#$%%&^&*@

God must have been kind to me as it flew back and allowed me to take a few shots before it flew away again. This is an uncommon Common Kingfisher !

The following day i went around the neighbourhood to look for more birds and here are some of them:

This Pond Heron was shot from the car.

Then came this Brown Shrike trying its best to hide himself.

These pipits actually was hovering before it landed just like a richard's pipit description but i think these birds were just Paddyfield Pipits.

This could be a Black-Bellied Malkoha.

This is a Dollar Bird perched high up on a tree trunk. Back-light was the order of the day through out my stay.

Finally a clear shot of a Pied Fantail - the MNS SBBG's mascot!

 ...and this Ashy Tailorbird concludes my birding trip in Terengganu.