Birds, Wagler's Pit Viper etc - November 2021

When you go around looking for birds, be mindful of other creatures which may be lurking along your favourite trails. Some of them can be really special especially a nice but venomous looking snake like a Wagler's Pitviper (Tropidolaemus wagleri).

This is a female Wagler's Pit Viper 

Venomous terrestrial species of snakes in Malaysia are basically divided into 2 families, the elapidae which include cobras and kraits and viperidae which include viper and pit vipers. There are 3 subfamilies within this family of vipers: the Fea's viper (Azemiopinae), Pit vipers (Crotalinae) and Pitless vipers or true vipers (Viperinae), Iman D. Johan Arief, et al (2021). 

According to their research, Iman D. Johan Arief, et al (2021) argued that Wagler's pit viper (Trimeresurus wagleri) is among the commonest species of pit vipers found in Malaysia. Due to its highly differentiated morphological characteristics, it has now been categorised in a different subgenus known as "Tropidolaemus".

In another earlier research, Choo Hock Tan et al (2017) reported that Tropidolaemus is mainly distributed in Southeast Asia. There are currently at least four species of Tropidolaemus been recognised in the literature and media including the most commonly described, the "Temple pit viper" (Tropidolaemus wagleri), also known as speckled pit viper and Wagler's pit viper.

While variations in coloration do exist, generally the adult females have a black or dark green base coloration with yellow cross-banding while the males basically retain most of the external characteristics from the juvenile phase; they are typically slender and much smaller than the females, says Iman D. Johan Arief, et al (2021) and as can be seen from the above photo. 

The male body is generally light green in color, ornamented with red and white post-auricular stripes, as well as red and white spots on the dorsum. According to Iman D. Johan Arief, et al (2021), despite the high reports of snake bites due to pit vipers in Malaysia, most envenomation does not result in fatality. From 1965-1971, there were 1136 cases with 4 fatalities involving the Malayan pit viper (Calloselasma rhodostoma). 

Choo Hock Tan et al (2017) argues that unlike most other pit vipers, T. wagleri venom does not possess hemorrhagic or anticoagulant properties. Hypothetically, the venom of female T. wagleri would be one that is streamlined for the predation of larger warm-blooded animals such as rodents or birds, while the smaller male adults and juveniles feed mainly on amphibians and reptiles.

Addressing the qualitative and quantitative details of the venom proteins, Choo Hock Tan et al (2017) research surprisingly, revealed highly similar chromatographic profiles of both the male and female venoms. Despite their drastic sexual dimorphism, their findings imply that the venom contents of T. wagleri are consistent regardless of the sex and body size of the snake. Predation is accomplished with the venom neurotoxic activity mediated through the waglerins.

According to Iman Dr. Johan Arief et al (2021) the potency of the haemorrhagic and thrombin-like activity varies depending on the species, which may result in thrombocytopenic syndrome and haemorrhage.

Although the bites of members of this genus rarely result in serious envenomation, nevertheless, their bites can be excruciatingly painful with local blistering, tissue necrosis, and haemorrhage, Iman Dr. Johan Arief et al (2021).

References:

i) Choo HockTan, KaeYiTan, Michelle Khai KhunYap, & Nget HongTan,  "Venomics of Tropidolaemus wagleri, the sexually dimorphic temple pit viper: Unveiling a deeply conserved atypical toxin arsenal" (Feb 2017).

ii) Iman D. Johan Arief, Xin Y Er, Rafiq Shajahan, Faiz Johan Arief, Naganathan Pillai, "Venomous Terrestrial Snakes in the Tropics of Malaysia: Review", (Mar 2021).

Here are some of the birds seen along the way.

This is our very own "Tweety Bird" - Common Tailorbird.

Pin-striped Tit Babbler - together with the above tailorbird, they can easily manoeuvre along the thick vines and bushes in the jungle. Have seen them picking up caterpillars, etc in those areas. 

I believe this should be a Spectacled Spiderhunter.

Quite a large bird and their calls can be heard quite a distance away. 

Blue-throated Bee-eater

Its tail streamer is usually longer as compared to the Blue-throated Bee-eater.

Indian Cuckoo

This could just be a sub-adult.

At a glance, it looks like a Peregrine Falcon.

This is a medium size migrant cuckoo with a unique call which sounds repeatedly like this: "bo-ka-ta-ko" 

I rarely see three falconets in a tree.

Black-thighed Falconet

Eating its prey which I later found out that it was a dragonfly.

Scaly-breasted Bulbul

It is smaller than other bulbuls - the olive-winged, the Red-eyed etc but their calls are more melodious.

 

They can be quite friendly too and they definitely like a cool shower.

Enjoying a cool splash by itself.

It was then joined by its partner.

Another two other members decided to joined in the fun.

Suddenly more joined in.

Finally the whole gang of six decided to gate-crashed the party.

This could be a juvenile Spectacled Bulbul

Here's a funny looking 'cicak" (lizard)

This is an earless agamid lizard (Aphaniotis fusca). Can only be found in this region.

A spider with a designer web.

Finally a unique pair of insect - they look like some small cicadas.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS !

MUCHAS GRACIAS ! FOR DROPPING IN. ADIOUS ! 

 

Painted Stork and other non-waders of the inter-tidal flats - 2021

Aside from waders, you can also find other birds mingling together in the inter-tidal mudflats in this region. Their relationships in the coastline are generally cordial. Skirmishes which occur involved mostly the same species rather than intra-species and generally related to food acquisition. One of those non-wader birds which can be found in the mudflats lately are the Painted Storks.

Painted Storks have been regularly spotted along the mudflats of Selangor. They are probably a new colony which are distinct from those from ZOO Negara. However some birders believe the ones seen here could have originated from ZOO Negara when one or two of them begin breeding around Sepang or Putrajaya herony. From these few individuals, the colony has spread to the current numbers. I have once counted 50 of them at a single site.

They are not afraid of human or passing boats - not sure whether it was because of their sheer size or perhaps they are already accustomed with the presence of human beings.

So far I haven't seen them picking up fishes from the mudflats like some terns do.

They are like gentle giants wading casually on the mud.

Taking off.

They are also an elegant flyer.

This is a juvenile Painted Stork. Looks really ugly.

The next 'big bird' you will find is the Grey Heron. They too are accustomed to humans.

Like someone who has not enough sleep. The Black-Crowned Night Heron can be found mostly near the river banks.

Pacific Swallow 

They do fly along the mudflats.

Lesser Sand Plover

It has some neat looking plumage

Common Sandpiper with a chicken-liked feet.

Here comes the terns

This should be a White-winged Tern

Whiskered Tern

Probably the most common tern which you can find along the Selangor coastline.

Just like a Little Tern, Whiskered Terns do hover and practice plunge feeding as well.

Just like the Common terns, Whiskered Terns love to follow fishing boats as well.

They can provide you with nice bird-in-flight shots. 

Here comes the Common Terns

They too are elegant flyers

THAT'S ALL FOLKS !

World Migratory Bird Day - 9 October 2021

This year's World Migratory Bird Day falls on 9 October 2021, just in time when the Government eases some Covid-19 restrictions especially the part on inter-state travelling. I took the opportunity to survey some of the migratory birds along the coastline of Selangor as well as in Kota Kuala Muda. 

The first stop on October 9 was at a nearby mudflats in Kuala Selangor and here are some of its photos taken.

Here is a Common Redshank with its morning breakfast.

Just in case if you wish to learn more about the various plumage of waders, here is a description of them:

This is a Curlew Sandpiper. By this time many of the waders are in their winter plumage.

Lesser Sand Plover

 A Lesser Sand Plover with a crab

Better be careful - there is someone right behind you !

Eurasian Curlews are a prominent feature at this location.

Like some big heavy plane, these curlews will have to run for a few meters before they can take off.

A nice looking Common Redshank - most likely an adult.

Another Common Redshank.

A flock of Black-winged Stilts.

Although some of them are reported to migrate but most of them I believe have taken up residence in this region. Well at least they actually migrate from the nearby paddy fields to the mudflats.

Common Sandpiper

We only saw a few Red-necked Stint this time.

On the my second trip (i.e 17 October), I surveyed further up the coastline of Selangor. Joining me this time were two young researchers and waders enthusiasts.

They are fully sponsored in their survey I believed while I am under the sole proprietorship category. Good to see that there are younger generation who are interested to watch waders especially ladies.

A Common Sandpiper greeted us before our departure to the shoreline.

We saw this interesting Common Redshank with a curlew-liked bill.

Here is a Marsh Sandpiper (left) with a Common Redshank (right)

There were also two Common Greenshank seen nearby.

 

We saw quite a number of Black-tailed Godwits at this location.

A group of Black-tailed Godwits taking off.

No boat trip will be completed without photos of terns.

Whiskered Tern - still showing its breeding plumage at this time of the year.

A Common Tern up in the air

A Common Tern resting on the water.

To gobble down a fish in mid flight is not an easy task.

My final survey was at Kota Kuala Muda in the state of Kedah which was carried out on October 28.

On this trip the condition were slightly unfavorable. The sky were cloudy with overcast while most of the waders were 'stationed' at a distance. Therefore not many good photos were obtained this time. The above Lesser Sand Plover still has some patches of its summer plumage.

Common Terns are still abundant - almost close to 50 of them.

One of just a few Whimbrels seen at this location.

Like a B1 bomber !

Greater Crested Tern

The upperside of this Greater Crested Tern probably reflect the overhead cloudy sky colors.

This is a juvenile Greater Crested Tern. First time seeing it here. It was together with seven other adults Greater Crested Terns.

A Grey Heron versus a Common Redshank - so much difference in size.

A small flock of Common Redshanks

Terek Sandpiper

Oh! what a long "Pinocchio nose" you have there. 

THAT'S ALL FOLKS ! TILL WE MEET AGAIN