Friday 19 November 2021

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 !





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