Harrier Survey at Ulu Dedap - Part 2

At Ulu Dedap ricefields, the Eastern Marsh Harriers (EMH) were plenty and very much closer. For two continuous days (7-8 January 2012), we were up as early as 5.00am and was on the road by 6.00am in order to reach the ricefields by 6.30am.

Here are some interesting info and facts obtained from the site:

i) There were on average about 130 EMHs seen at this place alone. The highest count observed was 145 while the lowest was 108.

ii) The earliest EMH to leave the roost was recorded at 0700hrs and the last to return was at 1950hrs.

iii) 90% of the raptors observed at Ulu Dedap ricefields were EMHs and about 8% were Pied Harriers with the remaining 2% consisted of other raptors eg Peregrine Falcon, Brahminy, Black Kite and Black Shouldered Kite.

iv) There were more males (EMHs) than females (EMHs) and a few juveniles.

v) There were more female Pied Harriers than male Pied Harriers as well as a few juveniles.

vi) Most of the Harriers would leave their roosting site at Ulu Dedap at dawn and returned at dusk. Only one or two would remained in Ulu Dedap to search for food.

vii) There were not a single Eastern Imperial Eagles nor Greater Spotted Eagles seen during our 2 days at Ulu Dedap ricefields.

There are several quick and simple ways to id EMHs and Pied Harriers which i have learnt from the experts. I will try to id some of them here:

Features: not so white body, streaked near chest area and whithish thighs = female Pied Harrier ?

Expert's comment (Yang Chong): "Your educated guess of the 1st pic is correct, a Pied Harrier female with clearly shown diagnostic white thighs, broad trailing edge on underwings and barrings on primary wing bases and flight feathers"

Note: Other features which you could look for on Pied Harriers are: pale face and smaller heads as compared to EMHs (info adopted from Rafi Kudus - "Identifying Harriers" talk at MNS on 31 Jan 2013)

Features: brown body, rufous thighs, and with breast band = 3rd year female EMH?

Expert's comment (Yang Chong): "2nd pic definitely Eastern Marsh juv., primary bases unmarked but this is not I think a very young bird because of somewhat worn feathers, also moult in tail"

Features: head brown, body brown, with supercilium, white patch on the nape and no streaked on throat = juvenile Pied Harrier?

Expert's comment (Yang Chong): "The 3rd pic appears to be an Easterm Marsh Harrier juv. showing all brown underparts, alas the unmarked primary bases cannot be seen in the pic. Pied Harrier juv. would  show pale areas above eyes and on ear-coverts and barred primary bases"

Features: white body, lesser brown streaks near chest area and brown upper parts = 3rd Year EMH

Features: white body, lesser streaked neck and breast = Male Eastern Marsh Harrier

Expert's coment (Yang Chong): "Your photo actually shows a juv male Eastern Marsh Harrier"!

Note: Other feature which to id a male EMHs is to see its scales like feathers on top of its wings. (info adopted from Rafi Kudus - "Identifying Harriers" talk at MNS on 31 Jan 2013).

My score: 2 correct, 1 half correct  & 1 wrong - boleh tahan lah !

Features: underparts like a disease bird, rufous thigh, head light brown and with a rat on its talons = female Pied Harrier ?)

Note: oh dear all this while i thought this bird is a Pied Harrier but it is actually a Juv EMH - according to Rafi Kudus it has blotchy marks, no barrings on its primaries although a juv EMH also has whithish facial colors.

(FOR ADDITIONAL INFO - KINDLY READ DAVE BAKEWELL'S INPUT IN THE REPLY SECTION BELOW)

An EMH taking off at first light. On top of the gravel mount was a Peregrine Falcon (japonensis sp).

The remains of a Cinnamon Bittern after the Peregrine Falcon flew off.

At times EMH would approach and search its prey at low level.

Then they would rise above again. 

...and kept scanning below.

Then the EMH will turn around once they have spotted something on the ground.

Then the EMH would dive bomb the prey like this one.

Harrier Survey at Ulu Dedap - Part 1

Recently i had the opportunity and privilege to join a group of experience birders on a trip to Ulu Dedap to study harriers or more precisely to study, count and pin point the coordinates of the Eastern Marsh Harriers (EMH) roosting sites and its numbers. In my group was 3 very notable birders in this region i.e. i) Yang Chong (a walking field guide and encyclopedia of bird watching), ii) Aun Tiah ( who has close to 30 years of birding experience)  and iii) Mr Rafi (who is the Chairman of MNS Conservation Council). That was indeed a privilege! My role was to photo-document the behaviors, diet(if possible) and the roosting sites of the EMHs.

On the way to Ulu Dedap ricefields, we stopped by at a place called Chui Chak. Chui Chak is a small town with a population close to about 5000 villagers who are mainly farmers. After a short pit stop for breakfast, we went around the padi fields to look for EMHs.....

We did saw a few EMHs at Chui Chak but majority of them were located quite a distance from us. To id and photo-document them from a distance was quite a task.

Here is an EMH doing its acrobatic dive. When it spots a prey below, this was the most common flight pattern observed.

An EMH about to land. Although they roost and breed on the ground, they do occasional land to take a break - it could be due to the insufficient thermal to lift their wings or maybe to conserve some energy. The numbers of EMHs observed here are few and this is probably not the main roosting area for them. We expect more EMHs at Ulu Dedap - our main survey site !! 

While heading to our sheltering site, we did some birding as well. Here are some of the interesting birds seen at this location:

A pocket of Cattle Egrets (i think it is safe to call them "Bubulcus ibis" at the mo).

A lone Common Myna perched on a man-made bird house. I noticed that it is made of fiberglass material !Locals informed us that they have erected these houses to attract birds of prey namely owls or more precisely barn owls to hunt for rodents. That was certaintly a great idea for biological pest control!

At our shelter which was just a small tree, we saw a group of fishes. Although the water looks clear but we are not sure whether it is safe for drinking.

This is a genus of a common snake head family - locals call it "haruan".

This bird has many names  - "Black Headed Munia" and "Chestnut Munia" are the most common ones given.

We also saw a lone Yellow Wagtail.

....as well as a bunch of waders - here you could see a Plover.

This Large-Billed Crow also pretended like a harrier

We saw plenty of this White Throated Kingfisher.

This is a resident Black Shouldered Kite. Now is called a Black-Winged Kite, i was informed. Very common in open areas.

The tree where we were sheltering was actually its nesting site and it continued to circle around the tree several times.

After circling awhile, they decided to perch nearby to observe us. In this picture they are not calling but were actually panting ! Yes it was quite hot in the paddy fields although it was just around 11.00am.

This is a Brown Shrike basking in the hot sun.

While searching the skies for raptors we were entertained by these two juvenile Brahminy Kites

They seem like trying to mock at each other.

Out of no where Yang Chong suddenly called out Imperial !!

It circle a few times from a distance but luckily it flew quite close above us.

A majestic fly past !

These are my best shots of the Imperial Eagle ! Although it looks close here but it was actually gliding quite high up in the sky.

This majestic eagle was certaintly a lifer for me although the team also saw not one but three greater spotted eagles from a distance through their scopes.