Birds of Serendah - Nov 2011

Today I went to Serendah and this time i bumped into an "orang asli" (aborigines) who is kind enough to show me a new place which he said has a lot of big "burung bangau" (Herons).  He told me he has seen these birds quite often and at times locals could pick up its chicks which have dropped down from the trees.

From afar i could see a colony of herons but could not quite establish their type except for the Grey Heron in the middle. So I asked the guy whether we could get a bit closer and he told me no problem.

When we reached there i could see fresh wild boar tracks - possibly 5 -6 six of them. He led the way through thick shrubs and weeds but somehow he could still lead me right below the tree where the herons were located.

Here is a Purple Heron. Saw about - 6-7 of them flying around as they have spotted us below them. The roost area consisted mainly of Purple Herons and one lone Grey Heron.

You could see the Purple Heron attending to its nest. We saw close to 4 -5 nests but no chicks. Not to disturb their nest building activities, we spent only a few minutes there.

Then we saw this Chestnut-Bellied Malkoha flying in silently. Initially i thought it was a Black-bellied  Malkoha but field guides say that the former is much larger.

These are Common Iora. The middle one looks like a female by the drab color of its plumage. 

This is a male Ruby-Cheeked Sunbird.

...and this one is probably its mate. They are close by.

We saw this lone raptor perched nearby - a Crested Serpent Eagle.

We saw many of these Scaly-Breasted Munias - close to 8-9 of them. The top is probably a juvenile while the one below it could be a sub adult. They can be found almost every where at this place - near the weeds and even at the road sides.

...so as this fellow - A White Breasted Waterhen.

Could this be a Dusky Warbler?

(Note: The experts say its an Arctic Warbler)

Is this Richard's or Paddy Field Pipit?

(Note: The experts say its a Paddy Field Pipit)

I concluded the trip with this Blue-Tailed Bee-Eater. This is probably their season cause i could see them almost everwhere as well.

Waders at Teluk Air Tawar, Penang - 24 Oct 2011

I have now realise that the best times to see/photograph waders and waterbirds are in the morning since most photos i have seen are during that hours between 8.00am - 9.45am. Not satisfied with the earlier day's catch, I went to watch the waders again on the following day (24 Oct 2011). The second day did not yield more birds but it certainly offers a more diversified / varieties of waders and waterbirds. Here are some of them including the common ones:

This is a more common Striated/Little Heron. Saw two of them today.

We did not see this Bar-Tailed Godwit on the first day.

A Cattle Egret in flight.

So as this Pond Heron - not sure which type.

A Cattle Egret looking for fishes to eat before roosting.

This is a one legged Curlew Sandpiper.

A Common Greenshank wondering what has happened to its worms.

A lone Whimbrel marching across the mudflat.

A group of Whimbrels.

This is a Common Greenshank - also looks like a marsh sandpiper to an untrained eyes.

Another unidentified Pond Heron.

This looks like a Greater Sand Plover to me.

This looks like another Common Greenshank.

A Common Redshank getting its feet dirty.

This is a Common Greenshank - differentiated from the Marsh Sandpiper by its slightly more upturned bill.

A Brahminy Kite circling around - this is the only raptor we saw for the entire two days.

A handsome Collared Kingfisher.

Not sure why there is a black spot on the wings of this Common Greenshank.

(Note: just found out that the black spot on this bird means its an adult breeding bird)

This looks like a Red-Necked Stint.

A Lesser Sand Plover been watched by another of its friend.

This is a Greater Sand Plover according to Dave Bakewell.

So as this bird, i guess.

We saw lots of sand plovers and redshanks today.

Waders of Teluk Air Tawar, Penang - 23 Oct 2011

One of the most interesting thing about watching waders is the thrill of searching and identifying the different types of waders amongst the hundreds of them on the tidal mudflats. This is where the every essence of birding techniques come to play, which are:

i) to watch waders you need to have a scope - this is because most of time these waders are stationed quite a distance away on the mudflats.

ii) If you do not have a scope, then a good pair of bins would be handy esp 10x42 onwards.

iii) Then the next thing you really need is a note book to jot down the details of the waders you see.

iv) You may not need a note book provided that if you have a DSLR camera with a 800mm lens to record those details like head patterns, bill size, colors of wing bars etc. But then how many people can afford a 800mm lens? Digiscoping could be a good alternative to this limitation.

One of the worst times to watch waders are during their wintering colors and before an incoming thunderstorm. Their wintering plumage blends really well with the colors of the mudflats but it certaintly did not help much in easing the pain in identifying them. So in between the only time i had and the evening thunderstorm occuring each day, i went to look for waders during my recent vacation back home (23 Oct - 24 Oct 2011). It took me a few days just to sort out and look for oddballs in the hundreds of their pictures. Then it took me another day or two to identify them but with the help of the more season and experience birders like Dave Bakewell, the headaches goes away faster. Here are some of them which i managed to see and id:

This is what i call blending with the mudflats. There are actually 8 birds in this picture alone. That is why you really need a scope or a pair of bins to differentiate the birds out there in the mudflats.

One can see Penang Island out there and the birds are really sticking to the shoreline which is quite far out.

A congregation of waders, not many but enough to satisfy me.

From the first picture if you zoom in, you could see a Curlew Sandpiper (top) and a Common Redshank, walking side by side.

You could also see a pair of Terek Sandpiper.

I think that is a Greater Sand Plover (left) and a Lesser Sand Plover (right)

Is this a Javan or a Chinese Pond heron?

Could this be a Great Egret or an Intermediate Egret? Looks more like a Great Egret from its longer and sharper bill.

Occasionally one could see marshland/coastal birds such as this smaller Little/Striated Heron.

A flock of heavy B52 bombers (Eurasian Curlews) escorted by the faster Spitefires (2 Greater Sand Plovers). What a magnificant sight!

A closer look at E-Curlews and Plovers. 

A Common Redshank taking a stroll on the mudflats. Saw close to about 150 of them.

Waders (mostly Common Redshanks) taking a bath at the pool side.

A lone Common Greenshank.

This is a Grey Plover. Said to breed in the Artic and Canada and makes non-stop transcontinental flight in its winter migration season. Certaintly has great stamina to fly over the Atlantic to this region.

and it certaintly deserves a splashing good time.

Another shot of the bird.

According to Dave Bakewell, this is a Juvenile Grey Plover.

This is a Lesser Sand Plover.

A squadron of Cattle Egrets returning to roost.

A majestic Great Egret with its long wing span. It just flew silently from behind above my head.

This picture illustrates how Common Redshanks look for sea worms ("pun-pun" in Malay language). It would first dip its bill into the mud and feel for the worms. The bird on the top right hand corner of the picture has got some sea worms.

...and there he goes off with the sea worms.