Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is said to be an uncommon winter visitor in West Peninsular Malaysia. It can also be found in Europe, Africa, India, South East Asia right to Australia. Its from the same family group of Accipitridae just like the black shouldered kite but much bigger (55-60cm) as compared to black shouldered kite (31cm - 35cm).

I had the opportunity to see some Black Kites in the recent trip to Ulu Dedap and here are some of its photos:

This could be a sub-adult as its still has whithish streaks at its belly.

Looks like this bird's primary feathers (left side) and its tails have been ripped off.

Here you can see the slightly forked tail frequently associated with this kite.

View from below.

Its feathers certaintly look black from the top.

Lang Bahu Hitam (Black-Shouldered Kite / Black-Winged Kite)

Lang Bahu Hitam ataupun nama saintifiknya, Elanus caeruleus daripada keluarga Accipitridae adalah satu-satu helang yang boleh ditemui di kawasan pinggir hutan dan tanah lapang khususnya berhampiran dengan sawah padi/bendang (kalau ikut loghat utara) sehingga ke 500 meter dari aras laut. Lang Bahu Hitam boleh di jumpai di negara Afrika sehingga ke Australia termasuk Malaysia. Jadi distribusi helang ini agak luas. Saiz burung dewasa adalah antara 31cm - 35cm dan makanan kegemarannya adalah tikus. Atas sebab ini kadang kala helang ini juga dipanggil sebagai Lang Tikus !

Bahagian atas badan lang ini berwarna kelabu pudar manakala bahagian sayap sekundernya berwarna hitam. Matanya berwarna merah dan bahagian bawah badannya berwarna putih.

Burung betina akan bertelur sebanyak 3-5 biji di mana sarangnya dibina atas pokok yang tidak setinggi seperti helang-helang yang lain. Musim pembiakannya dikatakan sepanjang tahun.

Salah satu ciri istimewa burung pemangsa ini ialah tabiatnya yang memerhati mangsa dari atas sambil mengipas-gipas sayapnya sebelum menjunam ke arah mangsa. Tabiat ini tidak ditonjolkan oleh mana-mana helang yang lain.

Lang Bahu Hitam juga mencari mangsanya dari tempat yang statik seperti dari tiang kayu atau dawai telepon. Lang Bahu Hitam adalah satu-satunya burung lindungan di negara Malaysia di bawah akta 76/72. Kalau senang jom pi memburung!

Birds @ Chikus

While on the way back from Ulu Dedap, Mr Rafi was kind enough to show me the roosting site of the uncommon Grey-Headed Lapwings which is located at a place called Chikus.

Here is a Grey-Headed Lapwing foraging at a patch of land covered with some kind of white substance discarded by the villages. The birds don't seem to be bothered about it.

A flock of Grey Headed Lapwings about to land.

This was one of a few Red-Wattled Lapwings spotted at this place.

We also saw a lone Purple Swamphen.

This place has a lot more birds then seen here. It was probably due to the fact that we reached the place close to 10.00am. Nevertheless i have managed to tick one more lifer here.