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 

Exploring the night creatures of lowland forest

Going solo for the first time without a Herpetologist expert can be a bit daunting. Luckily there is Mr CY Tan to accompany me in my maiden trip to look at nocturnal creatures. The condition was a bit dry and hot - yes it can be hot even at night over here. Nevertheless we saw some interesting arachnids, amphibians, and moths.

One of the nicer looking moth. Looks like one of those Erebidae moths from the Ssp Ischyja.

Another Erebid moth. 

This moth looks rather plain. This could be one of those Owlet moth - Spirama Ssp.

Another drab looking moth.

This moth has a unique pattern on its back but unfortunately it flew away before I could get another photo.

This fella looks like a butterfly but it's actually a moth.

This one is a butterfly - it's a 'Lesser Darkwing' (Allotinus unicolor unicolor). It was fast asleep I believe.

This one is likely a jungle cockroach.

This is the unmistakable Asian Common Toad  (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) 

This one pulak is a Four-lined Tree Frog (Polypedates leucomystax)

This mating couple here are called Asian Grass Frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) 

We saw plenty of spiders on this trip. Most of them are related to a species of spiders called 'Huntsman Spider'.

The above spider is a very rare spider. It's scientific name is "Heteropoda davidbowie". Yes it was named after the British rock singer by a German arachnologist Dr Peter Jager in 2008, based on a specimen caught in Cameroon Highlands in 2007 by G. Ackermann. According to iNaturalist  record, there were only about 88 confirmed sightings of this unique spider in Malaysia from 2008. The figure might probably be slightly more if we include those unreported ones.

This is the front view of the same spider. It's a female apparently. The male is reportedly more reddish in color.

We saw plenty of this 'Huntsman" spiders on the forest floor.

Another 'Huntsman' spider.

These spiders apparently don't wait for their prey. They will hunt them instead.

This is another different type of 'Huntsman' spider.

A view of KL after dark - 9.30pm

Most of the city folks were fast asleep by now - 12.30am

GOOD NIGHT FOR NOW !!