Waders at TAT - September 2023

Over here, the migratory waders would made their return trip (Autumn migration) as early as in July (based on pers comm with seasoned birders). From then to September you can see some of them in their colourful breeding plumage. In this trip to TAT which is located in mainland Penang, I managed to see some of them but mostly in flight cause the tide movements have pushed them further away from the river mouth. 

Here is a Lesser Sand Plover 

(Note: now it is called a Tibetan Sand Plover)

Some Charadrius basking in the morning sun which was partially blocked by some clouds which makes the weather quite cooling.

Here's a larger group of waders.

Ruddy Turnstone 

One of my favourite waders and it is still having its breeding plumage.

Looks like it is just slightly larger than a Tibetan Sand Plover.

A Tibetan Sand Plover showing some breeding plumage. 

Wonder whether this TSP is from the 'Mongolus' group - can see some white patch at its forehead?

Some of them are quick to transform themselves into partial winter plumage like this one.

This time I witnessed quite a number of juveniles arriving at the same time as the adults / 2 CY birds.

This is another juvenile I believe.

Common Sandpiper

(Also a juvenile it seems)

Common Redshank

One of the most common waders in this region. You can see them every single year through out the winter season.

The one and only Common Greenshank seen this time.

Also a lone Pacific Golden Plover seen this time.

Initially I thought I saw a new bird but it turns out to be just a Broad-billed Sandpiper.

Red-necked Stint

I hardly able to photograph them in their winter plumage.

Red-necked Stint

They are fast but not furious.

It's not easy to capture them in flight cause these small little ones can actually fly very fast.

 

This time I saw quite a number of Black-tailed Godwits and some Asian Dowitchers.

Black-tailed Godwit

Some of them can fly quite close to you.

Black-tailed Godwit

Still showing off its breeding plumage.

Great Knot

Great Knots

Not many were seen this time.

Bar-tailed Godwits

Common Redshank

A nice flight sequence of some Common Redshanks.

Maybe we can consider calling them a "Spotted Redshank" instead.

Some them have really dark uppersides.

Like some B&W paintings.

Some are quite plain looking like this one.

A Ruddy Turnstone in flight

Some Ruddy Turnstones with a Red Knot

Whimbrel

Not many seen this time - just four of them.

Eurasian Curlew

Gentle waders in the sky

Tibetan Sand Plover

Probably the most abundant wader you can find here.

Most likely a 2CY bird

So as this one I believe.

According to Dave Bakewell, this one has three generations of feathers !

This Tibetan SP looks like the usual wintering wader.

I think this might be a Greater SP?

Two Broad-billed SPs 

A Broad-billed SP with a feather instead of a fish.

Curlew SPs

Broad-billed SP has many variations of bill.

Some Broad-billed SP with some Tibetan SP

A mix group of waders.

There are only two groups here - Great Knots and Tibetan SPs

Two Terek SPs and two Tibetan SPs

A comparison of a Curlew SP. These are two different birds here.

     
                              

Here are some non-waders 

        Common Tern

According to a localised birding expert, the above is a Germain's Swift!

And the unmistakable Grey Heron says goodbye to us on our way back to the jetty.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS FROM TAT !

        

Birds in July and August 2023

 Here are some of the birds and a few chickens seen on these two months.

Brown Boobook (Ninox scutulata)

Formerly known as Brown Hawk Owl. It will call even during the day time just like the Collared Owlet. Funny that the locals don't call it a 'burung hantu' but instead called it a 'Burung Pungguk'.

I believe this is a Verditer Flycatcher.

Lesser Coucal

White-breasted Waterhen 

(caught taking flowers to its mate)

Pink-necked Green Pigeon

Black-headed Munia

Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

They will be the first migratory bird species to arrive, just like the Grey Wagtail.

Lesser Whistling Duck

Lesser Whistling Duck

Their population is still strong and stable in Penang. Elsewhere not so sure.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)

Female

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)

Male (a sub-adult I believe)

Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)

Looks like there are three female to a male. Not bad.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS !

Birds in March 2023 - raptors etc

When you do birding in March, usually you will be looking forward to the spring migration of raptors. Chances of seeing them at this time are usually higher. So in this post you will see some of them. But first of all the local birds first.

This is a male Scarlet Minivet 

The female Scarlet Minivet stayed higher than the male.

This flycatcher together with the Asian Brown were still around in March.

Female Green-backed Flycatcher

Square-tailed Drongo Cuckoo

This is a point blank shot as it came out from no where and stood right in front of me - probably less than 5 meters.

Greater Green Leafbird (female)

Blue-throated Bee Eater

I think this is a seasonal bird. Sometimes you can see them everywhere at certain months then they would 'disappear' for sometime before appearing again. 

Here is a different flycatcher.

Ferruginous Flycatcher

This is an uncommon flycatcher - migrant?

Like most of its close relatives, it would sally for insects and returned to the same branch again.

Okay now it's time for the raptors. The local ones first.

Black-thighed Falconet

They are quite common in Ampang area.

The next one is also a resident eagle.

Rufous-bellied Eagle

During their spring migration, they would travel in flocks - high up in the sky.

At first I saw three of them - they were all OHBs (Oriental Honey Buzzards)

Then came a flock of 11 of them. They were mainly males and some juveniles - according to experts.

As I was watching the above raptors, then this raptor flew silently into picture.

Blyth Hawk Eagle.

It supposed to be a resident eagle as well.

Then as I was about to go back I thought I saw a rock pigeon flying above.

It turns out to be a Black Baza. It was almost noon when I saw this Baza.

It's is a long way home for this lone raptor.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS !