28 December 2011: Batu Kawan and Pulau Burung, Penang

Two days after we arrived back from holidays in the UK, a small window of opportunity became available, and there was only one place to go; Batu Kawan, to see whether Mun's superstar visitors had waited for me, as he had promised they would! Getting up early wasn't a problem, courtesy of jetlag, so I was on site as first light dawned.



Sure enough, a quick scan soon located a solitary Oriental Darter roosting in a dead tree, and not long afterwards, the second bird flew in, having apparently been fishing in the floodwater beneath the tree.







As the light improved, I was joined by Mun himself, so was able to congratulate him personally on a memorable find (his finder's account is here).

Having had a good look at the darters, I decided to make my way to Pulau Burung. Mun was a bit shocked when I announced that I was moving on so soon, and in retrospect, I probably should have hung around longer, as his superb shots testify, but it was my first time out in over a month, I only had a few hours, and was anxious to get better views of the Garganeys, and whatever else may be lurking at Pulau Burung.

My first port of call was the temporary pools where the Little Stints had been last time. Since then, there've been White Wagtail and Pectoral Sandpiper, so I gave it a good grilling. There were now fewer birds, and all were were much more distant. Just one Little Stint was in evidence, and no rare wagtails or waders!



As I drove along the track I disturbed a pair of foraging Barred Buttonquails. This is quite a familiar scenario. The birds run along the track directly in front of the car. They are wondering how they can escape into the foliage either side, while I am wondering how to avoid the windscreen, get my eye to the viewfinder out of the side window (pointing forwards!) while keeping my foot gently on the gas and the car from meandering off the road! As usual, I largely failed, but the male did dither long enough for me to get one or two acceptable shots.





Next up it was time to focus my attention on the Garganeys. Oddly, they didn't associate with each other the whole time I was there. This rather bright bird turned out to be a female (you can check out the forewing colour in Mun's blog here.)





The male (told by the bright blue-grey forewing) kept much more distant, and hung out with the Lesser Whistling-ducks most of the time.

The other birds present were the 'usual suspects', but, even though I have filled my memory cards many times over with their images, it's hard to resist them when they pose so beautifully!



Blue-tailed Bee-eater.



A subadult (and subtly colourful) Common Moorhen.



Common Sandpiper (and friend!).







Wood Sandpipers.

So, thanks to Mun and those Oriental Darters, I managed to pick up my 560th species in Peninsular Malaysia on my last birding outing of the year! What surprises will 2012 turn up? Bring it on!

Every best wish for 2012.

12th August 2010: Think like a wader Part 2!

Today was the second day in a row with a 3m hide tide, so I decided to survey the possible wader roost sites south of the port.

Last month I had found several potential sites which might be suitable as wader roosts, so now it was time to see whether the birds agreed with my assessment!

First stop was the prawn ponds south of Pulau Burung. There are a number of newly created ponds which are still empty, but they were also empty of birds!

Next I checked the landfill at Pulau Burung itself. The top of the disused landfill area is now a plateau covered with red earth and some rainwater pools. It looked perfect as a wader roost...







This place is crowded with roosting Savanna Nightjars, and it's impossible to walk across it without disturbing half a dozen or more.



Somewhere I also crossed an invisible line into a pair of Black-winged Stilts' territory, and was told in no uncertain terms to clear off!

Apart from these and a few Wood Sandpipers, Little Ringed Plovers and resident Red-wattled Lapwings, however, there were no waders.

Next stop, Batu Kawan. There's a canal and an area of cleared back-mangroves which runs for several kilometers along the coast here. The trouble is that it is so extensive that birds are widely scattered over it and so only small numbers are visible in any one scan. Initially I bypassed this area, heading for a large area of recently cleared land which will soon become the approach road for the second Penang Bridge. Again, it looks perfect (to me!) for waders - wide open space and lots of freshwater pools - but no birds except a few Black-winged Stilts.

So back I went to the canal, and, thanks to the exceptional height of the tide, most of the area was underwater, concentrating the waders on a few islands still above the water-line.



Space at a premium!

There weren't that many birds - perhaps 400 or so - which bore out my theory that there aren't many rich feeding areas this side of the port. Still, among the Redshanks and other waders, I did spy a lone adult Asian Dowitcher.







The pics aren't great due to the phenomenal heat haze.

Last stop of the day was the paddyfields at Kampung Permatang Nibong. I was hoping to see the 5 Asian Openbills that have recently returned there, but there was no sign of them.



But what's this flying over at great height? A duck? A goose??



Or just an adventurous Watercock! You don't normally see them flying this high up!



A Cinnamon Bittern against a peachy sunset to end the day.

6th August 2010: Batu Kawan, mainland Penang

Quiz question: How many species are depicted here?

Answer - well just one actually!

Common species can be just as fascinating as rare ones if you get the chance to look at them carefully, as I did today! I went looking for waders at Batu Kawan. I managed to see a few Redshanks, Lesser Sand Plovers, Pacific Golden Plovers and Curlew Sandpipers, but nothing within photographic range. As I was driving along a dirt track I came across a puddle surrounded by Chestnut Munias.



Next to the track and the puddle was a disused guard hut, with a small hole in the side - a ready-made hide! I couldn't resist this opportunity, so settled down in my luxurious hide to await the birds. I was quite amazed by the variation in plumage of the juvenile Chestnut Munias.



I take this(1 in the montage above)to be a very young juvenile, judging by the gape flange, dark colouration of the bill and fresh plumage.



This one (6) also looks very young (dark bill, fresh plumage), but it is already starting to gain a few black adult-type head feathers. It's much less chestnut above and below than (1). It has a noticeable hooded effect (a shadow of the adult black head pattern).



This bird (7) (on the right) has already developed a pale blue adult-type bill colouration. It has black lores and chin, but oddly, seems to have some chestnut feathers on the throat (where the adult is black!).



This one (5) is different again! Very chestnut all over, with dark lores, pale chin and quite a lot of black head feathers coming through, yet without the blue-coloured bill.



This bird (2) has a dark head but no obvious adult head feathers yet. I can't explain its whitish underparts either!



This one (3) is in wing moult - the greater coverts are in pin (still growing out of their feather sheaths), and was rather cold brown.



This bird (4) is more advanced in moult into adult plumage. Perhaps the overall paleness of the old juvenile feathers is due to wear or bleaching, especially the rump and tail?







Birds moulting into adult plumage were no less variable!





A couple of adults to complete the 'set'!



Birds were coming to drink and bathe.









Bathing was more fun!






















Excuse me - we're getting wet here!



























Eventually some Scaly-breasted Munias arrived.



Both adults and juveniles have a bi-coloured bill - dark upper mandible and blue lower.





It's amazing how few images I have of really common species, so it was good to snap some of Spotted (upper) and Zebra Doves.





The eyes have it!