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MikeBirder - Malaysian Birds

Hi

Welcome to my Malaysian Birding Blog. I migrated to blogspot.com as my blog at multiply.com closed shop in 2012. I wish to showcase all Malaysian birds that I have photographed whether here or overseas. My countdown of lifers started in 2005. Coming to Oct 2024 my countdown of lifers photograph has reached
577/688 species of birds of Malaysia in photos.

My shooting gear was a EF400mm f4 DO lens and Canon 7D body which to me is the ideal setup for mobility and bird chasing at that time. Eventhen the weight over my shoulder is more that 5.5 kg. As of June 2016 I have also acquired a Fuji XF 100-400mm OIS lens to complement my travelling cum birding trip overseas. My Fuji X-T2 went kaput recently and I upgraded to the X-T5 in 2023 ; the weight over my shoulder is much lighter now by 30%. In December 2018 I acquired the Nikon Coolpix P1000 as supplementary camera for distance shooting of 3000mm.
Fuji have finally made available their new XF 200-600mm lens which I yet to decide to spend another RM10,000. As for Fuji body I will stop with X-T5 36megapixel ..........

I am a weekend birder. Do feel free to drop me a line at mikebirding@gmail.com and I see whether you can tag along in my outings. My usual day trip is just an hour ride away to Hulu Langat, Lancang, Kemensah, Krau, Awana, Hulu Kali, Gombak Ole Road, Fraser's Hill , Bukit Tinggi and KSNP & Coastal Sg Janggut Jeram side of the coast . Overnite trip to Merapoh & Amp; Cameron, Air Hitam and further north to Kuala Sidim is a seldom affair but for lifer we travel. Panti in Johor is another good birding site that I yet to go. Then there are the Borneo birds of Sabah and Sarawak of Malaysia which I seriously much go to chalk up more lifers. This I did in 2018 to Sepilok Sandakan and Kinabalu Park. Next Danum and LahatDatu . In 2024 I visited a new happening birding spot inTalang Seremban.......

WARNING Birding is an addiction once you started its hard to stop. The wifey and children are now birding widow and orphan.

ALL PHOTOS IN THIS BLOG ARE COPYRIGHT OF MIKEBIRDER. KINDLY SEEK PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER IF YOU want to use them for commercial purposes.

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Monday 16 September 2013

WADER 37/60 - Greater Sand Plover




Greater sand plover

Common summer visitor. Medium (22-25 cm), grey-brown above and white below. Large eyes. Very similar to Lesser Sand Plover but larger and paler, with larger head, longer and thicker bill and longer legs (often paler). In breeding plumage has black and chestnut markings on head and breast. Mudflats and sandy beaches.

These statements perhaps overemphasise the actual size difference between the two species. The average size of Lesser falls within the range for species considered to be "small", whereas the average size of Greater falls within the range for species considered to be "medium". Although Greater Sand Plovers are generally larger, the difference is often so subtle that it's only of practical help when you have the two species next to each other for direct comparison.



Generally, one of the more reliable ways of distinguishing between  Sand Plovers is the length of the bill. If the length of the bill is the same or less than the distance from the base of the bill to the rear of the eye, it is likely to be a Lesser Sand Plover. If the length of the bill is greater than the distance from the base of the bill to the rear of the eye, it is likely to be a Greater Sand Plover.

Greater Sand Plovers have more tapering and pointed bills than Lesser Sand Plovers, whose shorter, blunter bills often look quite stubby.

As a useful rule of thumb is  Lesser Sand Plovers usually have dark grey legs and Greater Sand Plovers usually have yellowish legs. The legs of Greater Sand Plovers are appreciably longer than those of Lesser Sand Plovers, especially above the "knees" (tibias/thighs).





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