WADER (57/60) - Ruff (Lifer 492)

There were a threesome of Ruff  sighted at one of many  fast drying pond in Malim Nawar. The Ruff is a visiting wader to Peninsula.  My hope of the bird reaching further down south from its usual appearance in Seberang Perai up north  came true this 2018 Chinese New Year period. Thanks you Qayyum for the head up. I believe they will be staying for another good month or so if food is still aplenty. It tends to wade in leg deep waters when feeding amongst other birds. It is gregarious in nature and can be seen in small group of 3-5 birds and keeping closeby together.

Ruff is a medium-sized wader  a footer in length. It breeds in wet land & marshes  across northern Euro-Asia. This highly gregarious sandpiper  and winter in  southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia. The ruff has a distinctive gravy boat appearance, with a small head, medium-length bill with a kink, longish neck and pot-bellied body. It has long legs that are variable in colour but usually yellow or orange. In flight, it has a deeper, slower wing stroke than other waders of a similar size, and displays a thin, indistinct white bar on the wing, and white ovals on the sides of the tail.

Male Ruff when breeding will moult into a beautiful ruff  or fluffy neck plummage in  May-June back in the northern hemisphere. We will never see it  here in Peninsula.... sigh.

I and my buddies covered  all ponds but failed to see them. Later while directing the search of savannah nightjar at the sand dune I realise I forgot the key pond adjacent to the main lake. Scouring the pond from afar 300m I notice some waders amongst the big black -shouldered Stilts. I left Ken and Al behind and told them what I saw.... Reaching about 100 m I started shooting in  open sight by them. I call up the guys to come over to shoot. I dare not move nearer as it will scare the birds.
Unfortunately the buffaloes started to move away to the birds direction thus spooking the birds before they reached my post. Sorry guys.

As usual the water buffaloes are every where. They can be quite intimidating as the patriarch stare thru you. Usually it will back off if you are firm and hold your ground even when it charge are you.

 There are three species of terns you can tick up as lifers here in MN the Whiskered, White-winged and Little

 Wish the left one is a  White-headed Stilt with its black mane compared to the cleaner neck of the Black-winged. My sifu ask me to check their call when I am there again. 

Its call is a bit "yap-yap -yap " which defers with the common Black-winged which  sound like "kik kik kik". Below are another pair at a different pond but the black mane are less distinct.

Also in the wish list was the White-shouldered Starling  but we got only the Daurian /Purple-backed.

 What pipit is this ........the common paddyfield. Still waiting for the Richard's to appear.....

 Plenty of close encounter of the Pied Fantail along the track as  courting has begun......

 The beautiful Swamphen  are also active 

 A pair of Garganey ducks was also sighted from afar. No rare duck sighted.