Started the Year with some lifers as the migratory arrival is at the tail end. One of the sorts after is this Little Pranticole. The last sighting here was also at the same spot in 2016. That time there were 5 of them then. But early this year there is only a sole bird roosting on the rocky area in the open. I hope there are still some laggards to join it. It is sometime called Small Pratincole and it was also photographed in Kampar Perak side in 2014. So it is not every year that you can see it in Malaysia.
They are resident of India, Sri Lanka, Indo-China upto Thailand. It breeds from Dec-Mar on graveland sand banks near rivers and lakes. The bird is about 6-7 inches in length and can be confused with swifts and swallow as they also hawk for flying insects. It is categorized as a Wader though.
This bird has short legs, long pointed wings and a short tail. Its short bill is an adaptation to aerial feeding. On the ground, it looks mainly pale grey (hence lactea, milky). The crown of the head is brown. The wings are grey above with black primaries and black and white bars at the rear edge of the inner flight feathers. The underwings are mainly black. The tail is white with a black terminal triangle. The belly is white.
I would really like to thank Eric T for the head-up & insight on how to approach and maneuver to shoot this bird in the open. In the morning as I reach the locale; I met Chris of Semenyih who tell me that I missed it about an hour ago as I only reached the place at about 9.00am. I was adamant to wait till evening for its return as I kept my finger cross. Every hour or so I return to the spot but no sign of it. By 12 noon I decided to go for my brunch in town and try again in the afternoon session. On my return about 2.00pm I spotted a small bird in the middle of the track with my bino about 100m away. In the hazy condition I can profile it as a pratincole and thank my lucky star.
It is surprising that the bird did not budge from its roost as I slowly approach it from the far side of the track. At about 200ft away the MO is to squat down and do the duck walk at every 10-20 feet interval and shoot and then moving nearer again. Do not walk tall and hastily towards it. I also used the low hedges as the in-between the bird so that I was less intimidating.
Even though lighting was harsh in the afternoon I am happy to get some good photos for the less than half hour session as I back off to my car without stressing the bird I hope.
Ok now I can close the chapter on Pratincole species for Malaysia. Wait a minute now they saying there s another vagrant from Aussie- Australian Pratincole..... aiyoh have to reopen book
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