Wader - Broad-billed Sandpiper (Lifer 596/688) September 2026

 To chalk more lifers I am spending more effort to go "wadering" in the early migratory period of September 2026 but the birds are still  not aplenty but in hundreds which is good enough still.

I was very sure to have this bird in photo but checking thru my wader list I must  have  left out this lifer posting. My buddy ML also manage to shoot it on the mudflat of Morib southern side of Klang whilst I got in Kapar-Jeram side.

Broad-billed sandpipers are small waders, 16–18 cm long, slightly smaller than the dunlin which reaches 22cm or taller curlew sandpiper 23cm see picture background bird, but larger than the little stint; it has a long, straighter bill with the tip distinctly kinked down, and shorter legs than dunlin. See my picture above you can compare the size of the broad-billed against the curlew sandpiper.

The breeding adult has dark brown upperparts patterned with narrow, pale feather fringes, and white underparts with blackish markings on the breast. It has a pale crown stripe, and a distinctive double (split) supercilium. The bill is slightly broader than in most other Calidris species, with a tip kinked beak. The two subspecies differ in the summer plumage feather fringing, narrow and white in C. f. falcinellus, brighter and rufous-toned in C. f. sibirica. (wiki)

The winter plumage is much paler and greyer above and white below, like a winter dunlin, but retains the distinct head pattern. Juveniles have backs similar to a young dunlin or little stint with pale "tramlines" down the mantle, but the white flanks and belly and brown-streaked breast are distinctive.

The contact call is a dry, whistling dree-it, dree-it and a clicking dik dik, similar to the little stint.

Sighting by ML in Morib September 2026

Avian Sighting July 2026 - Brown-chested Jungle flycatcher

In the late morning a very sedated Brown-chested was sighted perched  in the open was a surprise sighting in Panti in the Y junction off trail. We spend a good ten minutes with the bird shooting from a distance of 30-4o ft away, After shooting enough we tried to move closer but alas it flew away.

It supposedly a rare winter migrant I guess some may stayed on here. Usually they are alone on its own. The Grey-chested on the other hand is a resident bird.

 

Wader- Tibetan sand Plover (Lifer 2026 595/688) August 2026

In August went to Jeram Kapar side   to hunt for wader lifers. We checked the High tide time but  when we reach the bund the tide has already in at its highest. Instead of  low tide to rush in we in steady have to wait for 2 hours for the water line to subside for part of the mudflats to be exposed. Luckily the birds flew in maybe just a hundred or 2 but mostly Redshanks. My gang manage to get flight shots of the Grey Plover  which I missed. Paiseh my BIF shooting is hopeless but still hoping to improve with practice.

 

In the month of late August - September there already early migrants to our peninsula shores There are great finds here for rarity but can be quite an eye-opening scanning every wader for lifers. There are good chance of seeing  breeding plummage bird  for easy id.

 

I will definately return in September to add more lifers to may target 600 lifers for the year 2026. My target lifer birds  are :-

Sanderling (sighted)

Grey Plover (sighted by AT)

Tibetan Sand Plower (sighted)

Great Knot

Gull-billed Tern ( there are plenty of vertical stumps placed here so terns can perch)

Kentish Plover

Little Ringed Plover

Malaysian Plover

Oriental Plover

Black-tailed Godwit 

Clam and Crab Beachcomber in their flat sampan are common sight here which do not really disturb the birds as they blend well.

Avian sighting July 2026 - Temminck's Sunbird

This is a much sort after sunbird in low land swampy forest like Panti KotaTinggi or at hill plains forest commonly Relau-Poring. It can be enticed to come out by calling of rowdy bird call. It is less common than the Crimson sunbird 

Wanting to get the Van Hasselt's Sunbird of  coastal Endau Rompin side. That is another story to tell .......