Waterbird Feb 2023 (Lifer 569/688) - Pied Avocet

News in  January 2023 a Pied Avocet was reported sighted in Batu Kawan Penang brought much attention to the bird fraternity. For interstate birding I rely on company before deciding  rather to hunt alone. 

This bird is a vagrant migrant to Peninsula more so in Sabah waters. These birds forage in shallow brackish water or on mud flats, often scything their bills from side to side in water (a feeding technique that is unique to the avocets). They mainly eat crustaceans and incests.

Their breeding habitat is shallow lakes with brackish water and exposed bare mud. They nest on open ground, often in small groups, sometimes with other waders. Three to five eggs are laid in a lined scrape or on a mound of vegetation. [Wiki]

Photos courtesy of AlanT 

Pied avocet is a striking white wader with bold black markings. Adults have white plumage except for a black cap and black patches in the wings and on the back. They have long, upturned bills and long, bluish legs. It is approximately 16.5–17.75 in (41.9–45.1 cm) in length of which the bill is approximately 2.95–3.35 in (7.5–8.5 cm) and the legs are approximately 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm). Its wingspan is approximately 30–31.5 in (76–80 cm). Males and females look alike. The juvenile resembles the adult but with more greyish and sepia tones.

The call of the avocet is a far-carrying, liquid, melodious kluit kluit.

[Wiki]

 

Crake (5/7) Jan 2023 - Slaty-legged Crake Lifer 2023 (567/688)

This will be my first lifer for the year 2023 as we Chinese usher the Chinese New year of the Rabbit. I hope to see more lifers and the next target is the Pied Avocet that has arrived in Seberang Perai Penang. Thank Q BnC.

My catch was in Taman Botani Shah Alam which this bird regularly appear during the migration period Nov-Mar. Missed it 2 years back when it sighted in March. Then in Ayer Hitam Penang  and Penang Isle. I did not take the effort to go then. I missed it though in Fraser years back as it was on  transit  back to northern hemisphere.

Slaty-legged crakes are territorial, but are quite secretive, hiding in bushes when disturbed. They probe with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. They forage for berries and insects on the ground, or clambering through bushes and undergrowth. Here in TBSA the bird was not scared by the 20 odd bird photogs at the port setup and come out as near as 25 feet of us.  I was shooting at 1/15s-1/30s at iso 3200 with my Fuji XT-2. It was tough getting it in focus in the low light condition in the early morning. KC Che with his Nikon D500 encounter similar situation. We stayed until we got some decent photos before we walk to other areas to look for the Golden fronted leafbird an escapee/released bird of Thailand. I really wonder how people can stay for hours to shoot thousand of shots of a bird..... perfectionist I guess.

The slaty-legged crake is about 25 cm long. Its body is flattened laterally to allow easier passage through the undergrowth. It has long toes and a short tail. Colouring includes a brown back, chestnut head and breast, and strong black-and-white barring on the flanks, belly and undertail. The throat is white, the bill is yellowish, and the legs are green. Sexes are similar; juveniles are dark brown above and below, although they have the belly barring and white throat. There is another rarer cousin of Slaty-legged  namely the Red-legged which have similar features except its legs are red which is also a migrant  to peninsula Malaysia. Some overstay and breed here.

 

Avian sighting July 2022 - Watercock (Male)

In July I was in Port Dickson. I was chaperoning my daughter and friends holidaying  at Tanjung Tuan Regency. I was rather the designated driver for them going here and there.

On the last day I went to Sg Rambai to try to get some better shot of the feral Munia in the morning for a 3 hours birding. Most of the field are now overgrown and so ground bird sighting is difficult Saw the ruddy crake and slaty-backed too but no good photo this time. Later a big black bird was flushed and flew across the laterite road.  It was to my delight my elusive male Watercock. This is my first record shot of the male bird. You can clearly differentiate it from the moorhen in term of size  and protruding red shield and yellow beak, 

The bird was with its mate  but no photo of the latter. The male response to your call as they are rather territorial and fight for  turf and mate.

Female Greater Coucal sunning in the open field

Waterbird - Pond Heron 3/3 - Indian Pond Heron (Lifer 547)

Satisfying moment in the month of April 2021 as I finally close the chapter on Pond-heron of peninsula Malaysia as the final bird is now in hand. Thank Sian.

The birds are there to see whether in Muar Johor,  Melaka or Sekinchan Selangor its a matter of the going out to look for it. The month of April many pond herons will molt to their  breeding plummage. When they are breeding their legs will turn bright red. Some are late in changing their feathers colors like the one pictured below. I am almost sure it is an Indian pond heron too

Indian Pond Heron are visitors from India subcontinent Sri Lanka and Burma side. Adults in breeding plumage have a dark reddish-brown back that contrasts with a yellowish head, neck, and breast. In non-breeding plumage, they are virtually indistinguishable from non-breeding Chinese Pond-Heron or Javan for that matter. In-flight, adults appear surprisingly white due to their strikingly white wings, underparts, and tail. Although typically solitary, large numbers often gather where food is plentiful. 

These photos were shot with my Nikon P1000 at 3000mm focal distance at a range of 250 ft away in the middle of the padi field. Pictures are rather soft with plenty of sharpening required. During the padi planting season you can  only drive along the track and scan the water canals and walk bunds for the birds. Best to shoot from your car.

Their diet comprises mainly of frogs fish crustaceans and insects depending on the season. During my encounter it was on a dry bund  and has the uncanny sense to pluck out grubs from the grassy muddy ground. This happen in the morning. By 10 am it disappeared into the padi field.

CRAKE 4/7 - March 2021 Baillon's Crake (Lifer 544)

Awesome find near Banting about 1.5 hours from Kuala Lumpur city centre. This year the Baillon's Crake was also sighted in Sg Rambai Melaka, Sg Balang  Johor and Tanjung Karang Selangor. I was adamant to get this lifer so I went on a weekday  to avoid the crowding just in case. Thanks to my good buddy Tokki for the heads up.

Upon passing the floodgate of the Kelanang fishing estuary I shot a lonely Common Sandpiper on the road side. 

I slowly drive along Jalan Jeti hopeful to see some rare birds along the wide canal under low tide. A beauty of a matured Chinese Pond-heron was sighted but it was skittish and flew away when I stopped  to shot it. Sign.....

Reaching my rendezvous at about 8.30am, Rosalind  arrived on the dot and Saravanan was already waiting for the target bird. 

You are suppose to shoot from your car and walking out to shoot is a no no here unless you use a hide or prepare a camo screen. And if you naïve enough to come out from your car you may be scorned & scolded by fellow birders.  

Baillon's is a tiniest of crakes you can see during the migratory period in Malaysia; coming in at 16–18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) in length. It is even shorter than a Common Myna or Bulbul. Baillon's Crake has a short sharp tapering bill, yellow or green without a red base. Adults have mainly brown upperparts with some white markings, and a blue-grey face and underparts. The rear flanks are barred black and white. They have green legs with long toes, and a short tail which is barred underneath. Somewhat it like to cock its tail when moving around.

Also know as the Marsh Crake

I noted that it forages on the move probing with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and aquatic animals including crustaceans on the surface. They are rather noisy birds, with a rattling call like that of the frog or garganey. They can be easier to see on migration or when wintering.

Their breeding habitat is sedge beds in Europe, mainly in the east, and across the Paleactic.  This species is migratory wintering in east Africa and south Asia

These are some of my photos  using my Nikon P1000 in bright sunlight The distance shooting ranges  from 40-60 ft away. Focus tracking was still worrisome for me while shooting as the foraging bird  which seldom stop for you. Fortunately I was glad my P1000 managed some good photos abate some post sharpening. So higher speed shooting of 1/500-800s is recommended to freeze your subject. Buffering was really an issue with my P1000 using continuous shooting ie machinegun shooting.

Avian Encounter Mar 2021- Little Grebe

It was a close encounter of just 30-40ft with my Nikon P1000 in Kelanang Banting. It  is my first time there and the place is happening with many migrant birds still sticking around closed to the river estuary.  

It is already coming to 3 weeks Fuji thru YL have yet to settle my XT2 body problem of my battery gotten stuck in its chamber. It was also missing some screws without me realising. I will have to make do with my Nikon P1000.

Shooting with my P1000 was not an easy task especially shooting moving birds and low contrast condition . As for the Grebe it was better as  it was not actively diving and remain still.

Avian Species Split - Black-backed Swamphen

The black-backed swamphen (Porphyrio indicus) is a species of swamphen occurring from southeast Asia to Sulawesi and Borneo. It used to be considered a subspecies of the purple swamphen, which it resembles, but has a large red shield, black upperparts, and the side of the head is blackish.

It is less common to see but I am not considering it a new lifer though. 

The Black-backed in the darker form is now split. The foreground bird is a moorhen give the size comparison 

The Purple Swamphen in comparison have paler head towards grey-headed.

WADER 59/60 Jan 2020 - Bronze-winged Jacana (Lifer 532)

The Bronze-winged Jacana is mostly sighted in the northern part of Peninsula in Chuping Perlis side. It is a yearly ritual there. There is also record of nesting at the reservoir  and chicks were seen together with the parents birds.

This is how far the bird is....

As for my find I have to travel to SiemReap to shoot it. It is more common to see in Thailand wetlands. Over here the birds are skittish and stay afar from humans. Luckily I got my P1000 came in handy in getting a record shot of my next lifer of the year which my Fuji XF100-400mm failed because of the distance of the bird across the pond.

WADER 58/60 / Stork Jan 2020 - Woolly-necked Stork (Lifer 531)

Woolly-necked or White-necked are widespread tropical species which breeds in Africa, and also in Asia from India to Indonesia. It is a resident breeder in wetlands with trees. The large stick nest is built in a forest tree, and 2-5 eggs form the typical clutch. This stork is usually silent, but indulges in mutual bill-clattering when adults meet at the nest.

The Woolly-necked Stork is a broad winged soaring bird, which relies on moving between thermals of hot air for sustained long distance flight. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched.

The Woolly-necked Stork is a large bird, typically 85cm tall. It is all black except for the woolly white neck and white lower belly. The upperparts are glossed dark green, and the breast and belly have a purple hue. Juvenile birds are duller versions of the adult.

This is another first I think for Peninsula Malaysia which recorded a lone vagrant landed and sighted together with a bunch of Openbills at Sg Balang side. It was a Mega lifer for a few birders who chance on the bird then. It did not stay long and had gone astray with the Openbills. I did make several journeys down but it did not return. 

Usually, it will roost on treetop or high building. It most probably feeds on riverbanks for now  until the padi fields are planted and wet  and there are more preys of fish, frogs and large insects. It would be natural to chance of it again in March-April on its return leg....maybe in Malim Nawar and Seberang Prai.

As for my catch it was in Cambodia when our Guide saw it while driving along the track to T . With our camera ready

I was already shooting from the car before we alighted from our 4x4 to shoot handheld. The Olympus with 1200mm reach  and IS 7.5 times would fair better than my Fuji limited 600mm reach. Den as usual with his EF 500mm  needs to set up his tripod before really get to shoot it. 

For the find   I really had to tip  Rana as to me its a mega Malaysian lifer. It was a 200ft distance shooting from our road track in the late afternoon. We cannot go nearer thru the thick ground

Avian sighting January 2020 - Pheasant-tailed Jacana

I flushed a big bird from the waterway as I recce the padi fields of Sg Balang. Thru my naked eyes I though it was the Little Curlew.  Fortunately it land about 200 feet in the sprouting padi field closeby. Apparently it is common to see  Pheasant-tailed Jacana here.

Frankly this is my first time sighting of this bird in peninsula Malaysia. My first was in Inle Lake Myammar. It is a good time to see the bird here while the field is still scanty and ploughed. Other places that have record sightings is  in Malim Nawar Perak a year back.

Why cant the Bronze-wing make an appearance further down south but only in Chuping Perlis...........

Pratincole 2/2 January 2020 - Little Pratincole (Lifer 529 )

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 

Avian Sighting January 2020 - Oriental Darter / Indian Darter

It is a wow factor  to see this vagrant "snake head "so far down to Central Peninsula. There are one or two that have stayed for good in Malim Nawar side Perak. Though not a lifer I have yet to shoot it in Malaysia. The opportunity came last week  guided by my buddy Den. Many have shot it at close distance. In the late afternoon we reached the venue there were a few regular birders Penang Ooi PS who were still waiting patiently  for a closer and perfect pose capture especially when they span out their wings to dry.

That my friend needs a whole day outing .............. and a lot of patience.

As for me- We Came We Saw We Shoot and Chao as the saying goes.   Bitty Chong was there to show us where it was roosting at a distance of 200-250 ft away. Later Victor L was also recce-ing the place and told us there is a Great Myna aka White-vented sighted nearby too.

Anhinga are underwater feeders like commorant which they dive into freshwater pond and marsh water estuary to spear fish and water creatures, They apparently can stay underwater for a minute plus.

Due to their wettable wings Oriental Darter cannot fly up again after their swimming escapade and instead they have to climb out onto floating logs or platform using their beak and web feets and dry out before taking to flight. Fascinating fact. 

Now is to  wait for news of the Mask Finfoot showing itself as there were so many rarity for the past months. 

WADER 26/60 - Grey Heron

 Grey Heron

Wader Egret 4/4 - Chinese Egret (Lifer 518)

Chinese Egret

 The bluish tinge to its nostril face is the tell tale of a Chinese Egret. It has thicker neck  as compared to the Intermediate and Great. It is slight the size of the Intermediate Egret minus the long neck. Photo taken in November last year 2018.

Great Egret with its long and slender neck outstreched

This is another egret having a rather dark broad dagger liked beak which I cannot really identify but point to  a  Pacific white morph ...........

Waterbird 50/60 - Watercock (lifer 516) ( female breeding plummage)

After birdng for 12 years this is my first time I got to shoot my elusive Watercock. Many of my fellow birders have got it but not me ...really paiseh.  Many times we  spooked the bird and it just flew off  into the padi field or undergrowth nearest to it.

The best way to shoot this rail is from your vehicle. With my newly acquired Nikon P1000 with its 3000mm range I manage to shoot it in half frame  crop as shown from a distance of 60-70m away opposite a padi field. Thought the details are soft it is good enough for me. 

The female Watercock is more frequently seen than the beautiful striking male in black coat and a red helmeted crested forehead. It is rather big bird of about 1.3ft with long legs and toes like Jacanas. These birds probe with their bill in mud or shallow water, also picking up food by sight. 

They mainly eat mollusc insects and small fish and seeds They forage on the around. Watercock are quite secretive, but are sometimes seen out in the open. They are noisy birds, especially at dawn and dusk, with a loud, gulping call.

In May 2025 the padi field in Sg Balang is still being plough for replanting The open grassy condition allows good opportunity for shooting ground birds. We manage to to shoot the male Watercock though at a distance of 150 feet  away. Lighting condition was a hazy in bright sunshine make it difficult for good contrasting picture