01/08/2009: Pulau Burung (Penang)

It has been more than 2 months since my last visit to this vicinity. However, the weather was rather gloomy and it was drizzling upon my arrival.

As the migrants are not back in full force yet, I had plenty of time to give the commoner residents their due attention. The Pacific Swallows were rather in the mood for photography. Or perhaps they just to lazy to hunt due to the weather.

This pair seems to be just watching life go by...

I came across this White-breasted Waterhen preening right in the middle of the access road. It did not pay much attention to my approaching vehicle which was just fine with me. Although this is only rail that is not reluctant to forage in the open, it can still sometimes be a difficult subject to photograph.

The White-browed Crakes on the other hand were rather shy this morning. I could hear their persistent calls from the long grass at the edge of the marsh most of the morning but they remained partly hidden.

I decided to wait in my car, hoping that one of them will move to a more exposed perch. After some time, one finally did...

For a few minutes anyway...

My birding gear and antics received the usual stares from the locals...

This Monitor Lizard decided that evolution is still lagging behind and took matters into its own hands by dressing up in a camouflage suit during the morning hunt...

The distinct call of the Lesser Whistling-ducks caught my attention as they flew quite high over the marshland.

There were a few juveniles foraging about today like this young Jungle Myna...

And this Paddyfield Pipit...

Although the breeding season is coming to an end, this Striated Heron is still sporting its full breeding plumage.

The Wood Sandpipers are usually the first to come back from their breeding grounds up north. Welcome back, buddies...

The Red-wattled Lapwings were belting away their alarm calls at the sight of my approaching vehicle. Quite a big number of them were present this morning.

One of them was foraging near a group of 3 Little Ringed Plovers in a flooded patch of the access road.

Although the 2 species look nothing alike, their foraging habits are identical. After all, the 2 of them are plovers anyway.

It is not easy to approach the Grey Herons here as they are easily spooked. Today, is not any different with these distant shots...

The resident Little Grebes were also up and about...

I don't feel like gettin' me head wet today. I'll just have to jump over this dumb log that's blockin' my way. Nothin' to it...

The Black-winged Stilts were sorely missed this trip. I only managed to see a family of 4 birds foraging at a far distance. However, any feelings of disappointment quickly vanished when the "King Bird" himself decided to alight on a nearby perch to survey his domain. I have come across Changeable Hawk-eagles here on numerous occassions but this is the closest encounter so far with this impressive raptor.

This is one of my favourite raptors due to its appearance and capability of taking large prey. With a stare like this, Boy am I glad I am not part of its diet...