A Manchurian for Christmas

 

It is common knowledge that our forests are under threat but the devastation does not end there. Wetland habitats suffer a similar fate. In my home state of Penang, I am running out of wetlands to visit. And for someone with a soft spot for water birds, it is utterly depressing. The marshlands at Batu Kawan would have been my saviour if it has not been slated for development in the near future. At the break dawn, my companions and I plodded along the soft laterite access road cutting through a construction site. It may not sound much like a birding trip but that is what one has to endure in order to reach the said wetlands. Sad but true...

I may not speak for everyone but the sight of a congregation of large water birds never ceases to amaze. Flock by flock of water birds arrive at this feeding ground from their roosts in the surrounding vicinity. For the record, this location probably has the highest density of Purple Herons and Grey Herons in Penang and the numbers are incredible. I opted to observe rather than photograph because that is where the true value lies and this image of a lone Grey Heron may not be able to fully convey the moment.

The advancement in digital cameras of late is undeniable but they do not come cheap. So, for the time being I still rely on pressing the shutter and pray for at least one frame to turn out decent. However, there is a limit to how much one can achieve through prayers especially for a flight shot in dim lighting like this taunting Cinnamon Bittern making its way to breakfast.

One has to be observant to pick out the small but adorable Long-toed Stint from all the blobs of mud, debris and vegetation present in the wetlands. The distance may have robbed me of some of the joy but the Long-toed Stints have their way to gain my affections.

A trio of drabber looking stints dashed across our field of view haphazardly and alighted on a distant sandbank. Our initial guess was spot on when they turned out to be Temminck’s Stints in the end. This species is an uncommon winter visitor to our land and more than capable to excite even the most seasoned birder.

My encounter with the rare Common Ringed Plover here last season left much to be desired. Naturally, all Little Ringed Plovers were scrutinized for a possible re-occurrence of the former but I could not attain the closure I seek.

The Black-winged Stilts graced the location in good numbers with their elegant presence. The new generation of birders and bird photographers may not be aware that this bird was once a rarity in Malaysia but I certainly do. Decades may have passed. Exhilaration may have been reduced. One of my all-time favourites, the bird remains.

They are conspicuous not only because of their contrasting colouration but vocal nature as well. More often than not, they drown out most other species that share their watery domain. This temporary sanctuary will host the Black-winged Stilts and the rest for at least one more season. I am no soothsayer but unless a miracle takes place, the demise of this locality is just a matter of time.

It is safe to say it is no longer unusual to record Little Cormorants in the northern half of the peninsular. A big flock resting together after a morning’s hunt is an impressive sight. One that I am still trying to get used to.

Garganeys, on the other hand, are unusual with sporadic winter records throughout the years. And to have four individuals together at a single spot close to home should be my early Christmas judging on how slow things have been for this year.

Apparently, the Lesser Whistling Ducks have had enough of the overwhelming stench and toxic at the marshland next to the Pulau Burung landfill and are now taking refuge here. I wish there was a way I could warn them not to get too comfortable because the good life they are now enjoying is not going to last.

There is a good reason behind the name of the Greater Painted-Snipe. The female bird (yes, female bird) is vibrantly coloured and stunning. There is also a reason why she seldom reveals her true beauty for evolution has made her particularly elusive.

Wetland habitats are not without their dangers. Raptors are always on the lookout for prey and today, a male Eastern Marsh Harrier was on the hunt. Harriers are generally uncommon at this location but this individual seemed to have decided on his wintering ground this season. His malicious presence will not be welcomed by other wildlife but it certainly added value to our excursion.

Executing a mid-flight scratch to get rid of an annoying itch…

The Zebra Dove is about bite-size for the Eastern Marsh Harrier and its tendency to perch in the open can be hazardous to its health.

The Long-tailed Shrike is predatory as well but on a smaller scale. This is one of the few places in Penang where this beautiful species resides and has been recorded regularly.

It is normally a shy bird despite occurring in scrub and open country habitats. Today, a pair was being more confiding than usual perhaps due to the approaching breeding season. Whatever the reason may be, I do not come across the Long-tailed Shrike often enough not be thrilled by their performance.

There was a significant change to the taxonomy of birds recently. More splits and renaming – as usual. Inevitably, I try my best to keep myself updated for Malaysian species. Among the changes, the Intermediate Egret is now called the Medium Egret which I cannot help but to chuckle when I first found out. I do not know how to put it but it just sounds odd. Will the Little Egret and Great Egret be renamed as to go with the flow?  Anyway here is the bird, with no regards that it is now probably the most joked-about bird wherever it occurs, looking all so poised at our second location of the day which is the Permatang Pauh paddy fields.

Searching for a little brown job in dense vegetation is not every one’s cup of tea. I will usually give it a pass but my companions convinced me otherwise. A lot of thought and strategy was put into the approach this time and we managed to persuade two Manchurian Reed-warblers to settle into a small clump of reeds. In fact, the smallest clump in the vicinity and just next to the access road. I could almost taste success when these globally vulnerable migrants put the human observers in their place and reminded them just how difficult reed-warblers can be if they choose to be.

When the vegetation finally gave way to a less obstructed view, it was the lighting’s turn to dampened our photographic efforts. Murphy's Law at work again.

However, birders can be exceedingly stubborn and determine especially with failure looming. An unexpected turn of luck eventually had the Manchurian Reed-warbler alighting on a relatively open perch with decent lighting. If this is not proof of the existence of a higher being, I do not know what is. As we were enjoying our moment of triumph, the reed-loving warblers gradually made their way out of sight but not out of memory. A fitting end to a rewarding outing and I am relieve there is no negative conclusion to this posting for a change. Perhaps, it is the magic of Christmas at work.

Speaking of which, MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!

Ending the year with some Christmas cheer

 

Christmas - that special time of the year when anything is possible or so they say. And what better time to set out for not one but two lifers than on Christmas Day itself. It has been nearly 15 months since I last increase my life list. Undoubtedly, this is the longest I have ever gone without a lifer and it is courtesy of the ongoing pandemic and all the travel restrictions. I had a little appetizer before the main course which was slated for the afternoon. Unfortunately, the Black Bittern that was showing well for others at the Penang Botanic Gardens was no where to be seen. It was not a good sign especially before a major twitching trip and a striking Blue-tailed Bee-eater did not possess enough finesse to lift my spirits. So much for the magic of Christmas so far.

The Pied Stilt looks very much like some variances of the Black-winged Stilt and this graceful wader was my first twitch of the trip. It is a recent colonizer from the south to Peninsular Malaysia and a few finally made their way up to Penang state as predicted. The paddy planting district of mainland Penang houses hundreds of wintering Black-winged Stilts. Relying on the information others have provided and faith, I scanned through the flocks looking for the odd ones out. Luckily, I had James’s help for this tedious task as he accompanied me on this excursion. It was a hot and sunny day and the heatwave was almost unbearable. And then among a flock of 50 or so, I noticed one sporting a distinctive black mane. It was far and the paddy stalks, tall. Upon further strenuous scrutiny, it was beyond doubt I was squinting at my first Pied Stilt.

I carefully trod onto the muddy bund with the hope of obtaining better images. The paddy field is not a place where one can easily sneak up to a bird and the magic of Christmas, like everything else in life, has its limits.

Time was of the essence on this occasion and as I was about to leave for my next destination, the Pied Stilt strolled into full view. It was still a dreadful effort but then again, I could have just as easily missed the bird among the sea of stilts and stalks. Thus, always be grateful of what you have being given.

We arrived at the jetty along the Penaga River just in time to join the rest to search for Malaysia’s second Black-faced Spoonbill by boat. There is not much I can add that Google cannot provide about this unique and globally endangered species except that it presses all the right buttons for me – a water bird that is big, beautiful and rare.

We found the Black-faced Spoonbill at the river mouth where it frequents. However, all the excitement and anticipation built up to this moment drowned away because the distinguished visitor was foraging at a spot where the possibility of reducing the distance was non-existence.

The only thing left to do was to wait and hope for the Black-faced Spoonbill to wander closer and it was a long and taxing wait. A juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle gilded in and momentarily distracted us from the depressing situation we were in. It may sound like I am contradicting myself. I got my double lifers, didn’t I? It really should not matter that I only managed record shots for this lifer as well. But I was really looking forward to a memorable experience with the spoonbill and a distant observation is not exactly what I had in mind.

Anyway, back to the eagle. A sudden change of pace caught everyone by surprise and I almost missed the opportunity of capturing this majestic raptor dive successfully for what appeared to be a snake. On any other given day, this would have left me on cloud nine. But the disappointment with the spoonbill could not be that easily forgotten.

Even the appearance of a juvenile Brahminy Kite soaring effortlessly in the clear blue sky did very little to brightened up the trip. Not when now that the Black-faced Spoonbill had gone hidden from sight as it rested behind a line of mangrove trees.

At that point in time, we decided to venture elsewhere and to return here again before the day is over. A Collared Kingfisher was also taking shelter from the scorching heat and perched among the foliage of the mangroves.

The Black-capped Kingfisher is one difficult bird to photograph because of its shy nature. I found out today that it is more tolerant to approach by boat than car and this individual continued to rest in the shade despite our intrusion. This common but striking migrant did reposition itself during our observation and the encounter gave us to courage to hope for better things to come before the end of the day.

It was the moment of truth and the boat circled back for one more attempt with the Black-faced Spoonbill. On a wing and a prayer, we are hoping that the receding tide will draw it out from hiding and forage along the water’s edge. Just like this Great Egret.

Even from a distance, there is no mistaking the foraging technique of the spoonbill as it sweeps for aquatic invertebrates. We cautiously approach and now at least, we can truly admire the unique and enigmatic Black-faced Spoonbill.

Before the trip, I gawked at some of the images that were posted on social media. Although my own efforts do not even come close but I am happy. Two lifers in one day is a rare feat for me and given the unprecedented period I had to endure without lifers, this is one of my best Christmas Days in a long time. I suppose every birder wishes for easily attained lifers. However, sometimes the drawbacks and drama in a way add value to the experience. There was certainly no shortage of that today.

Little did I know the Black-faced Spoonbill saved the best for last. As the last light of day gradually slid back into the horizon, we found our main target of this boat trip basking in the golden light of the setting sun. And I, just took a deep breath and soak in the view. From utter disappointment to total bliss. The magic of Christmas? You bet it is. At the time of writing, this vagrant has not been seen in two days. All the more reason to be grateful.

When we returned to the jetty, a few Black-crowned Night-Herons have emerged from their roost. As our day comes to a close, theirs have just only begun. These common nocturnal water birds wrapped things up for the day and what a day it has been. The Pied Stilt will most probably get commoner here in Malaysia but for now, it is certainly a significant record. The Black-faced Spoonbill was just amazing and I may not have another chance to see this rarity again in my homeland. 2021 may not have been an eventful year but the appearance of these two species in the final weeks of the year has now made it otherwise.

A world record holder

 

The morning was bright and beautiful as I made my way across the Straits of Malacca. Initially, I just wanted to do some casual birding on the island but not a single locality came to mind. Utterly fatigued from the insane work load of my fulltime occupation, to make a long trip today was simply out of the question. The next best thing was to visit a local patch in mainland Penang and since choice is never a luxury there as well, I found myself wandering about the network of concrete boardwalks at Air Hitam Dalam again.

Perched conspicuously at the edge of the freshwater swamp forest was a Brown Shrike on the hunt. This common migrant can hardly be considered a sought-after species but the composition was so inviting and the bird, exceptionally obliging.  

I found the forest eerily quiet today. This birding haunt has lost much of its luster of late – just like most other sites I frequently visit. As my footsteps grew heavier, my thoughts started to drift until a vocalizing Ashy Tailorbird shattered the silence. It took some effort and patience before I found the bird and it turned out to be a handsome male. It is amazing that a small bird like the Ashy Tailorbird can cause such a ruckus. He certainly had the place all to himself this morning and that indirectly increased the decibel of his persistent territorial call.

The Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest is a small site and with absolutely no relevance at all, it is also home to the tiny but deadly Black-thighed Falconets. The top of this particular dead tree is not exactly ideal to capture the smallest bird of prey in the world due to its height but it is one of their favourite perches. And sure enough, I could just make out a single bird present with my naked eye upon my approach.

It was joined later by another of its kin and judging from the amount of public affection exhibited, they are most likely a breeding pair. Like all raptors, the larger bird is most likely the fairer sex. There is no denying the stunning beauty of Black-thighed Falconets and naturally, I found it hard to pull myself away from the lovebirds.

However, do not be fooled by the adorable appearance of the Black-thighed Falconet. It is an accomplished predator in its own right and this unfortunate dragonfly found that out a little too late.

At this site, a congregation of raptors leisurely soaring about can only be the wintering Black Kites. I quickly repositioned myself in order to have the lighting in my favour. About a dozen of these raptors were present today and a few of them circled exhilaratingly close overhead.

Sleek and elegant, the Black Kites floated and swerved their way to become one of the main highlights of this short trip. The sunny condition aided my photographic efforts. And the number of images shared here in this post will be able to accurately illustrate my feelings during the encounter.

One last photograph for good measure...

Unlike the winter visitors, there is only one resident pair of Brahminy Kites here and the rising temperature set them soaring about the vicinity as well. Although they are more vibrantly coloured, the Brahminy Kites did not provide much opportunity for this quality to be admired as they were skittish as usual.

Raptors are one of my favourite birds and I am sure I do not speak for myself. Their ferocity and majesty are often incomparable. When the piercing call of the Crested Serpent-Eagle filled the vicinity, I could hardly contain my excitement. The presence of so many raptors in such a short time can be overwhelming to say the least and I intently watched this eagle with a taste for cold-blooded prey conduct an aerial patrol of its domain.

Although it is not a bird of prey, the Asian Openbill casts a familiar silhouette in the sky during this time of day. This stork that can sometimes number up to a hundred strong, soars effortlessly on its immense wings and is quite a sight to behold.

Like the Asian Openbill, the Little Cormorant is also a recent colonizer to Peninsular Malaysia that is settling in well indeed. This lone bird, presumably taking a breather after raiding the commercial fish ponds, drew my gaze back to ground level. Big flocks are not commonly encountered in my home state and more often than not, it is particularly wary of human presence. Luckily, there was a lot of objects to help hide my human form as I stalked this skilled hunter.

Egrets of all shape and sizes also loiter around the ponds with the same intentions. Like the name implies, the Great Egret is by far the largest and undeniably regal.

The Little Egret may not be the smallest by it is still dwarfed by the presence of the Great Egret.

An adult Purple Heron tried its best to remain inconspicuous while resting at the edge of the fish farm but its plumage colouration was just too attractive not to take notice.

Decades of birding should have made me an observant man and yet, I did not realize there was an adult Grey Heron in the vicinity until it took flight set off no doubt by my intrusion. It alighted on a nearby tree and this lucky shot of the landing turned out better than I had anticipated.

Some movement among a patch of long grass turned out to be a pair of White-rumped Munias feeding on grass seeds. The availability of food made them reasonably confiding and I took the time to observe the feast. Munias are considered to pests by the agricultural industry but to me, they are just living things trying to survive in this hostile world.

Due to its abundant nature, the Pacific Swallow is usually ignored. That is a real shame because when seen in good light, this aerial specialist is strikingly beautiful and streamlined to perfection.

I have had enough share of leech bites to know when I have fallen victim again to this blood-sucking parasite. It may have been a long time since the last time but there was no mistaking the squishy feeling between my toes. As I was about to attend to this little inconvenience, the cheerful song of the Black-naped Oriole distracted me from the task at hand. The leech bite can wait but this stunning bird will not. Although it even occurs in residential areas, I find it difficult to obtain decent images. And here, along the line of tall riverine trees, it is not any easier.

I would have walked past this female Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher on the way to my parked car if not for her short burst of song. The forest undergrowth can sometimes be a challenging environment for photography and my modest gear could not capture her true beauty on this occasion. This species is not as prominent here as it used to be and that is disheartening. But her presence today meant that there is still hope and what better to end a birding excursion than on a positive note.