Thursday, November 26, 2009

Birds in the Paddyfields of Merkang, Pasir Puteh

It's not exactly backyard birdwatching but close enough ... from the family home it's merely 5 minutes by car, or 10 minutes cycling, or 20 minutes walking, or perhaps 30 minutes using a walker (estimated travel time if I needed to use one 15-20 years from now) traversing small kampong houses scattered in the fringes of these paddyfields.

Further on the horizons are forested hills, undoubtedly areas begging to be explored for birdwatching potential. I doubt if anyone has ever ventured into these places for birds.

In the paddyfield itself are egrets, herons, bitterns, raptors, mynas, kingfishers, pipits, shrikes, munias and others. Egrets made up most of the numbers conisting of Cattle Egrets (greatest numbers), Little Egret, and Intermediate Egrets. Chinese Pond Herons and Yellow Bitterns are next.

Black-winged Kites are commonly seen hovering about the fields. Two other raptors were also sighted but not identified ... one seen walking around after a low exploratory flight.

White-throated Kingfisher is a possibility at every dead branch or stump in the area. Two juvenile Oriental Pratincoles were also sighted looking for food among a freshly ploughed patch.

The area looks superb for birdwatching, can't exactly say why I missed it altogether all these years! It definitely gets coverage at least twice a year from now on ... Nov/Dec and Feb/Mar looks best.




































Sunday, November 8, 2009

Ali and Aisya Nov 2009


Ali and Aisya fully attired on the way to a half-day school function at Dynasty Hotel. Ali will be nine 11th December 2009 and Aisya has just celebrated her seventh birthday 02nd July 2009. Tok Wan would've been proud of both ... we tend to spend the least time with those we love the most.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Little Egrets at Lutong Beach



Some work harder for breakfast than others, perhaps having more fun too while at it.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Morning walkabout at Lutong Beach

It's full moon this week ... and the tide was really low this morning at Lutong Beach. There was a large unidentified raptor swooping low along the beach, a few waders, one Little Egret, one Chinese Egret, one Great Egret near the kampong. Heard some terns but wasnt able to locate where the calls were coming from.


Looking back towards the sunrise.


Another blueskies day today.


Waves and rainbow way yonder.