Part 1- "The Place & its anchor tenant"

We are moving towards end March, very soon it will be the "Cheng Beng" time. Meaning quite a lot of migratory birds would have left us. Normally will mark the occasion by having a Raptor Watch period in April. Almost - the last batch and big birds leaving us for home in the north.

Another lesser known event is also taking place! It is also around this time of the year that the Pond-Herons would be showing us their true colors - their breeding plumage. Each year, I look forward to this time, as I know that I only get to see these "colorful" birds once a year. In Selangor, we have waterways, enough of old mining ponds plus Oxidation ponds. Sadly, this region only managed to attract the dark colored kind of Pond-Herons - Chinese Pond-Herons. For the fairer colored cousin, we have to travel down south to Merlimau in Malacca where chances of meeting up the Javan Pond-Heron is far greater. Not so bad lah! With weather changes, Javan Pond-Heron which love open fields or Padifields could be seen sporadically in Tanjong Karang. We spotted one in Jugra last week.

Another subject close to the heart, there is this sunken open field just a stone throw from my house, not really "stone throw" lah! A couple of kilometers, more likely - is a wetland Park. Should try my luck there. True enough, it was an amazing choice for me.

A wet "Green Lung". We named this place Cova Cove. It used to be the "Holding Pond" for PJ area.

Recap kiasu! My first encounter with this ex-mining pond was around the year 2000. I was MTB cycling in RRI in 1996, we took his off road track leading from RRI to Tai Kong Village. I did see this huge mining pond but no motive to investigate. Not until 1998, when I was looking for birds. This time I reached the bank of the pool. So much of history. Don't know when or why the water in the lake cleared. Now a grass land.

Back to today's environment. First, I parked my car inside the parking area of Cova Square. From there walking out of the perimeter area. No fencing but a nice paved path leads out to a jogging track that circumnavigate the whole pond. At the complex, of course disused materials from this huge building were strewed all over beside the path here.

#1 Cova Park Path

#2 Cova Square The condo

Looking back, the multi-storey car park and apartments

#3  Overall view Cova Park

Further away from the "trail head", the perimeters walkways, apartments and views of more housing area of Kota Damansara surrounds this pond.

#4 The Wetland

One more view of the Apartments vis-a-vis the "park". Then the view of the Brook from Kota Damansara Forest Recreation Park meandering on the soggy lake bed.

This pond is the conference of 2 separate brooks. One, coming from the Kota Damansara Forest recreation park that joins another coming down from the nearby Bukit Lanjan. A short distance on the left edge of this picture would be the confluence when the 2 brooks meet.

#5 LRT 3 & water inlet

Now we are going round the Lake. Walking on the perimeter walk way - passed the junction from the main road and heading to that portion of the path opposite the Apartment. Can now see the yet-to-be launched Klang Expressway and the brook flows over a small waterfall to empty water into the "Lake"

#6 Circular path round the Lake

This path - a fairly broad, paved and could take vehicular traffic - runs on the opposite side of Lake.

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#7 Observation platform

A very nice and solid rest stop was built to seat on top of the Lake

.Long before, I started frequenting this pond, I had the impression that this pond in the midst of a densely built up town ship would be full of sewage discharge. Then area would be accumulating most of the sewage. But after coming here almost daily, first I did not detect any foul smell. There was minimal rubbish in the water. The water in the brook surprisingly clear.

This picture, I am on that shelter looking back.

#8 Hobbyist fisherman

Talking about the cleanliness of the water. Here this day, saw another casual fisherman on a week day trying out his luck

#9 The Spillway OUT

This is the important part of the Lake. Well constructed, a Spillway shaft controlling release of water. On fine weather and in normal situation, water would be released through tunnel beneath this shaft. That explained why the pond drained. To hold water from heavy downpour up stream.

#10 River to flow through Subang village

Beyond this water gate, the brook was noticeably changed into a river, flowing westwards to become that river flowing through the Subang Village

I started reworking on an old field report and updated it. Half way through, counted - there would be over 50 pictures. So I spitted the revised new report into two parts.

Part 1 -The anchor tenants - Painted Storks

#11 Painted Stock - This colony keeping scene alive

Of the main residents of this place and attractions - it is the Painted Stork.

According to Rosalind and her hubby John, this group of Painted Stork could swell to a crowd of 18 birds. I guess I am almost lucky this day . On the picture, already 14 birds, then one out of the range of the pictures, that makes 15 birds.

#12 Routine & habits

For starter! Here are 2 separate shots. The next two pictures will show the front and rear view to say "Hello"

#13 Routine & habits 2

Look at that hue on the wing feathers as reflected by the sunlight.

#14 Routine & habits 3

Then, wasn't it  pre-planned and like putting on an act - a shot with both birds well poised

#15 Routine & habits 4

No, I did not put in much effort. I just waited and shoot! At home, make my story, select and assembled the pictures. The page turns out having a satisfactory story line

#16  Routine & habits 5

And now time for an individual - doing sun basking

#17  Group exercise

Sometimes I could feel that even paid models may not be that disciplined to generate the "scenes after scenes" effects. The way that I mooted

#18  Group exercise 2

Oh See! an endless flow of co-ordinated scenes.

#19  Time to go home

OK! show over. Another last shot to register the congregation.

#20 Flying shots

I am not a serious photographer but just an ordinary guy who uses the camera to record what I see. But when in the field, I too, love making pictures of birds in flight.

#21 Flying shots 2

Here, the birds changed the ambience by perching on top of the Rest Stop

#22 Flying shots  3

Another shot of a fly past before i close this page.

I am thankful that the various scenes had come to me. The  page II, would be showing the rest of the gang, birds, I mean who were sharing this wetland habitat. Yes, more pictures of other birds. Who are the remaining birds keeping the Storks company and making this pond area, their roosting and feeding place?