Mission - Tracking down the Ducks and Waders

Part 1 -  New Wilderness

With the Covid 19 pandemic ragging on, CMCO in Malaysia was extended well into the year 2021. Figures of infection are still rising daily and the new year was in.

Lucky for us, there was news of a previously unknown destination in Banting! Of course, we go! A series of abandoned fish ponds now had attracted a good collection of Water birds, making the place their homes. For human visitors, a couple of restraints? The path around the ponds were narrow, Suitable for only one car passing by at one time. The birds there are very sensitive to human presence. So bird hide is imperative! OK - sounds good enough and we went to see for ourselves.

That was for starter! Then we found out that the mangrove forest did hide some quality birds as well like that not-so-common Stork-billed Kingfisher. On the internet, pictures of Black Baza being posted. Some more, the dessered coast though not of mudflats., may be good for Waders. Looks attractive eh?

# 1 - Journey to Jugra

# 2 - Further south from Jugra Hills

We turned off left and travel along Jalan Jeti and away from Beggar's Chicken shop. Rustic fishing pier, Kampong Kelanang

# 3 - # #3 Very tidy straight road

Irrigation canal on the left do the flooding and tide control

# 4 - Birds along canal

This place is also good for birding -water birds Egrets, Kingfisher and Serpent Eagle.

# 5 - Swift Hotel

There were the buildings to harvest "bird Nest"

# 6 - Bird Life

A large Purple Heron

# 7 - Pantai Kelanang at last

A sandy beach and picnic destination - no need to squeeze in Morib

  Part 2 -  The Wetlands

# 8 - The abandoned fish ponds

The vital clue - entrance to the Fish pond - a rare opportunity as all other were barricaded and locked with gates

#. 9 -  Last Pond No# 3

These first few pictures illustrates scenes of the surroundings. There were 3 neatly partitioned ponds. Plenty of reeds, but also birds could be at great distances from the side of the ponds.

Intensity of weeds and types

# 10 - Nearest to road - Pond No 1

Vegetations varied at different ponds

# 11 - Pond No 3 most productive

Final verdict as to the need for hides?

We had the hides on stand by inside the car. To be deployed. depending on needs,

# 12 - Birds we saw -Bird pictures for the whole locality

Tree Duck

Different persons or in this case "photographers" had their own preference as to how to get their pictures.

# 13 - Moorhen

Like obedient students, we started off by shooting from the car. Using the doors as hide.

# 14 - Tiny bird - Grebe

Oh yes, good population of ducks

# 15 - Swamphen

Moorhen, only one isolated individual was seen.

Quite willing to go about its routine without the signs of being disturbed.

# 16 - Egrets

This one, very tricky and really careful - where and how long should expose itself? Perhaps "hide" is the answer.

Below - from far away spots - Egrets

# 17 - Real water Birds - Bittern

We came here for the Waterbirds, after being cautioned that the birds are very skittish. Hide would be needed to wait for their appearances.

True in many ways as we found out. Anyway, without the use of hide, we got the Moorhen, the Swamphens, Whistling Ducks, and the Grebe. What we would have missed would be the Waterhen and Watercock.

# 18 - Waders on fresh water pond - Golden Pacific Plover

Bird life among the reeds was very strong. A variety of calls heard from those safely concealed among the reeds,  any movement they made were swift and skittish, Among the many misses, I could only get willing Yellow Bitterns, in fact pictures of a few, as a consolation

Overall the birds numbers in the area were not that high though the diversity was. That's what bird watching is all about. Fleeting glances, calls noted and long distance sightings were also recorded and some posted here.
 

# 19 - lone "Yellow-faced"

Perhaps it was lonely - calling non stopped

# 20 - Golden Pacific Plover

Close up shot for Plover

# 21 - A flying Painted Stork

A lone Painted Stork flying past

#22 - Great Egret

#23 - Painted Stork

Whole flock

#. 24 A Javan Pond-Heron in breeding plumage

Very rare find indeed. Normally seen in the southern parts of peninsula

# 25 -  Purple Heron in action

# 26 - Collared Kingfisher

# 27 - Another encounter

# 28 - Common Iora

Unexpected find

# 29 - Black Baza

Target for the day - cleverly hidden

# 30 - Coppersmith Barbet

This Coppersmith - plentiful, say a few of them but very high up and far away

#31 - A Crimson-winged Woodpecker

 # 32 - Greater Coucal

Very co-operative bird - busy sun basking

# 33 -  Dollarbird

# 34 - Collared

This bird seemed abundant in the area Never short of meeting up withthem

# 35 -  Little Heron

From very far along the mudflats

# 36 - Pnk-necked Pigeon

Turning away when shots were fired

# 37 - Dollarbird

More

# 38 - Serpent-Eagle

Another encounter

# 39 - Black-winged Kite

Having lunch

# 40 - Waders in swarm

Then we combed the sandy beaches for Waders. High tide was still on, persisting until noon time. No luck. Not until the accidental arrival of a flock of plovers. They too, were seeking shelter and waiting for the tide to recede.

# 41 - Waders close-up

See them better

This Coppersmith represents the times, I wish I could get better shots, but the pair were simply too far away.

Saw a perched Oriental Honey Buzzard too, rather it saw me first. Ready to aim, it took flight. Also sighted Raptors picking up thermal. Another consolation a shot of the White-bellied Sea Eagle hovering above (not posted)

Part 3 -   Others

# 42 - Otter

Beside birds, this guy was sharing the space on the bund with us. Very much at home. Showing no fear for human presence until I shoo-ed it to move. . Not concerned that we were fairly close.

# 43 - The Bunds

The bund and birding conditions

#44 - Vantage points

During our walk along the bund, there was no shortage of opportunities in making bird pictures

Other worth noting points, we heard and detected the location where Stork-billed was perched. Nicely hidden too. But also we did not meet up with the Common kingfisher.

There were shots of other birds which were near enough and then those too far away, to enter the record of this outing.

# 45 - Our Transport for the day

# 46 - Coastal road

Rarely, this stretch of road between the  sea and Mangrove reserve

# 47 - Col. Sukdave from Nepal

He was living nearby - a temporary "custodian"

# 47 -What is this?

Fresh from a heap of burning charcoal and ashes

#48 - Double boiled Chicken Soup

Time to pamper ourselves and walking down memory Lane

#49 - Beggar's Chicken

YES! the real McCoy.

That's for the day's hard work - the outing that made ourselves Happy

Last words - The Selangor Coast line is well-known for its belt of land having a thick layer of Peat soil. Most spots could be over a meter deep of peat soil before reaching the real gound. This stretch of coastal land at Jugra is no different. By now, almost of the areas had been converted into Palm Oil plantation. Well, just leaving a very thin strip of perhaps 50 meter wide of heavily disturbed mangrove forest, also in fragments too. For many square kilometers of land in southern Selangor, where could a migrating bird land to roast. The "oasis" is Pantai Kenangan! This is not a productive destination for birds. However no matter, how tiny the various specific plots is the appropriate for birds to rest! They are gathered around here and would be easily spotted That's the incentive for making efforts to be there