Seletar Dam 01-03Aug11

From KH on 1 Aug

The 1st summer male Malaysian Plover is still at Seletar Dam this evening during low tide. It stays at the sandy portion, away from the LSPs, which are mostly at the muddy portion. It's very well-camouflaged against the sand and you'll have to scan the sand to locate it.

When looking for food, it either makes short darts or it'll walk around the puddle of water. Sometimes, it'll stop to preen, showing the white outer tail and broad white wingbars. At times, it'll sit down on the sand and become invisible to the naked eye! It's quite wary of birds that came near to it, like the even-present Javan Mynas or when a bird flew overhead.

Time: 5:15 - 6:45 pm
Tide: Low
1) Malaysian Plover 1 1st summer male
2) LSP 150
3) Little Tern 2
4) Little Egret 1
5) Grey Heron 1
6) Little Heron 5
7) WBSE 2
8) Collared KF 1
9) Parakeet sp. 2

From Con on 2 Aug

I went this morning and the plovers including the Malaysian are still there. I think I will try again this evening, the light should be even better. The evening tide won’t be so favorable for the rest of the week.

The plover came very close so the photos should be quite okay although the angle is a bit steep since we are on top of the dam shooting downwards. He’s a loner staying away from the other birds.

http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/136907188
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/136907189
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/136907190
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/136907191

From Con on 3 Aug

I went again this morning. The plover was there again today.

He was interested in a small crab, a bit hard to see in these photos because the crab is almost the same color as the sand. The crab was standing up trying to make himself look bigger.

http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/136932711
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/136932712
http://www.pbase.com/con_foley/image/136932713

The plover caught him, but couldn’t figure out how to swallow him. He picked him up and dropped him several times and finally gave up.

Shortly thereafter the plover flew way back onto the mudflats and then some NUS researchers came and started walking on the beach, so no more birds.