Sungei Balang 29-30Dec08

From Danny

Brief descriptions of the the trip to Sg Balang.

When we arrived, it started to drizzle but in a way it was good as we got to see the GSE perched to get it wings dry. The EMHs (juv. and female) were prevalent in the morning together with many Lesser Adjutants. The most common birds were Pond Herons.

Other note worthy birds in the morning were male Painted Snipes and Oriental Reed Warblers (they were feeding off the rice stalks and for hours I thought we had a lifer as never b4 view this warbler so clearly). I bet Con will not want to take any pic of this warbler anymore.

My last trip I missed the fresh water wetlands and glad Con took me there. The most common birds were Common Moorhens with sprinkles of Purple Swamphens, bitterns, and two Buttonquails. No raptors other than local like Brahminy and one single pale CHE.

In the afternoon, instead of EMHs, we got Black Kites and strangely, hovering Big Birds (Lesser Adjutants; wondering what they were looking for??). Incidentally we did visit Pasit Pemengat, 1st time at high tide, nothing in view except rising tide and small patches of sands. Later in the afternoon we were back to catch the low tide. Wow, tide was really low and farr....r - waders were little dots and winds were blowing at greater than 20 knots, fortunately the sands were wet.

Back to the pic, the primaries and secondaries were clearly worn and the white patch on crown indicate bird yet to fully molt (change to black plumages). Definitely there were two juvenile GSE, probably 3 (the others did not have any white on crown).

Greater Spotted Eagle, juvenile