Birds Nature & Us (BNU) is a bird photography group on Facebook that I belong to and in the second week of December last year they organised a small gathering in Kuala Gula, Perak with the aim of meeting members to renew old ties and forge new friendship. We had about 50 participants who made the journey to attend from various parts of the country. Over the two days members were given the opportunity to photograph birds in the nearby mangrove forest. An informal talk on bird photography and birding etiquette was also held in the evening. 
Enthusiastic lot 
Dawn at Kuala Gula 
A few good flaps of the wings and this White-breasted Waterhen was ready to go. 
A Common Kingfisher at her regular perch in front of the gates to the resort. 
A few Dollarbirds were busy snatching preys in mid flight. It was too early for any good shots of birds in flight as the lighting was far from ideal The later part of the morning was spent in the mangrove forest. 
Ballet in the swamp, Little egret 
An extremely shy Black-capped Kingfisher waiting for the chance to dive. 
A Chinese Pond-Heron scanning the waters from a vantage point 
A Little Egret aimed and pounced on a target.  
A small reward for the effort 
A Little Heron getting ready to dive, the fish below scattered and swam for their lives when she actually did.  
This mudskipper wasn’t so lucky. It may seem cruel but it’s a life & death struggle that goes on everyday. 
Dinner and Bird Talk 
Another day at Kuala Gula 
 
One of a few resident Milky Storks which is part of a breeding program undertaken by the wildlife department. She was out early 
Waiting to shoot birds in flight at the jetty. 
This Brahminy Kite had an extra-ordinary long hooked beak. 
Great-looking Great Egret 
In-flight meal. 
Here she is again resting on a nipah tree 
A Common Kingfisher looking for a simple kill… probably those mudskippers down below at the foot of the wall 
Tired but happy faces 
A Stork-billed Kingfisher and a Common Myna sharing the same tree 
White-breasted waterhens are usually very skittish but this pair didn’t seem to be intimidated by our presence. 
A tiny Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker making her round in the mangove trees and at one point she came very close to where I was. 
After hundreds of bird photos , good company, some good laughs….. I think everyone left Kuala Gula for home with a smile. | 
