Cattle Egrets in Flight

12th December 2014, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Bangau Kendi Scientific Name: Bubulcus ibis Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G     Looks  like a good morning of Grasshopping for these Egrets.

Mangrove Blue Flycatcher

28th June 2013, Sabak, Kelantan

Species: Mangrove Blue Flycatcher Local Name: Burung Sambar Biru Scientific Name: Cyornis rufigastra Equipment: Nikon 1 V2 + Nikkor AFS-VR 400mm f/2.8G   A Mangrove Blue Flycatcher  chick waiting to be fed by an adult male.

Plaintive Cuckoo

15th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Sewah Mati Anak Scientific Name: Cacomantis merulinus

Oriental Reed Warbler

15th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Cekup Paya Besar Scientific Name: Acrocephalus Orientalis

Chestnut-Winged Cuckoo

15th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Sewah Kepak Merah Berjambul Scientific Name: Clamator coromandus   One of the more elusive migrant cuckoos, I finally caught up with her in my home state of Kelantan. I noticed that this Cuckoo preferred to forage very close to the ground and sometimes would come down to the ground in search of  food. This is an ultra long distance shot of my lifer.

Collared Kingfisher

15th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Pekaka Sungai Scientific Name: Halcyon chloris A Collared Kingfisher enjoying her early morning  reptilio-breakfast.

Black-Capped Kingfisher

14th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Pekaka Kopiah HItam Scientific Name: Halcyon pileata Black-capped Kingfishers are extremely shy birds and would be spooked by the slightest movements that you make. Crouching in my car, and  then driving slowly along the dirt road to within 20m from her position.  This was the closest that I managed to get to this Kingfisher after so many years of trying.

Long-Tailed Shrike

14th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Tirjup Ekor Panjang Scientific Name: Lanius schach Compared to the Tiger and Brown shrikes, Long-tailed shrikes are less commonly sighted  and not as approacheable as the other two species. I managed to take  these few shots from a distance , luckily they turned out ok.

Coppersmith Barbet

14th March 2012, Tok Kassim, Sabak, Kelantan

Local Name: Takor Tembaga, Takor Tukang Besi Scientific Name: Megalaima haemacephala A male Coppersmith Barbet with the bright red forecrown and breast patch.

Early Waders in Sabak

11th September 2011, Kg Tok Lukot, Sabak, Kelantan

I wasn’t able to go back to my hometown during  the Hari Raya break. Made a trip back to see my parents and in-laws in Kota Bharu  last weekend. A  few hours late Sunday afternoon was spent in Sabak to photograph early migrants in the area. Shooting in Sabak  always leaves me wishing how I had more reach with my gear, 300mm is a severe handicap  when it comes to waterbirds. Overall it was good day  with some of the  birds coming in quite close to my position  in the middle of the swamp area.     A few  Greater Sand Plovers were scattered over the area. (correction: juvenile Lesser Sand PLovers)                     A few Terek Sandpipers One of a few  Common Sandpipers in the area. A colony of  6 Oriental Pranticoles A few Common Redshanks   Black-winged Stilts     My lifer- a White Wagtail.   Unsure- looks like a Whimbrel (ID: Greater Painted Snipe) Plenty of House Swallows (correction: Barn Swallows, I should have got this one correctly identified the first time!)           A White-browed Crake picking up courage to leave the  safety of the reeds

Balik Kampung: Sabak revisited

5th February 2011, Kampung Sabak , Kelantan

I was in Kota Bharu during the recent Chinese New Year  holidays,visiting  friends and families. It also provided the opportunity to check out Kampung Sabak’s birdlife. The water level had risen  considerably  since my last visit and the place looks  very different. Lush green grass covered  most of the exposed mudflats and tall reeds had grown along  most parts of the river bank. (shot with a Nokia N900) It is now rainy season  and most of  the mudflats were under water. Intermediate Egrets flying in only to land on the opposite bank, too far  any usable shots. Collared Kingfisher waiting patiently for an opportunity to dive in for fish. Resting after  the morning hunt. I’m not sure whether these are Greater or Lesser Sand Plovers. The one on the right seems bigger than the other two, could this be a Greater SP. A  lone  Pacific Golden Plover hanging around with the Sand Plovers A beautiful multi-coloured crab caught my attention while shooting the Plovers. A dead tree instead of the water for a change! A Yellow-Bittern hiding among the reed.   A White-Browed Crake  feeding cautiously, never  venturing too far from the safety of the reeds An Intermediate Egret Plenty of  Chinese Pond-Herons in the area A Black-Shouldered Kite came to perch on a dead tree by the river bank This female Asian Koel was in a real  hurry to get as far away from the Kite which was on the branch above her. Common Sandpipers I moved  to check out the nearby ponds during the later part of the morning, they used to be paddy fields  but  farming had stopped ever since they were flooded by seawater. (shot with a Nokia N900) I was able to drive around in my car.  As usual the birds were more tolerant to  motor vehicles and I was able to get very close. This White-Throated Kingfisher drying off after an intensive diving session. A  busy Paddy field Pipit  making its way along the sandy ground. White Browed Crake Time to get awa…y Another White Throated Kingfisher. A pair of Blue-Tailed Bee-Eaters My only shot of this beauty, the Common Kingfisher.