Birds Nature & Us Gathering @ Kuala Gula

8th-9th December 2012, Kuala Gula  Sanctuary Resort, Perak

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.