White-Browed Crake of Kampung Sabak

7 June 2009, Kampung Sabak, Kelantan

	To me all Wak-Wak (local name) should look like a waterhen. So when I saw this Wak-Wak it looked kind of strange. I hadn’t realised that there were so many types of marsh birds. Now I know that this is a Crake, a White-Browed Crake (porzana cinerea) to be exact. They are so difficult to spot in the grassy area. A Lifer.
Difficult to tell whether they are male or female.

In the natural habitat. Master of Hide & Seek.

Roller Coaster Ride,

7 June 2009, Bachok, Kelantan

	Drove back from Bachok, a coastal town in Kelantan after some trouble with the car. Had to cut short the birding and was heading back to Kota Bharu when we spotted a bird on the transmission cable. From far the profile of the bird was not familiar to me. Did a U-turn and headed back towards where I saw the bird, she was still there. It appeared very dark from far but as we started shooting, we realised that it was really a very colourful bird. A lifer: Indian Roller ( Coracias benghalensis)	The field guide says that (for Malaysia) it can only be seen in the coastal north-west and east Peninsular Malaysia.

Collared Kingfisher , Kelantan

7 June 2009, Bachok and Kampung Sabak, Kelantan.

Was in my hometown Kota Bharu for an engagement ceremony. The next day spent a full day birding. Went to Bachok in the morning. Had some problem with the car when the engine just refused to start. Managed to do some birding. Went back to Kota Bharu to change cars and headed to Kampung Sabak, near the Pengkalan Chepa Airport.

A lifer: Collared Kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) .
	She had caught a grasshopper. Normally you would see a fish between the beak. Maybe should call this bird a Kinghopper!

Oriental Pranticole of Bidor

Continuing the Bidor series.

Lifer: Oriental Pranticole (Glareola maldivarum) in breeding plumage.

Purple Heron of Bidor

Continuing the Bidor series.

Lifer: Adult Purple Heron (Ardea Purpurea) feeding side by side with the Swamphens.

It’s not a heron but a Swamphen. I thought I’d post this photo for Tabib. This is the only hen walking on water that day! Not exactly walking, more like scrambling. This is what happens when you get too close.

White-Breasted Waterhen of Bidor

Continuing the Bidor series

	An adult White-Breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) feeding on the floating island

Black-Backed Swamphen of Bidor

Continuing the Bidor series.

	I counted 6 of these Swamphens feeding. Couldn’t get them in one photo.

Lifer: Black-Backed Swamphen (Porphyrio indicus). Their feeding ground is the floating island of vegetation. Look at those feet! The adult Swamphens have a silvery wash on their faces compared to the juveniles.

The deep-purple blue makes the hen stand out against the green background
This is probably a juvenile. Time to get a french manicure!
	Out of the 80-90 shots taken only 6 captured the long fingertoes.