Tanjung Tuan Raptor Watch 7 - 9 March 2012

I left Penang on Tuesday to Tanjung Tuan, Malacca to join the raptor watch... annual event conducted to count the number of raptors passing Tanjung Tuan from Sumatra.

Tanjung Tuan lighthouse (Cape Rachado) - was build in the19th century, overlooking Malacca straits - the cape is the closest point of Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra island of Indonesia (Rupat island) 

The observation point - Facing out the sea direction - in which raptors that migrate from their wintering ground in Sumatra will cross the sea to mainland before proceed further north to their breeding ground.

Oriental Honey Buzzard - making up to more than 90% of total raptor counted at Tanjung Tuan, every spring migration. 

This is one of the 1,200+ Oriental Honey Buzzard that cross the straits of Malacca on Wednesday.

The Flock of Honey-Buzzard

On my first day, there were over 1,200 Oriental Honey Buzzard and 11 Grey-faced Buzzard. On Thursday, the count does not exceed 200 birds and on Friday the number continue to decrease (except for species).

 

White-bellied sea Eagle is one of the resident raptors occur in Tanjung Tuan.