Sungai Prai, main river that flow in the middle of the mainland Penang is the main catchment for ricefield in Permatang Pauh. The Sungai Prai rivermouth located at Prai and the basin extended to Sungai Ular in Kulim, Kedah.
Most of area that bound near the estuary of Sungai Prai had developed as urban area, leaving some agriculture and swampy forest area in the middle and upper reach. Along Sungai Prai basin, Air Itam Dalam is one of reserve area that charted by Forestry Department of Malaysia.
Map show the upper and middle reach of Sungai Prai basin and ricefields bound inside this basin.
In term of birds, ricefield bound within Sungai Perai basin is famous with the Greater-spotted Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Asian Openbill and Black-winged Stilt which can be the keystone species for this ricefield area. Some rare migrant/vagrant birds such as Ruff, Black-head Ibis, Temminck Stint and Baillon's Crake also had been recorded here.The Air Itam Dalam forest is the important habitat to Mangrove Pitta, Ruddy Kingfisher and Laced Woodpecker beside being roosting area for migrating Black/Black-eared Kite.
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On Tuesday, 7 December 2012 I went out to my locality the Permatang Nibong and Kubang Semang ricefield to see what birds present. By this time, the ricefield is green with the paddy plant which generally extend one feet high and will fruiting in less than one month time.
A Black Drongo perch on a pole with fertilizer bag - the pole is a new kind of 'scarecrow' that used by farmer nowaday.
After wandering about one and a half hour around the ricefield area, I went to the adjacent aquaculture pond which known as Openbill pond to check for Openbill which is missing since I'd arrive in Penang and other birds that present in that area.
A couple of Pink-necked Green Pigeon
One took off leaving one alone
Pink-necked Green Pigeon are numerous in this area which, unfortunately, attract a lot of village folks to hunt for them. Methods usually used by them is mist netting that involving harassing the bird including using firecracker to make sure the birds flew to the net.
Oriental Reed Warbler - Common migrant in this area, here you can get a good chances to observe this bird
Beside Oriental Reed Warbler, other warblers that recorded in this area including Black-browed Reed Warbler, Rusty-rumped Warbler, Arctic Warbler and Dusky Warbler.
Wader of the day:
Pacific Golden Plover - Finally it found some space in this area suitable for foraging
Not it - It was they, a total of 47 individual seen in three loosely planted paddy plots near the Openbill pond
Golden Plover is one of wader species that frequently visit this ricefield area. Since most of the paddy plot present were either packed with high paddy plant or flooded by water, I think this species may switch their foraging area. Yes, they switch, but in different place within the same area.
A flock of Munias consisting Scaly-breasted Munia and White-rumped Munia seen foraging near the Golden plover's paddy plot, with 2 Crested Serpent Eagle and an adult Greater Spotted Eagle flew overhead is the final scene of the morning before I decided to move to other area.
Two Scaly-breasted Munia in their feeding action
Later, I decide to go to Guar Jering / Guar Petai area to observe what occuring there since I'm not visiting that area since I came back to Penang. This area located close to Air Itam Dalam and consisting mixture of ricefield, rubber plantation and swampy forest - sound interesting place to visit.
Once I reach there, I was greet by a Honey Buzzard - good sign
Oriental Honey Buzzard - The first individual seen in this time of year, usually it only seen by mid-October to early November, on migration. This individual seen foraging in that area, two possibilities, late passage migrant or winter visitor.
When I wonder deep to the ricefield area, I was shocked by a large raptor, flying low from a paddy plot to a low perched, I went to approach the bird and it turn to be...
An Aquila Eagle
The perched located too close to the bund road - A motorbike ride past it, then it took off, giving chance for me to obtain the flight shot of this large raptor
I let the large raptor go, after a good more than 15 minutes observation and spotted the other perch this large raptor took to give way for the smallest raptor in this area
Black-thigh Falconet
The smallest raptor in Peninsular Malaysia indeed
I move to Air Itam Dalam as I saw few Black Kite thermalling over the area, the Guar Jering ricefield only separated by the main river to Air Itam Dalam. While I'm approaching the circling bird I saw a Black Kite perched on a tree.
Black / Black-eared Kite - Common migrant raptor in Air Itam Dalam
Air Itam Dalam is one of the known roost for Black Kite in northern west-coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Up to 60 Black Kites had been counted on this site, however for this visit only 7 individual seen in that particular area (4 birds seen circling with 1 Brahminy Kite and 2 Crested Serpent Eagle, 2 seen on perch; preening).
At 1300, the activities of the raptor seem to decrease and after had a quick stop at nearby stall to quench my thirst, I went back to Kubang Semang to see is there anything make stop at the pylon in the middle of ricefield.
Yes, there are birds perch on the pylon:
Two Imperial Eagles perched on the pylon - on top is an adult, below is the sub-adult (Third different plumage of this species recorded in this area for this year)
Later, one White-bellied Sea Eagle join the pair:
Three large raptor on a pylon.
Later the adult took off leaving the immature and White-bellied Sea Eagle
After more than 15 minutes all the raptors move, the adult imperial eagle flew to east direction, the immature flew to northwest and the White-bellied Sea Eagle flew and circling above that area.
Satisfied with more than 50 bird species seen and with an appointment waiting me I head west with my motorbike...
Until next post...
