Labour's day Pelagic off Tanjung Dawai

I make a last minute call to join Choo Eng and Dave Bakewell for a pelagic trip on anchovy's fishermen boat in Tanjung Dawai on Labour day holiday. I'm seeking any opportunity to go out to the sea since I left Pulau Tengah last November and only had the chance after nearly 6 months. After watching the Manchester derby, I left my home at 5 and it not took me long to wait for Dave and ChooEng. We arrived at Tanjung Dawai fishing port at 6.30 and the fishermens greet us with smile.

The view of the fishing port from the boat upper deck

The view of the anchovy boat

7 in the morning, we set sail to the sea - this is my first experience riding the new boat, and I found the new boat was more comfort compare to the old one - but not as comfort as the fishing boat in Mersing.

The storm is coming - despite the nice sea condition we had today, there are big cloud over Pulau Bidan and the cloud seem building up over Gunung Jerai - The first shearwater of the day was spotted at this point.

The first haul of the day - A lot of by catch capture by the fishermen today : They claim today as the weird day, by catch including Tuna, octopus, Lutjanus sp. , Mantis prawn, squid and mackerel

Not many bird came by the boat as the  fishermen launch their net, however, the bird number building up as the boat move further northeast. This including two Short-tailed Shearwater, groups of White-wing Black Tern, Bridled Tern, Common Tern and Long-tailed Skua/Jaeger.

The tubenose (real pelagic bird) of the day - Short-tailed Shearwater, local call it 'Itik Air' which mean aquatic duck. Although it use to be an unusual bird, most of fishermen in Malaysia recognize it and please with the present of this bird - They claim it as luck bringer.

A flock of Bridled Tern flew past as the boat move

Meanwhile on the boat, although the fishing had done, the fishermen continue their work in processing the anchovies - They have to boil and let it dry - those fishermen who did not conduct the boiling will sewn the damaged net and rearrange it, so it be easy for them to launch the net on the next catch.

The fishermen boiling the anchovies - build up the smell, and the smell attract 2 more shearwater.

Anchovy drying process - increase the degree of smell produced, on top is the squid, another by catch that have market potential.

Our friend, Mr. Harom prepared to release the net for the second catch - Look promising as the number of terns building up

Terns including this Bridled Tern feeding gracefully around the boat, terns number building up really quick until...

The Long-tailed Skua come and marauding them - This Skua dare to come close to the boat to get the terns catch.

After It got the tern catch it go away - move away from the boat

After the threat of Skua gone, terns coming back closer to the net to feed. This Bridled Tern seem still alert after the Skua attack.

On the second catch, a gracious tern fly toward the boat and it turn out to be an Aleutian Tern - A lifer for me. White winged Tern all seen in their breeding plumage. The fishermen satisfied with their catch and the total count of the day are:

White-winged Tern 150

Bridled Tern 100

Common Tern 60

Black-naped Tern 3

Whiskered Tern 1

Aleutian Tern 1

Long-tailed Skua 6

Short-tailed Shearwater 5

Unidentified Shearwater 1

Unidentified Skua 2

That's all for this visit, as we enter the month of May and June, I'm looking forward for more pelagic trip in Tanjung Dawai and in Pulau Sembilan in Perak. One of the fishermen share a valuable info with me - To go on with the fishermen in Langkawi as those fishermen go out longer and further. When we reach the port, I'd met someone I know from Mersing - one of Mr Mustafa boat crew, what a small world I thought, after a few friendly chat we leave. Here from the fishermen of Tanjung Dawai: 

Our Fishermen friend in Tanjung Dawai. The tagline mean 'the band of old boys'

Adopted Bulbul 10/4/2012

Its been more than a week since my friend at the backyard adopted the Yellow-vented Bulbul chicks, now its been a week. The Bulbul chucks show a rapid development, as now we transfer it to a larger cage (In order to avoid it from be eaten by any predator, cat, snake, civet etc.)

The Yellow-vented Bulbul chicks in their cage

One of the Yellow-vented Bulbul chick perch on hand - despite the bird already able to fly in a short distance, the birds will stay calmly when perched on the hand.

Feeding the chick by using stick - the chick cannot feed the food by itself yet.

The food we use to feed the Bulbul chicks - Bird's ration liquefied in a ripe cherry juice, training the bird to enjoy the sweetness of fruit. Beside cherry, we also feed it with fruit such as apple and banana. In order to help the development of the chicks, we also add protein such as ant, termites, cricket and bug gut juice to the ration.

Both chicks have different level of development - Chick perch in the cage has a rapid development compare to the sitting chick. The perching chick also has a louder voice, more agile movement and eat more frequent than the sitting bird.

I'll post the next development of this Bulbul chicks on the next week post

Spring Migration pt 2 6/4/2012

The number of passage migrant and winter visitor in my area were still a lot although the migrating season close to the end. Today I'd seen more migrant birds compare to the part 1, this including all 3 pond-herons that present in my area.

The ricefield look alive with some migratory bird still present

Chinese Pond Herons are among them

A comparison of a Javan Pond-Heron and a pond heron with no breeding plumage

Today the bird appear: Indian Pond Heron - thus this season I seen all three pond herons species in my area

Beside pond-herons, there are some other migrant present in the surrounding ricefield area:

The Black-winged Stilt were still around, despite the number decreasing slightly from 2 to 3 hundred birds in peak season (November-December) to 10 to 20 birds at the end of season

Common Stonechat : the bird I been search in the past few months - this season found when it approaching to the end.

Blue-tailed Bee-Eater - A total of 26 birds were seen today

Blue-throated Bee-Eater - only 3 bird seen today

Some of resident birds seen around the ricefield:

Yellow Bittern 

Baya Weaver - the bird with nice nest. 

Black Crown Night Heron - this is one of the few individual which not obtain the breeding plumage yet.

Some other attractive birds that present in the area today are Rusty-rump Warbler and Sand/Pale Martin. However no good photo of those bird could be post.

Next on B.O.B : Air Itam Dalam

Spring Migration pt 1 31/3/2012

The Aquila eagles in my area were already left ( I haven't seen them since coming back from Tanjung Tuan). However, the other winter visitors were there. The main attraction at the end of March to May is the Pond-herons. During this time of year, you can differentiate the pond herons to three species namely Chinese, Javan and Indian Pond Heron. For the last two season all three pond herons had been seen in my birding playground.

Chinese Pond Heron - The commonest pond heron to be seen in my area, in Malaysia indeed

Javan Pond Heron - Uncommon bird, the number seem increasing year by year. This is my favourite pond heron, they are very nice in a full breeding plumage.

The second Javan Pond Heron of the day

No Indian Pond Heron for now. Maybe it would appear after few weeks, in my observation for the last 2 season, Indian Pond Heron is the last pond heron to show their breeding plumage. Hope to capture all 3 pond  heron in a frame like Mun (http://penangbirder.blogspot.com/) did before.

Beside pond heron, there are some birds which show up their breeding plumage at this time of year:

Cattle Egret - Most bird had transform into their breeding plumage

The comparison between bird in breeding and non-breeding plumage Cattle Egret

Some bird movement also can be seen in my area, bird that fly toward north direction such as raptors and bee-eater were often seen during this time.

Blue-throated Bee-Eater - one of the bird you can get easily during this time

For now....on this post

Backyard birding 2 4/4/2012

Today, a rare occasion happen at my friend's backyard. A Yellow Vented Bulbul nest was fell on the ground, resulting from the strong wind last night. Two chicks in that nest were survived and a friend adopted them.

The Yellow-vented Bulbul chicks in the nest

The size comparison of the chicks and nest

One of the chick begging for food, at this stage, the Yellow-vented Bulbul is a insatiable bird, we had fed it about 5 times since we found them.

The food that we use to feed the chicks - made from bird ration, water and cockroach gut

Later, I heard the Koel call from the tree nearby, and there are three Koel perch on the tree, 2 males flirting a female.

The female Asian Koel carrying a cherry fruit

Two Asian Koel males flirting the female (one hidden under the leaf)

The male Koel fanned the tail - display the tail plumage to the female

The main birds attractant to this backyard is the cherry tree. Currently, there are about three fruiting cherry tree at this backyard. In the fruiting season there are few more fruiting trees such as mango, jambu, banana and rambutan.

The cherry tree

The ripe cherry fruit - Yellow-vented Bulbul, Olive-winged Bulbul, Asian Koel, Arctic Warbler, Pink-necked Green Pigeon and and Mynas usually seen feed on this fruit.

That's all for this post - to be continue in Adopted Bulbul Development

Backyard birding 20/3/2012

In my village, I use to hang around at my friend backyard's, where they had build a nice sheltered hut. Under the shelter, me and friends use to hang around chit-chatting and play chequer. Last saturday, when I was there, I heard the call of Bee-eaters and saw about 4 Accipiter fly toward North direction. The under growth in that area look nice, had potential for good bird. So today decide to take my bins and camera whenever I've been there. 

The view from inside 

The swampy pond just below the hut: It just a small pond but you can get a lot of eel here. 

Black-naped Oriole - usually visiting the hut to feed on a fruiting tree. 

Yellow Vented Bulbul - The commonest bird around. 

Little Green Heron - Resting on a rotting branch that give a good condition for this bird to camouflage.

No sign of any migration today at the backyard - no Bee-eaters call and not a single raptor was seen. Thus the observation will be continue...