Birds at Kuala Baram Lagoon 12th October

Pacific Golden Plover.

It was low tide today when observation was made from 0700-0800hrs. The following birds were observed on the flats ...

1) Far Eastern Curlew
2) Marsh Sandpiper
3) Pacific Golden Plover
4) Lesser Sand Plover
5) Whimbrel
6) Common Sandpiper
7) Red-necked Stint ... close to a hundred birds spread out close to the wet sections, one individual was still sporting breeding colors
8) Common Sandpiper
9) Ruff
10) Common Kingfisher ... I've been looking for this chap since I last saw him a long while ago. It was perched near the flats, called out a few times before I finally noticed it. It then flew back to it's favorite perch behind the small hut on the other side of the embankment.
11) Pacific Reef Egret (grey morph)
12) Chinese Egret
13) Little Egret
14) Curlew Sandpiper
15) Terek Sandpiper
16) Sanderling
17) Grey Plover
18) Grey Wagtail
19) Cattle Egret by the roadside.
20) Collared Kingfisher

There're rather a distance away into the flats, the only option was to shoot using a digiscope
set-up. A hide would be absolutely necessary otherwise.

Nazeri Abghani/MNS Miri/Oct 2010

New wader at Kuala Baram Lagoon!

Black-winged Stilt digiscoped by Musa Musbah 29th Sep 2010, there were a pair foraging at low tide that day.

To date, we got a few new visitors to Kuala Baram Lagoon:

One Asian Dowitcher spotted 09th August foraging together with a Black-tailed Godwit
One Curlew Sandpiper spotted 10th August by Nazeri Abghani
Two Rudddy Turnstone spotted by Musa Musbah 29th September, 3 individuals were spotted 05th October by Musa and Nazeri.
Two Black-winged Stilt by Musa 29th September.
One Far Eastern Curlew spotted by Musa and Nazeri 05th October at Kuala Baram. Musa also spotted the same species at Kuala Sg Bakam a few days earlier.
One Ruff spotted by Musa and Nazeri 05th October at Kuala Baram.

With more pairs of eyes out there on the mudflats, there's sure going to be more species added to the Kuala Baram Lagoon list. If you haven't been wader watching, come and join us one of these days ... who knows, you might enjoy it!

BIRDS! BIRDS! BIRDS!

A Little Egret and Chinese Egret at Lutong Beach.

MAJOR UPCOMING BIRDWATCHING EVENTS IN MALAYSIA

This year should have been called the year of birds just looking at the spike in the number of major birdwatching related activities in the country. We've got activities lining up from Sandakan Sabah and for the first time Langkawi ... talk about good coverage!

What's good for the birds are good for us birdwatchers! May the trend continues and the awareness about birds, their conservation and value to our lives increase many folds!

Some of this year's past events:
MNS Raptor Watch March 2010, Post Dickson/Tanjung Tuan (Annual)
Fraser's Hill Bird Race June 2010, Fraser's Hill (Annual)

Exciting birds and birdwatching related events around the country:


The 3rd Sarawak Birdrace 2010, Kuching, Sarawak
08-10th October, From Sea to Mountain

The Bird Race returns for the 3rd time with more activities and plenty of fun. Dubbed the Sarawak Bird Race 2010, this year bird race is on a bigger scale with the tagline “From the Sea to the Mountain”.

The Bird Race is jointly organised by Borneo Highlands Resort (BHR) together with Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) aiming to promote the love and appreciation of nature including birds’ preservation amongst thecommunity.

More information from the website : http://www.birdrace2010.borneohighlands.com.my/


The 2nd Borneo Bird Festival 2010
15-17th October, Rainforest Discovery Center, Sepilok, Sabah

The Borneo Bird Festival will be held at the Rainforest Discovery Center (RDC), Sepilok Sandakan, Sabah.

This event will take place from 15 – 17 October 2010. The RDC is a centre for environmental education situate within the famous Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve.

For the birding enthusiasts there will be photography competition, the Borneo Bird Race, daily guided birding tour, childrens’ activities and many more exciting programs at the Festival.

There are minimal fees to attend the Lectures, Workshops and Guided tours. Due to limited capacity, do register early to avoid disappointment.

Please visit their official website for more details : http://www.borneobirdfestival.com/


KSNP Festival of Wings23-24th October, Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Kuala Selangor, Selangor

The Festival of Wings 2009 (FOW09) is an annual event organised to promote the importance of birds as natural indicators of planet Earth's health. The event aim to promote awareness of the environment and is a premier eco-tourism destination in Kuala Selangor

There will be a hosts of activities for you and your family to participate in. It's a great holiday adventure for you and your kids, and meet new friends at the same time both the feathered and non-feathered kind.

Please contact KSNP directly for information on this year's events and activities : call +603-32892294 or via email: ksnaturepark@yahoo.com / ksnp@mns.org.my


The Inaugural Langkawi Birding and Fotofest 2010
19-21st November, Langkawi

The Langkawi Birding & Fotofest 2010 makes for a most unforgettable outing! Join us in a celebration of all things birds and wildlife set within one of the world’s most beautiful group of islands. The Langkawi Birding & Fotofest 2010 offer a total cash prizes of RM12,000.00 to be won!

Please visit their official website for more details: http://www.birdfestival.wordpress.com/

Maybe we'll see you birders, family and friends at some if not all of these exciting and fun birdwatching events, maybe even a lifer or two!


Nazeri Abghani/MNS Miri/Oct 2010