Tanjong Karang- Malaysian Birding Sites

Notice the "?" in the last column above? Most birders do not show interest in Waders.

This destination is a rice field. In this open country and wetland habitats. A flatland of 40 kilometers long by about 3 kilometers wide. Flanked by peat swamp forests on 3 sides and a coastal mudflat on the fourth. This agriculture land that geographically stretches from Tanjong Karang to Sungei Besar is cultivated twice yearly with rice grown in water logged ground. Obviously such ample space would attract plenty of local birds and migrant to rest and feed.

Within this seemingly endless landscape, there is no particular spot that attracts more birds. More important is the type of birds that you expect to see on your visit and that time of the planting season that favors its sighting

As far as sight is concerned, there is nothing much to show here, except open field and "oasis" of dwelling with garden. Birds seen here are the usual open country type, some forest birds, waders and raptors. At any time of the year, bird life is good. Readily seen at the road side, perched along the electric wires or hanging around pockets of fruiting plots. The best time to see large gatherings is during the transition time when the field are cleared and when replanting starts. Then of these 2 seasons, the better time, is year end when the northern winter is on.

A farmer's house surrounded with fruit trees..

There are 3 general birds' scenarios. First. miniature wooded sanctuary like this one, would be resting place for egrets, herons and those birds that are seen all year round. A group of bird that we can get quite near to them. They would not be disturbed by human presence.

At the top of empty branches would be the Black shouldered and Brahminy Kites. The crowd normally would include Drongo, Dollarbird, Weaverbird and Munias. They would be joined by the Harriers during the migratory season.

Another view showing how the boundary between fields are separated by trees.

The second and third environment are almost inseparable. The second one being the time prior to harvest and during harvesting. This time, the ground birds had a long period of good time and driven out in the open when harvesting starts.

The opportunists birds that saw the fields being cleared, flocked in to join the plunder. They will be hanging around for a while until such period when the land being ploughed.

Season of the Blue-tailed Bee-eaters

Lastly, the freshly plough land and flooding brings in new opportunities for the waders. Led by Sandpipers, Plovers and Snipes, they dig in for the long period of peaceful feeding in the growing seasons. These birds were sensitive to intrusion.

The rice crop grows dense and tall, back to watching those birds on the fruit trees and by the road sides.

Yet across, the irrigation canal and within the gigantic peat swamp forest, another sets of birds awaits those who do not mind looking over huge distances. Large birds like Hornbill, Sea-Eagle to smaller Hill Myna and Parakeet were frequently sighted

Pacific, Barn and Wood Swallows, all shared the same view.