I found the pond, but the only ducks on view were Lesser Whistling Ducks, which are somewhat commonplace. Never mind, Bidor has plenty of other avian attractions!
Or it used to have. Not sure what is going on here, but it looks like the ponds at FRIM, Bidor are on the way out.
There were a few Grey-headed Lapwings around here and there.
Purple Herons can usually be relied upon at Bidor, and today was no exception.
Yellow Bitterns too.
I have a soft spot for Purple Swamphens (or Black-backed Swamphens as this one should now be called). Everything about them is absurd - their proportions, their colour scheme and their trumpet-like call, which they utter while flapping their wings incongruously! This one had junior in tow.
When the light catches them they are a riot of blues, mauves and greys.
A scarcer, but duller Common Moorhen.
Opposite the FRIM ponds there's a rather unique open field that looks just perfect for something rare, like a lark, a Thick-knee or an Oriental Plover. Every time I check though, it has the same customers...
Pacific Golden Plovers...
...and Oriental Pratincoles. It was interesting to see that these showed a thin buffish trailing edge to the secondaries, from above and below. They were obviously in very fresh plumage. The lack of a white trailing edge to the secondaries on Oriental is one feature which distinguishes it from Collared Pratincole.
Of course, there were also lots of Paddyfield Pipits. Since they were song-flighting, I tried to get some flight shots. They are noticeably and obviously short-tailed in flight, although they can give the impression of being longer-tailed when on the ground.
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