1st March 2010: Kampung Permatang Nibong, mainland Penang

Another month gone! I managed a couple of hours in late afternoon at the Asian Openbill site. Two were seen there last Thursday, but there were none in evidence today.

Everywhere is so dry now - it's been weeks since we had any proper rain, and daily temps are a couple of notches above normal.

I watched some tractors ploughing up a fallow field. As the uncut area got smaller and smaller, various birds and rodents made a dash for safety at the edge of the field.



Shall I, shan't I? A Slaty-breasted Rail toys with the idea of breaking cover.



Go for it! A total of five of these birds came out of the final strip of grass - most likely a family group, as most were subadults.



An unbelievable number of rats also emerged as the final strip disappeared beneath the tractor. At first Hakim and I thought they'd got away with it, as there were no raptors around, but at the last minute this majestic White-bellied Sea Eagle arrived and quickly sized up the situation...









Unfortunately I missed capturing the moment of impact as the camera instantly focused on the background as the bird dived in. Here it is with its prize - the one that didn't get away.



Purple-backed Starlings are always very shy and difficult to get close to. The light wasn't great today due to the haze in the air from stubble-burning.



There were many Red-rumped Swallows about today, some of the worn adults had practically white rumps.



Late on the Greater Spotted Eagle came in to roost on its favourite pylon. It must have been choking on the smoke this evening.



My best find of the day though, was in the letterbox! My Dad sent me this article in the June 2009 issue of the Suffolk Ornithologists' Group bulletin, the Harrier. My own account of the meeting is here. It's nice to find myself still being referred to as a "boy" - that's good Suffolk that is...boy!

18-19th December 2009: Snow in Suffolk!

Much to the delight of the kids, we have had a good snowfall over the last couple of days, turning the village into a winter wonderland!





















There was even enough to build a proper snowman ... er snow person!It's the first time I've built (or contributed to building) a snowman since I was a very small boy!






















We decided she was probably a prophetess warning of the impending weather effects of climate change.



I guess that there must have been quite an influx of winter birds with all the north-easterly winds, and there are certainly more Fieldfares around than a couple of days ago. Fieldfares are usually very shy and difficult to get close to, but this one was blind in the right eye, so didn't see me approaching.






















As soon as it turned around and saw me with its good eye, it was off, and I only managed to snap a this single pic.



Still, it supplied me with a good eye, which enabled me to perform an eye operation on the bad eye in Photoshop - rather crudely as I am away from my home computer - but it will do for now.





Finally, some birds and snow - Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail on a muck-heap. That's it for now - next stop Portugal, and hopefully some warmer weather!