![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Z1cxUeYBbJnh-LydyTMK7A94UbeaBqdJTcaAb7gb3DyC2euXv7PJ6HD8MYg1Z4S7QLTYCJBe5TiZ_wDc0aZGGr6sRUPs21UJZapPT8yga7noIoP1YaaXp2r0fOES3tYVuvoecQ/s400/Scaly-breasted+Munia_Penaga_030408_IMG_3541.jpg)
A photogenic Scaly-breasted Munia
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And, from the same fence, I got a scolding from a 'lucionensis' Brown Shrike.
From Penaga I drove north to an area of abandoned fish ponds at Pasir Debu. The area is surrounded by a high fence and a padlocked gate, but I was able to borrow the key from a nearby house.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7d6F-6oR2u7kO8lrKJDbyRgQR6Fds4KY_3yQDHgO_oheotRefIT3_tz121cZoCDYO7eoj63Hu3b6X6_HR0G35taDkO9eEVKkwPy4Ql7iw4Sw5EpjLYZ7L7Hyql_K1BDYiRGL-Uw/s400/IMG_0673.jpg)
When I last came here, the ponds were still being managed, and the empty pools were a magnet for waders. Now all the pools were full of water and getting rather overgrown. I was immediately struck by how few birds there were - fewer than I would expect at a place that is supposedly undisturbed. The few birds I did see were very wary.
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Here is the probable reason! I found several holes in the fence, and more than one of these spent shotgun cartridges.
There were 8 or 9 Grey Herons, a couple of Purple Herons and some egrets in the mangroves behind the ponds - a possible heronry in the future? No sign of nests at the moment though.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUfs_9tIaxdREmIQtLMLISrwEH4JUaSXcOrdQtqVfwpqJlkIGBvbbHLkUYJn30nnCl4AOCEjHdgzqLiAWxW36pLVHe1hfij8dgUr8Qu4-_1UOR0cmPL8Nu8Ihv2pu8iWwPWspQg/s400/Dollarbird_Pasir+Debu_030408_IMG_3563.jpg)
A Dollarbird was making use of the lamp posts to hunt for insects
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I flushed this Watercock from the edge of one of the ponds
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZPkobGvWaMALwAALI5YoxmsldQRz2fXowdiWEbQl8BssobCWwio6BsKcko5GxJEvXETLTlAIThyphenhyphenSC_MWWXWPkbYMekG3VEeWzAqODCL0yqiRACb6B_EcmcgzOon4IFmzuZOZ3A/s400/Common+Kingfisher_Pasir+Debu_030408_IMG_3601.jpg)
Fish fry skitter out of the path of this Common Kingfisher, even though it was more interested in getting away from me!
When returning the key, I asked about the owner's plans for the ponds. Apparently he intends to start operating them again "soon". If there are any wealthy environmentalists out there, I think the place has great potential to be managed as a wetland reserve. Now if you'd like to make him an offer...!
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