Then today, I set up my hide on the new sandbar 3 hours before high tide, and the birds roosted on the sandspit! So in 3 hours of roasting heat I managed about 20 shots of 2 birds - a Little Egret and a Common Sandpiper! Here are the best of slim pickings.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tIXDEYAt34NmKxqPAUX8WeYK-qMcF4RLHzgeeNlFZXfGlfN0nSwJE4v7rfUqf4-TodCYZFARDpL-rNwzv8yjkZgDDO2Nij8PdyAFPul76MnNhlnDPTVePMfEiaHB0WaS-71eiw/s400/Bar-tailed+Godwit_Tanjung+Tokong_111108_IMG_1173.jpg)
3 Bar-tailed Godwits on the 11th. Bar-tailed Godwits are one species where the size and bill length difference between the sexes is really noticeable. The huge, long-billed bird in front is a female, the two behind are males.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlai-a92PsrBqpDbHjoFbr2K-K-9rwKGA5CxdfiiWHqRBNCGwztnQ-kEFJVDp-5Jg5kZIcd1W2YNpOFSZ-_hyphenhyphenpeq25Bz7UD-4Qmc9yDi0NoiT7X3ZC-z6ad2zfmEr4Ttv-M4qhA/s400/Common+Sandpiper_Tanjung+Tokong_111108_IMG_1026.jpg)
A Common Sandpiper in typical stiff-winged flight on the 11th.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShQw01UM_KZFVsXpsWeJxl-9eLFMkuvEQHKeYkN_ObVDvfXf-5m0XwYuwLas-oH1BVZmBQeaXY0ZlgoLNTnpLIY_x3fy7A62XXYZHDXZ7YZM3IJwyKUtU4y8zRD761jYZzJRd_A/s400/Little+Ringed+Plover_Tanjung+Tokong_111108_IMG_0989.jpg)
A few Little Ringed Plovers have started feeding on the mudflats. They are the only common Charadrius plover to lack a clear wingbar in flight.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdpdOXMbja-w20CeCQSadwt47Vj7giQSr7Nl4G_yuewrJl_m1-vMMRzo1SvLCAC2OaYMGINs2bqox8Km4yu3eqprZAnJCPexOECalCIAZn_B_hK9ZFLvYfB1D0oqYB0jZ9vPeqDw/s400/White-faced+Plover_Tanjung+Tokong_111108_IMG_1226.jpg)
Since my last visit the number of Kentish and White-faced Plovers has also increased - to 11 and 6 respectively. I couldn't get close to them on either of my visits, but here's a useful comparison of the two.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_W9M9QHlQjzxypMfnkP6oePVBmvufC8OWpff1nncUP_QwcO-R9r7tz29QLb3cLp2_SDqvjZrrXJlCjOGzi6edtgZBGDLFwASLwn1ikN-xRu7k1puGBA0NQXHh88nnqFPIqPRlg/s400/Pacific+Swallow_Tanjung+Tokong_111108_IMG_1335.jpg)
A Pacific Swallow on its favourite perch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJwxG1pejyU4_kwb-xVp8jRdrBDI7ZW6WvzpQS1w-ooie6NPikOOhxXXHeSt7OKOavcXThbx-UE9uVXzxuk0L2GNC66hiNxS1acA2NBBDwaqc0RlEixSbeD46b6dOsnYJRMmUKw/s400/Little+Egret_Tanjung+Tokong_131108_IMG_1376.jpg)
A Little Egret, still with most of its breeding plumes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjJddji0sHxGsqGHtsvO6cPD7ufgpOcXvea2ApAMHUEN-LTm-CmbOPN5ckEJdti1_sujLT5hmRSt0TSNOO_tAFAvscIFTmUUy5muF9Ra_RaBq9rLQptjtf9Z7T77x5WJixnPLzQ/s400/Little+Egret_Tanjung+Tokong_131108_IMG_1379.jpg)
Here it is in full 'rouse'. Rousing is the term given to what birds do when they raise all their feathers, often after a preen. It's supposed to be a sign of well-being. I suppose it puts all the feathers in place.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1k2seHiLstJjqkeYdMCDcGGPK9GUZhD4hhA1plQAdu64DJxmVeYMzJVkBNChcn3V6_grgBgYge6p4N8FrlGaKhLHKyiOuRzk8yTNduyHjo6nfLNGFJQ4dgh5_ZTXeAf1oEob4w/s400/Little+Egret_Tanjung+Tokong_131108_IMG_1385.jpg)
Walking past the hide.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrfxMUFzS2jt6WVqRA1s7izKuFDjPFzmhS_aT_ebPd8XsLigGi_in9DkIiMR7aOcryBlOtXt2MkqHXscC3eJcq4V6KXBxm7Pv6AKJj5_kHMfDoWVZ-1ilI3zNWSRkbWYhhxHSZQ/s400/Common+Sandpiper_Tanjung+Tokong_131108_IMG_1388.jpg)
A Common Sandpiper having a bit of a rouse too!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO19qo44mx1Klf5WSEehdh3VmEcr8e6vawELZ80aGSX325T4OHZC2cjDtiBJEFe8yiyH8rVKW2hYgOVXtbt3u2pvho6nHItzjxrKATQ_HqnilT2i2J_caHbMsCZHYmipNF9GBThw/s400/Common+Sandpiper_Tanjung+Tokong_131108_IMG_1394.jpg)
The fruits of my 3 hour wait!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-czJwMdE60bv9u_l73sP__naBowkMp23uNGBpSFq8mJIwoEMdGKbEFxHxoqS9g7HF2hkBsMs4u54veuvheLyec5X_w5mAj5LQmUu9PYfp_L70r72kpMvhjaeN9KiuXbEfkZbHw/s400/IMG_1323.jpg)
What happens when you get the tide wrong!
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