![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig88U-fT9ExbGhdkRn-ruD6SO2RXnJCTbuYPvgbrv5aYh-G7Rd0ndge6-aPC4Hij4AzNMKX44BR19YBqYYYH6Xji4qncB-uFxmLgt0WUhuvy8PohxRtVurJhVZxw24y-Wzdn6dAg/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_1951.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57E0hjHNh6HgxZAfpzQVnV1PvXMnQ6G1OEM2eHB0LBxDAHK9Dw3WwvugSKoe6uqeUqr_FGO-nQkl1CIgrg_g5Zs5e3ekUrXEZl_lKf_DopN8JxSYAp2bwZMnZo4xGv0ErvPaj6Q/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0413.jpg)
The openbills were soon located in the early morning light, roosting separately on some low trees.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuiqSNlGxAovhrxFU8XcE2cj1_giFZjxW1_gDje-9XeUJd8egjIDgJrkGimP_mt14KrjU3DN5QepaOvt49i0AHj2Bai8cewWHSVpqQmnsg7ZiH_oYeN2QQeUR5DT9Wv6lFoeUKwQ/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_1958.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqAT4ji76HVI6Y2JQPMFrdltYDFqqvTzbAwDfRjQRxJsYzcogEFy7leRrZVPT1XsfQVe6s4UI_mic9sVY0Cgz1apJXWKD7REJh4V4pDSD9WNRdMfaX1GTAV3dW_Cz9sh7dODnCA/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_1974.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7mU4KfaXlJ8zb69SL340DK5olHbk6JVjFtHKyB_DIlBB5D6hmDb7p67wxZbcCzuizCUi60WnGgv9eiDwEw7YWp7Fvb_m7fpSSvBv6djN_6pXiI38U2RLtlFaKPOVun2TlEjGAQ/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_1997.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAEAegQogqk7nLHyWcex2ixbv1M617IJCwwj2yttjIOvvyPJ4D_PVgRlwiv4RK5ZWrUHBM3GF0McX4DYaoce0XcELkrfwfSuMn-NJf7A7aBQq5g6sfBUKYPz85QXDeM3s1i9-gsQ/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_1999.jpg)
A couple of birds are now in pretty smart plumage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTtvGRXk09Z_3JYIdhnbMnkXUqqQhERIZX4sAaTlXN33d_l7PQZlu7vzxYxyxonO_fn36QIXS5UITxLTqU9o-9rUW6Rn6WNrbYmIZ4yTaFSFIE1CrcWkOYUtj5JJwJUIQVfZ_Bg/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0333.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRTle0BRSuUrzKX3re9SrLWsnS_sHtz58cKM-sW6HcUfvtoCXYN4nfTXePnbDMdwbV01RcONwNu1DVWhbxdOOcrAjGXwfx4aFlT-7gzJx7NF_izvXwMkvrYsFiCnoPCGwBHwE3g/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0342.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_LJBZiNEQVJRpBogXGxDYGb0QekVGrm9sF3Prb8JhxgqBC8liNDiZ2H0wAOKbrOtV6InKCApPXf0tl9fFourKzD_4CvX7K0qLbNUhXVlFPv2fp4oswcFV9i4AD7t9wDbYXjKfA/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0371.jpg)
Once the sun was well up, they went for a bit of morning exercise!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQNYifXOP9SaPozCVr4pbrQ718IKkaGH4bNOLWJjwEDvbOxK2t2FTAMl89o23yzVggPmarztSN7k2-KHsaTBULHYmKV2sYbT40AMjnKXQZAg45Q_dHtfZ0Pd7WQ-_Qxue067zEQ/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0288.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzV-sm1Alz9ZtsVWi635iR3v8pXh8O9aO-OdKyxFgJB62HirQBgi_NFWNsublHEofi6Rcacv_gVMo5c0SL0C4wMi3dunphVai0ZiOFtpXzCxFePzTVTFTURBjvlMluCyg18Qs5Q/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0290.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmrPo-uehpujphuOmavYmm1_h1WiT7EAWrFaJ9gS6ZijEGvmPYM8K0_2f1EErtStATE6ivQz5uKcrk_X-xsUze3AdF0reV0zQD6wGVYsWzhdryc7RnvpGOeCzJQ7KLUiqkYWJXw/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0291.jpg)
Interesting to see the exposed red skin on the underwing.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBalsAX0mO47jx8aVpAV9rXjSyQWZubQQWast5_NhdFnWs7xnV4rD0OE47E-goxjvvjok2uPqoYcCW4cGxpDt0ts21n-_6ZVkqap2LhidxHIx-YiBJP_Dq0edl1r1Tk138mcvxA/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0312.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfRufWMEH9AYsfcaB9-1XUopDfumNcq6s1Re4z11AuwfU6r3m97SS_e7xqXp5jh04EmohNZ4i-nQef_hX7bFEba9cy01fA77ANlCCkufhPlsFZtjTIGjDU2pHPgP2ore74jkzng/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0324.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeNLFln0PGWT5cqHVb3RCfm8jrE4xqYB0mqoj2nObUW2PhGYRAPL1VN-58Ld-Deaybu2rvaPrUz2z3lYgJdBH7ca4a2LOrM-c7FNh9KJQ5JrVsbMJRwjPj-ZudHSj-ncVhu5nOg/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0392.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV2-0E2BBauQ4aE_P-NYsg-4VKdEIkcHqhrE60DjjqXiRxBKW_R7E2cVnexzmPlMJb1uvNngddemEGc5tDHjlr4DZypU05nw1j39zdMREW0eyujlvAuxS29GlxO9LUjzOp2h8Cg/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0405.jpg)
The inner primaries and outer secondaries of this bird are glossed with a beautiful green-bronze sheen.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA2UJv7WIeqlmlCreFvF4g7325ZEoMnFPyHmPyZGWPkKdaDwBlM636uVHGhFYYkTFhw4_PnAVGZwh1LSa9Sre2f_C-6tUEBch4YiKfXT7i4bJztVi0cPiUeosLOxSRblc8yzNGw/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0407.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmDXx74qok5AtGJ3tdVl2e9uIt9OdT4wWoD7f6rDiKjqcaSvdG42NTWPfqamYMXxaGRwU-uuPB93trS7WHdG-56KPhw0Ghro9L5kgifN82VSjzzRLnly0wzbm527eo6VKpx_2YA/s280/Asian+Openbill_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0408.jpg)
A bristling reception from an Intermediate Egret!
The video gives a flavour of the other birds in the area - Oriental Reed Warbler, Asian Koel, House Crow and Black-crowned Night-heron can be heard in the background.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrimL72xDyrYch1C8pm6KTVYfujMKlYVX0lh7lBxpuJaEcj9FgYVUYu1Jb-4Va0O8HwHrxzrZS4g0_PfOF9avC7oO9u9_EYV5hB8nHSuh9Ih1dZhlZR9ViHS7Q44CCbg8J194oPA/s280/Black-crowned+Night-heron_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_1981.jpg)
A few juv Black-crowned Night-herons were perched on the bushes. I don't often photograph these, so took the opportunity today.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEFNMjGqOGrD69OxPC7N4rUknowlKFznBztup4zYIT0XDQfM-RlFJtotF6gRWflwP11UxN2tQf1n51IbEHOdVtEQ_zaWzrxBh10drvN-2Visma5NTSSlS6rB6xr2rheoGi8Ovkg/s280/Pink-necked+Green+Pigeon_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_1990.jpg)
A female Pink-necked Green Pigeon indulging in an early morning sunbathe!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0G8F75u2jyc_7jqF9JoAjmJL2cNDZqzci3JUJnuKlfe7FuOjaBP0LDQepoqApDzjCk819uysnHE3ax-jCZwQYJNocU1lwedKWRgiFQK5mjsKWCqqvaKJToM4OSNPPXaKarJpYaw/s280/White-browed+Crake_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_2006.jpg)
The vegetated ponds looked very 'crakey', but all I could see were Slaty-breasted Rails and this White-browed Crake and its mate.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ONMHbvxGIkoAOGIqLq_l2ynvc_3_VNoXDIzWAGmh7D3bTvm_1VxruxBH_pKyNjGB53dzpg2ljZ8xy7hW1nIPU66uemZc1xPlqabYbphheCq0Oo0rV5icaWvjWeOqisalccmszQ/s280/Greater+Painted-snipe_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0432.jpg)
There were also some Greater Painted-snipes. Unfortunately I didn't get a sharp shot while they were in the open, but amazingly, the camera locked on when they went behind the bushes!
Hakim alerted me to an interesting-looking biscuit-coloured Aquila eagle soaring some distance away, but, while I was driving to get closer to it, he called to say that he had relocated the falcon, so I did a quick U-turn.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9l3oytr13U_Atw63wlldq4zsjdOY92o3wTnW5tghjB0E6opTBXPP3aCCBnkRG-Gwt7oPLFp8IjM0G7GgGTRcrio6TTCj8MWFIK8t5QynrxTErvdHGkuXo0SfBDolxd2duAZNvw/s280/Peregrine_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_2022.jpg)
The bird was still present on my arrival, but very wary indeed! It turned out to be a fine juvenile Peregrine.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCptJvoRqw5N-k5oVSD6PWdD29So6B-jKZsEYtEhYJ2JTimDXDHhttghTy7JvWXEA0ladUh7j_zOkV90CnrkdEYTxMdRgXaH-37KKgfMfF5e5GE_QuQf4RTCvnstieXso8xNENQ/s280/Peregrine_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0435.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEQ4KCU8PlZvl5R21vMg9jVGc7aOJccJxROsHDbV0XjCISH5AVHcHO8DgLPxX0pFRitSPVzdJcwQJx97H-O_iQSRxwqP-tAj08lJsQ0mAJpQ1ig-rsPl2aEkcNPLKLtjLew4mvA/s280/Peregrine_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0450.jpg)
Having had a good look at the Peregrine, I decided to resume my Aquila-hunt, and got lucky when I relocated the 'biscuit-coloured' eagle on the other side of the highway.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegxj_Seq51XyPwy46s3bm9LFIIEvMxojORLuklulKGeYek1Pu6Aubgr0M2WtZaXaUAlJJ1RG7GOoe7I6hGKCg_Z_OlR9ikIeqjJiUMAE9sthdRDTQEUZH6Wj_d6hyphenhyphenWE8tkKxmMw/s280/Eastern+Imperial+Eagle_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0582.jpg)
I was hoping it might be a Steppe Eagle, but was happy enough to find that it was an Eastern Imperial - my guess is that it is a second calendar year bird. I'm not sure if this is the same bird that was seen regularly in the area a month or more ago.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nn73ZfN3S0t5migrPnXCiB-EdDZ84nOZeXHfrQFdao3gjJhWc-yAiIPYdf7g2eJiMUK2_63lUyoueFCvN5bfs6dwEST15ciARCUg-NsToPO91Wfn7rPQsXn74W_AODG6eXp_dw/s280/Eastern+Imperial+Eagle_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0538.jpg)
Before long a second Eastern Imperial appeared - an adult this time. I couldn't see any white on the scapulars of this bird, but couldn't be sure that it was a different bird from the earlier adult.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuACOTgd5ZQ4V5EEqOIYUdrVFtHnU_Vkaafs_uq7Myd3Gcm3I8pHpcnMt3RFeZsMpbJzyPtJ4e0MzAQIIhCe2e6Gy8LQZ4weFyUBTOwjLLd6lVAJk1h5wrRHnt1l8Of-gqe4d6bg/s280/Greater+Spotted+Eagle_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0636.jpg)
The long, rectangular, parallel-sided wing and longish tail and head projection of Eastern Imperial are markedly different from the shorter, rounder wings and shorter tail and neck of Greater Spotted. This is a juv. At one point we had 2 Eastern Imperial and 3 Greater Spotted Eagles in the air together - quite a sight!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvm_OfVJ5QFU-E7HNdZc9ZLswf2EXI3DHCYMJJIDMQZYueBHloXXRp0vjNIdj-TJt00ceIOWOs2kbG0pYSosGaJdGDoCO-E2i3DX_JH_IKt5W3oOl6HbI0TK-Dhpg7vJ8mjXVaw/s280/Eastern+Imperial+and+Greater+Spotted+Eagle_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0525.jpg)
The differences are quite apparent in this picture of the adult Eastern Imperial (above) and a Greater Spotted together.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBn7NL8ULhKZcYh0EOtSaXO5xpS9NWqWfMtSAJxFyzs377LVaNfwrId_9aQrJJLY6GA9QChJgs57Uqs8m4edl905jh_EqlqOfmH6G_JL0hWYReK20MIDEJzViK9ViV6vM1WgJOw/s280/Eastern+Imperial+Eagle_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0601.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIB6csOtuWyaGoHNoxFFN2GSsYRw64qyhYQAq6rQ6vYk8uQN4LVoten6N6J0rwunXSsX_ugnnz2cY59nQBFp2gunm31zEivzHFY9yqJSN1IilmShmOge5eO9JWsfNOIC5e5BAgQg/s280/Eastern+Imperial+Eagle_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0603.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU90bPEGlkf5i1lIF60Pvu5-UofwdJklAMLVDgXCG8S1gqJfwIg0CHm0JkZg3v6TrolTfmRBJnNsDoCXgacYZi-eVHvckGg2A4jdTjghvFLoCTRA8rNLYyhw16pQhc1ZRIUTFulQ/s280/Eastern+Imperial+Eagle_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0607.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8hpQmQ6gnNx21ToPmBq4OtIkvKMpiOa-_XSEeFWf0ImLWVIOJimY2iOqjD2gxSaC9AMCl2D7R3TI4_E0rNy2eyVAQagFvzS7quthnXPZQSws4HS_ZQiY6ksPmHVdnL4ExepjMA/s280/Eastern+Imperial+Eagle_Kg+Permatang+Nibong_160211_IMG_0608.jpg)
The young Eastern Imperial landed in a field, but it soon flew off as we approached. None of these pictures are particularly sharp unfortunately.
Still, I was pretty happy with the morning's birding overall!
Good shots and write-up as usual. The Imperials seem to be avoiding me this season!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! :-)
ReplyDelete