Sighting report for April 1999
VON SCHRENK'S BITTERN - Ixobrychus eurhythmas
1131 17/04/1999 Penaga, SEB, only one bird in the rice fields, even though a special look
out was kept for this species from among the yellow and cinnamon bitterns sighted.
GREY HERON - Ardea cinera
0725 13/05/1999 Tok Otek, Penaga, SEB, 1 bird in newly ploughed rice field.Uncommon
species in Penang
OSPREY - Pandion haliaetus
0900 16/06/1999 Pulau Burong, Byram, SEB, 1 immature bird being harassed by 2 Brahminy
Kites. First record for this site.
ORIENTAL HONEY-BUZZARD - Pernis ptilorhyncus
0918 16/06/1999 Pulau Burong, Byram, SEB, 1 bird soaring with 3 Brahminy Kites.
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE - Elanus caeruleus
17/05/1999 Kuala Muda, SEB, 7 birds perched on the radio station antenna farm
towers. Unusual, as this particular area is less then 1 square kilometres.
PEREGRINE FALCON - Falco peregrinus
0715 12/04/1999, Penang Bridge, PEN, 1 bird perched on the central span, sighted again on
17/04/1999.
WATERCOCK - Gallicrex cinerea
0730 05/04/1999 Penaga, SEB, 2 birds in the rice fields, one as in full breeding plumage.
10/04/199 1 bird. 17/04/1999 fairly common in the area. 26/04/199 only 1 bird sighted.
30/04/1999 2 birds sighted, 1 was in breeding plumage and the other was a female.
COMMON MOORHEN - Gallinula chloropus
0720 05 04/1999 Permatang Binjai, SEB, 1 bird in the rice fields. The species is not
common in the rice fields in this area or other parts of Penang.
ORIENTAL PLOVER - Charadrius veredus
1603 18/04/1999 Batu Muang, PEN, 1 bird at high tide roost. Species was in winter plumage
showing traces of changing into summer plumage. It wassighted among a flock of c250
Pacific Golden Plovers and 8 Lesser Sand Plovers. This is first report
sighting of this species in Penang.
PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER - Pluvialis fulva
1440 17/04/1999 Batu Muang, PEN, c250 many in summer plumage at high tide roost in the
coastal reclamation area. 22/04/1999 about 280-300 at this roost.
LESSER SAND PLOVER - Charadirus mongolus
1440 17/04/1999 Batu Muang, PEN, 8 birds at high tide roost in the coastal reclamation
area. 6 of the birds were showing various stages of summer plumage
22/04/1999 still present at this roost
MARSH SANDPIPER - Tringa stagnatilis
1833 21/04/1999 Batu Muang, PEN, 1 bird at high tide roost in the coastal reclamation
area. 27/04/1999 3 birds sighted in the area.
COMMON GREENSHANK - Trimga nebularia
0755 05/04/1999 Penaga, SEB, 4 birds in the flooded rice fields. 10/04/1999 more then 50
birds sighted. 30/04/1999 still present in the area.
1833 21/04/1999 Batu Muang, PEN, 6 birds at high tide roost in the coastal reclamation
area.
27/04/1999 3 birds sighted in the area.
RUFOUS-NECK STINT - Calidris ruficollis
1500 17/04/1999 Batu Muang, PEN, 2 birds at high tide roost in the coastal reclamation
area.
BLUE-THROATED BEE-EATER - Merops viridis
0920 11/04/1999 Bukit Mertajam, SEB, fairly common over the jeep track.
0810 12/04/1999 Kuala Muda, SEB, 2 birds sighted. 30/04/1999 fairly common near the
mangroves. (The species, though common in the state, was not sighted in March
nor was it present in March at their triditional nesting grounds in Genting, Balik
Pulau. Usually they can observed in February in small numbers)
RED-CROWNED BARBET - Megalaima rafflesii
0925 11/04/1999 Bukit Mertajam, SEB, fairly common in the forested area, vocalisation
heard very often along the jeep track.
BROWN BARBET - Calorhamphus fuliginosus
1004 11/04/1999 Bukit Mertajam, SEB, fairly common. 1 pair sighted at nesting hole,
feeding was not observed.
YELLOW-RUMPED FLYCATCHER - Ficedula zanthopygia
1025 11/04/1999 Bukit Mertajam, SEB, 1 female along the jeep track.
MUGIMAKI FLYCATCHER - Ficedula mugimaki
0855 11/04/1999 Bukit Mertajam, SEB, 2 birds along the trail leading to the jeep track.
