11th August - Day 3; Kuching, Sarawak Borneo

For some reason the window had condensation on them this morning, and the view of the towers was just like it was shrouded in mist.  When I managed to find a clear spot in the window, once again they looked different in the pre dawn light, this of course meant yet another photograph.

After breakfast we left the room and checked out, for some reason everyone wanted to take my bag, leaving Helen with hers which she found amusing, which in turn completely confused the hotel porter at the taxi stand.

The ride to the airport was quick, with very little traffic, mainly because all the traffic was on the other side, coming into the city, long queues snaked over the elevated express way.  I was personally thankful for this, and the previous evening's antics were now beginning to take their toll, I was feeling rough.

As we headed towards the airport, two things struck me.  First, everywhere you looked there were high rise building being constructed.  the city is expanding outwards and upwards.  Secondly was the lack of birds.  In the many places we have visited, as we have driven or travelled anywhere, there would always be egrets or wading birds in the ditches or fields, but as we passed open expanses of water, and drainage ditches by the side of the road they were completely devoid of anything.  We only started to see crows and mynahs as we approached the airport.  I can't understand why this would be.

Our flight left on time, and was relatively smooth crossing the Malay Peninsula, and then across the South China Sea to Kuching on Borneo.  Near to the island there were several islands dotted around some looking very small, just like the typical joke desert island you see.

As we approached Kuching it was possible to see the Mangrove swamps that line the coast around this area.

Kuching is the largest town in Sarawak, one of the two Malay states on Borneo.  Borneo itself is the third largest island after Greenland and New Guinea.  It conjures up many images of wilderness, mountains and jungle, but over half of Borneo is covered by swampy coastal regions belo 150 metres.  Sarawak itself is a land of many rivers.  As we approached Kuching the sea was a muddy brown, where these rivers had carried and deposited their silt.  Coming over the land the main river, the Sungai Sarawak showed up as a huge meandering expanse of muddy water.

We were staying at the Hilton on the waterfront.  From the room we could see a nesting Spotted Dove feeding its young, and an Asian Glossy Starling as well with probably a nest as well.  It had been raining, and it was quite steamy, small unidentifiable swifts flew around the palms and buildings.

We went for a walk along the river front, small boats were acting as river taxis carrying people across to the other side, where another part of the city was located.  

Our walk took us back through Little India, with loads of clothes shops, and then to a western style shopping mall, and finally back though a Chinese area.

As we looped back around to the hotel, we returned to the waterfront, which looked a little different with the sun on it.

Back at the hotel we decided to just relax down by the pool, it was warm, but there was no sun.  On the lawn, Eurasian Tree Sparrows flocked.  Apparently these were introduced to the island and have done very well, its a shame they don't do as well now in the UK.

The clouds began to roll in once again at darkness came a little earlier.  Tomorrow we are off into the jungle to look for monkeys.

8th – 10th August - Days 1 - 2; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Great news at check in at LHR we were upgraded to business class, and enjoyed the experience on my first flight in n Airbus A380. The flight Took a little detour around Ukraine and the Crimea, and what Eventually 40 minutes late into KL. We were through immigration and customs pretty Quickly, and on our way into the KL within the hour, arriving at the Traders Hotel around 8 pm local time. Along the way there had been plenty of Mynah Birds and Palm Swifts, and in one place a raptor did what looking to prey on the swifts, much in the way of a Bat Hawk. Our hotel room had incredible views of the Petronas Towers looking like something form a Sci Fi movie, you expected to see pods flying around it just like in The Fifth Element.

The scene was amazing, and we made out way to the Sky Bar for more, and probably too much more of something else too.

Tomorrow we look to explore the city and all it has, Should be interesting 

The sun rose just after 7:00 and the Petronas Towers werewolf changed from a sci fi wonder back into a commercial building. As the sun came up Palm Swifts wheeled around the buildings and in between the towers and at oriole flew across the view just below our window.

In the grounds below the hotel, early morning risers either ran or walked their way through the paths. Today was to be about sight seeing in this Asian metropolis, but there will always be the chance of some wildlife somewhere. 

At first the intention was to walk around the city, but when the concierge laughed at us when we said so we decided to pick up the "hop on hop off" the bus, which took us around the city, We decided to sit in the open area , Which was ok when the bus was moving, but when it stopped it suddenly became very hot.

The bus route took  us through the different parts of the city, China town, Little India, and many skyscrapers

There was also an infatuation with the mass transit stations, and we were informed that the central station built by the British had been replaced by a new station.


We finally got off at the KL Bird Park, the world's largest free flying aviary.  We bought our tickets and entered to be greeted by Yellow-billed Storks and Cattle Egrets.  These were the main free flying birds we saw, with a few Pied Imperial Pigeons.  The intention of going to the park was to get the chance to see local birds, but there were not that many.  However we did get the chance to spend some time with Cockatoos and Parrots, some of which were especially beautiful, and attentive.

This is the Red Lory

And these are Rainbow Parakeets drinking milk!

And of course who can resist the Cockatoos? This is a Sulphur-crested.

This one the large Palm Cockatoo

I was also able to get quite close to a Cattle Egret and to see the binocular vision they have which makes them so good at stalking prey.

The Western Victorian Pigeons were also quite spectacular, about the size of a turkey, their head feathers were amazing.

Leaving the park, we "hopped" back on the bus and were treated to more views of the city.  

We "hopped" off the bus at the Petronas Towers for some close up, spectacular views 

By now the weather was changing, the skies were darkening so we went inside to the mall for a coffee and a walk about in the air conditioning.

Leaving the mall, we crossed the park to our hotel, but the rain started and we had to dash across the park.  We spent the rest of what was left of the afternoon in the Sky Bar, watching the rain drift away, the sun return, and then the clouds build up once again.  All the time the view of the towers changing.  As the sunset the sky became orange creating yet another different panorama of the Towers before night falls and the lights go on.

After dinner we returned to the Sky bar, but all good intentions of at early night just disappeared out of the window.

2nd August - Titchfield Haven, Hampshire

The opportunity for a day out, and with the weather looking indifferent the choice had to be somewhere with the possibility of shelter.  So it was I met up with Ian at Titchfield Haven.  Local for Ian, but sufficiently "foreign" for me, with plenty of open water, reeds and the possibility of a few waders about now that we are in August.

We walked first to the Meon Hide where there was plenty of activity, with a good number of teal dabbling around the edges and islands.  All of course now in their eclipse plumage, it does take a little from the scene.  As well as the duck there were a pair of summer plumaged Dunlin feeding along the edge.  Their black bellies reflecting in the still shallow water.

The surface of the water was covered with insects, probably emerging mosquitoes, and  this was a major attraction to a Common Sandpiper.  It proceeded to stalk the insects picking them off both the surface of the water, and the reeds.  

The style adopted was very similar to that of a feeding Little Egret, the body low and the bill and head kept low to the water, and the movement very slow and calculating.

Watching the Common Sandpiper feeding we also became aware of a Sedge Warbler also taking advantage of the insects.  It came out of the reeds and very briefly down on to the mud to pick up a few, before returning to the sanctuary of the reeds.

There were a few Avocet in front of the hide, at least 2 adults and 3 juveniles, all feeding with the characteristic sweeping action through the water.  It always amazes me that the young instinctively engage with the action from a very young age.

With the tide rising behind us, waders were now dropping into the scrapes.  The Black-tailed Godwits are still showing the majority of their brick red summer plumage.  These four flying in from somewhere up the valley.

The skies were quite dark, and you could see the rain showers rolling in from across the Solent.  At one time we decided to move from the hide around to the next, but we got caught in a quite heavy shower.

There had been reports of three Gargeneny, and we scanned our way through the ducks, but with no luck.  With the showers dying away, and the view across to the Isle of Wight looking much better we decided to make our way around to the other side of the Meon.

The sun came out as we made our way along the walkway.  There were plenty of insects about, along with a few Speckled Woods.  As a result as we passed the Walkway Pond I wondered if there may be some dragonflies about.  I walked up to the pond, and couldn't see any dragonflies, but then I became aware of something else present.  Looking down I saw this brown ball in the middle of the pond and realised I was looking at a Water Vole.

I called Ian but it swam off as I tried to get him to see it.  But as we stood and waited watching the pond it quietly appeared just under the reeds, and started to groom itself.

As a boy I remember hearing that characteristic "plop" from the river bank as a vole dropped into the water, and the sight of a water vole swimming across the river or lake.  It seems amazing that this familiar sight and animal has declined so much that seeing one today was a real treat.

Having scrubbed up enough, it swam to a small mound.

This is obviously a favourite place and it picked up a piece of reed and began to eat, holding the reed with its dexterous paws.

We stood watching it for some time, but then decided to move on.  Making our way to the new hide, where we spent a while just watching and hoping something may appear.  

A Stock Dove provided some entertainment, as did a kestrel that was using a nest box as a platform for hunting.  But other than that it was the company and conversation that was the most enjoyable.

Leaving the hide a dragonfly buzzed around the board-walk, settling as they often do on the wood in the warm sunshine.  This one was a Common Darter.

At the end of the board=walk we were alerted to their being another dragonfly about, and we quickly found it.  A little more of a deeper red, and with a shorter and slightly broader abdomen, this one is a Ruddy Darter, and a new species for me.

We made our way back to the pond in the hope of more dragonflies, and this time there was an Emperor Dragonfly hawking around the pond, it is incredible the energy these insects have to keep going.

Watching the Emperor a row of bubbles gave way to a surfacing Water Vole.

This one was much larger than the vole we had watched earlier, so there were definiotely two at this pond.

The Emperor was joined by another Common Darter that was much happier to sit on a favourite reed.  When the Emperor came to close though, there would be a short dog fight before both carried on with what they were doing.

We watched both the vole and the dragonflies for some time.  The skies had cleared and the sun was in control, and it was very warm by the pond.  Finally we set off back along the walkway, pausing though to investigate a very large colourful fly.

It was between one to two centimetres long, and looked like a bee or wasp, but it is in fact a hoverfly known as the Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (it s also know as the Belted Hoverfly).  Apparently up until the last 50 years it was a rare visitor to the UK, but is now becoming more common in southern England.  The adult fly is migratory, and the larvae live inside wasps nests.

The sides of the paths were now full of butterflies and other insects.  This Longhorn Beetle flew across the path and settled on a leaf.  I have not been able to fully confirm the species though.

We settled down in another hide to try and find the reported Garganey again, and were convinced we had found one, but the size was a little big.  A welcome distraction though was the news of a Southern Hawker dragonfly outside the hide.  It was sitting on the fence next to a cobweb.

As it sat there it decided to clean its impressive eyes with one of its legs.  What an amazing and beautiful animal.

back to the ducks, we had some doubt and this was confirmed once I checked the pictures at home.  The white strip above the eye was convincing, the size introduced the element of doubt, but the sight of orange legs was the clincher, it was a small mallard.

With the threat of the reserve closing we made our way back to the car, but still had time to find a Large Skipper nectaring actually inside the flower of a Bind Weed.

back at the cars, the sea was now fully in, and splashing over the sea wall.  A small flock of Turnstone flew past searching for a roost site.  It was time to go after a great day out.

20th - 21st June - Sidlesham, West Sussex

Another Weekend away back at our favourite haunt in Sidlesham.  The middle of June is not the best time for wildlife, but we were not there totally for that reason.  Arriving Friday evening we set off for a short walk to the North Wall.  As we crossed the fioeld from Hal;sey's Farm we noticed Marsh Orchids in the field for the first time, and as I moved to photograph them, they were joined by a Large Skipper.

 There weren't that many, but what there were stood out amongst the long grass.

As we walked up on to the bank  the view looking towards the North Wall looked lovely in the evening light.

For once the paths were dry, but a little overgrown.  Approaching the breech pools a single adult Heron sat on the post, enjoying the warm sunshine.

On the water there were several pairs of Mallards, the adults now moving into eclipse plumage.  There were a pair of Lapwing bythe water's edge, and from across the field we watched a Kestrel come across.  It stopped to hover looking into the long grass on the wall.  We watched as it dropped lower and lower keeping the head completely still.  At one point it just hung there not moving a thing.

Then finally it dropped, and came up with what looked like a small mouse, we then watched it fly across the harbour and out of sight.

We walked as far as the sluice, and then on around the paddocks in my belief we could walk a loop.  As always this turned out to be completely wrong, so we came back the way we had gone, getting stung all over again.  The water was now much higher, and the swans were taking advantage.

Blackbirds were singing around us, and this one was very vocal as it sang drom the top of a conifer.

There was a single Great Crested Grebe on the pool, probably waiting for it's turn to incubate eggs nearby.

As we headed back to the Crab and Lobster, a single Common Tern came over.  Hovered over the pool, dived and came up with a fish that it carried away to a nest somewhere in the harbour.

As usual at the Crab and Lobster, dinner was superb, and in the morning we also were treated to a magnificent breakfast.  The task then was to walk it off.  We were going to the beach a Church Norton.  Walking past the house with the large pond at the Quay, a Coot was feeding it's young close to the reeds.

Wrens are as noisy here as they are back home, and this one was using a high perch to ensure everyone heard it's song.

We walked past the visitor centre, and then on to the Ferry Pool where there was quite a bit of distant activity, Avocets, Black-tailed Godwits, Shelduck and ducklings, and a single Spotted Redshank, but all too far away for a credible picture.

However on the inlet as we set off on the path for Church Norton, there was a Little Egret that didn't stay too long.

and a Coot alongside her nest.

A little further on an almighty fight broke out between what we think was the Coot's partner and some Mallard, the Coot not happy they had strayed so close.

Along the path, a Large Skipper posed on a Bramble flower.

And for once a Sedge Warbler was singing as if it's life depended on it from the top of a small Oak.

As we approached Church Norton a blue butterfly frustratingly passed us, but as we came off the board-walk Helen managed to find it on the bramble (yet again).  It was a Holly Blue, the first I have photographed for some time.

We carried on towards Selsey, and the Lifeboat station.  Looking back the tide was well out, and the bay sweeping around as far as Littlehampton and a distant Worthing looked a picture.

Our walk to Selsey terminated in the Lifeboat Pub, then we made our way back.  The bright sun would pick out the gulls as they flew by, first a Black-headed Gull.

Then a Herring Gull.

We then found a spot on a very empty beach where we could look at views like this.

This...

And even get close to this...

Late afternoon we headed back to round off a wonderful day with another superb dinner.