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Kuala Selangor Nature Park- January, 3rd
2004 -
The last trip I made
to this destination was late October, 2003. This latest visit, was
prompted by my need for a picture on the Laced Woodpecker. By
coincidence I was told that a few Black capped Kingfishers were
seen. In the morning I started
off early, had breakfast in Ijok. The
old signage to Jalan Klinik, still stood there. The new road at the
entrance to Bukit Melawati albeit a tiny break was completely paved
and passable. I was at the gate of the KSNP by 8.15 am. There was no
one at the office and a few construction workers were waiting for
their supervisor. I was also updated by the workers that the first stretch, the
park walk was in serviceable condition. First encounter after that
assurance - No. That
pathway from the office block to the low hide was worse. The way I
looked at it, even a domestic 4X4 had difficulties going through the
dips and raised earth. Of course, through daily usage by the
workers, a pedestrian traffic had smoothen a narrow meandering
corridor within the maze of muddy puddles.
Next encounter, the path to the low
hide was beyond recognition as there was none. At site, the erection of the
new watch tower, a massive one - of steel and concrete had reached its planned
height. As I was there early and alone, a party of Milky Stork
rested peacefully on 2 trees across the pond. However, on detecting
my presence, they all took flight except one. I thought for a moment
that I am going to get a picture of one of them in the wild. Just as
my scope was in focus and while applying the camera, Murphy's Law.
The next scene I realized, there was no more bird. Disappointed, I
followed the usual back trekking and returned into the Ring Bund.
Most part of what used to be the track of the bund was overgrown. As
if to assured me that all is not lost, a lone Stork billed
Kingfisher flew by to wish me. There was plenty of bird life but
none stayed long enough.
At the first corner of
this square shaped Bund, a lone Common Kingfisher defended his
territory. That gesture made my day of having at least one picture
taken. The other interesting event was a team of Philippine glossy
Starlings making their invasion of the park known. Perched as a
colony on a bare tree in the morning sun's ray, the reflection from
their plumage was exciting for a picture.
The main Bund Road at
the Mangrove forest was accessible for trucks from the unguarded
entrance at Bukit Belanda. The "Boardwalk" this time of cement and
steel was also under construction. There was no point for me to make
the extra effort since the whole neighborhood was noticeably
disturbed.
I left for another
destination.
 Updated trip
report to the park -click here
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