| What happened this day :-As
usual, we met up at 7.00 am. Off we go. On the way, the only distraction on
the way was a pair of Dollarbirds perched in the warm morning
light. A little yellowish tinge for pictures perhaps, but the lighting was right too.
Then we stopped by in Ijok. This junction point was the regular haunt of the
truck drivers plying the coastal route. Every kind of food we
could think of, was available. The choice of "brunch" stop could not be very far wrong.
As it turned out!
Wrong choice. Food was prepared by imported labor who did not
have a clue about quality. The "Bak Kut Teh" that I
was served had no
resemblance to the actual stuff. So much for food, we moved on.
At the Park, officers at the MNS office
was no where to seen. Was it too unearthly at 8.30 am? [We too, had not
taken the trouble to confirm the Park's opening time]. We more or less
expected her absence. It was a repeat of our previous experiences on the few occasions. We plodded through the first track
that cut through the secondary forest. Wow! This time the mosquitoes
trailed us right all the way and boldly into the open. Passed the small bridge and onto the low hide.
Had no choice but to stop walking and waited for birds together with
the mosquitoes. We
were greeted by the usual Tailorbirds and Bulbuls.
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| To
show you the updates in the Park. Left - the newly erected 1st
tower. Right - a new suspension bridge.
I am not sure about
the feelings of other visitors. To have all these new structures
among overgrown or let the pathways be properly trimmed. I would
feel more comfortable if there were better signs of maintenance.
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The mood of the
wilderness was always there. Throw in some signs of human intervention, will
create the impression that the place is protected and looked after .
Some time back, the Park had beautiful boardwalk. That was nice, with
wooden structure penetrating the mangrove forest for a good peep into
life there. Then this first structure gave way. Instead of
refurbishing, a new and second boardwalk was constructed. This second one was
even better - designed with rest stop. But in a relatively short time,
this second boardwalk succumbed to decay. Hence, gone are the
opportunities to wander through the mangrove forest.
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| The
2 pictures here left and right, illustrated the design and the
stage of completeness of the new walkway. It cut through the
forest once more.. The pathway is in a shape of a square "U".
Built with cement and iron railings. Sadly, in the course of
construction, a broad tract of forest was opened up. Hope that
the park's management i.e. MNS, will allow the new saplings to encroach and cover
up the buffer next to the walk way. This will bring the glory of
walking through the pristine forest. |
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On this trip we had the
good fortune of meeting up with some families of Sunbirds. The
Ruby-cheeked and the Brown-throated. We spent some time there watching
them going around their chores of collecting nectar. Then we moved on
to the walkways. This is the land of the Common Flameback, Collared
Kingfishers and Brahminy Kites. That day we were looking for the
Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher and the Laced Woodpecker. We were rewarded
with some
pictures of the Grey-capped Woodpecker instead.
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