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Batu Arang Heronry - 16th December 2003 - .
It was about a month now since I last
check out the place. This time, Jan, George and Yeoh were members of
the group. We were
on the way to Frasers Hills. The scene near the Heronry had changed.
There was a barricade at the road kerb to deter parking along this
stretch of road. A series of
"No Parking" signboards confirmed the housing developers warning.
The Heronry had expanded in area with
more canopies of the Padanas Plants were bearing signs of withering.
While watching and counting, all of a sudden
a dark cloud of birds burst up from the nesting area. Giving time to
settle down, our attention were drown to the far edge of the nesting
area where on a tall tree, a dark shadow. Among it branches,
a Raptor. From the scope we confirmed that it was a Grey faced Buzzard.
The Raptor was perched high waiting for the appropriate moments
to snatch its breakfast. Anyway, the disturbance that startled the colony
gave us an idea that population should have exceeded 200 birds.
As usual, the heronry was limited to the
few wetlands inhabitants, Night-Heron, Egrets, Purple Heron. Then at
the fringes, Bulbuls, Mynas and Doves.
27th December 2003
Uncle Foo had got wind of the Heronry and he had attempted a visit to the
vicinity. Failing to locate the spot, this time he made appointment for me to
lead his group, comprising of Mr. & Mrs. Ting. We arrived at the
site without breakfast. It was a cool, misty and a fairly dark 7.30 am.
On this visit, the clearings where we could peep into the heart of
the nesting areas, in the wetland forest were even larger. We need not
be contended with the limited openings anymore. But now we got a direct view of
the birds within the "forest".
The point about this place, was the
amazing numbers of inhabitants. Other than that the place was peaceful
with the birds going around on their routine. The Purple Heron seemed to be
the birds endlessly bringing in nesting materials. Obviously a sign
of expansion. This time for me, I spotted an unexpected lifer, a Yellow bellied
Bulbul.
Another new development to note was the
activities of expanding of the colony. To understand, first some
explanation of the vicinity. This current location of the
Heronry is that of a small area of about a hectare of thick
vegetation on water logged land. On the opposite side of the dual
carriage road, there is still a continuation portion of the wetland.
This area,
still available, over 50 hectares unused waste land. It was dominated
sparsely by a few "naked" tree trunks. Coming back to the same side
of the heronry and immediately next to it- is what is left over of Palm
Oil plantation, about 400 meters long, measured by the road side.
The estate stands on high ground. The terrain until this point was that of a raised ground, it then
left barren for another half kilometer {some attempts made in planting] The
land then dipped into another pocket as part of the original wetland.
In this sunken dotted with
a few barren trunks -went on for another half kilometers. This part was
newly sprinkled with Night Herons. Looked like they are attempting to set
up a new colony. Even in very open country. Will follow through.
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