Black-winged Kite

Black-winged Kite

On a short birding trip yesterday (25 Dec'14),  along the Pantai Temasya Drive, I was overwhelmed when I saw this beautiful Black-winged Kite (Elanus caerulueus).  Her back and rest of upper parts are dark grey with black wing coverts forming a distinctive shoulder patch.  Obviously she was looking at me with piercing eyes.   The underparts especially her neck and breast were fluffy white.  Another distinguishing mark was her striking reddish orange yes and yellow feet.  It has been noted that it is now a common lowland resident throughout Sarawak.  Whatever it is, it is  a lifer for me.

Attack of the Sea Eagle

White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)

 It was a memorable moment for me to watch the White-bellied Sea Eagle performing its spectacular attack by the mudflats area at the Pantai Temasya Drive.  I saw it first circling high above the area, making many rounds of flying before zooming on its target.  The action happened extremely quick.  Once the eagle decided to dive,  it collapses its body like one big stone dropping from the sky and then steered its flight direction to the fish below.  In a matter of split seconds it grabbed the fish and then flew up high and higher with its prey caught in the claws.  The eagle made a few more circular rounds of flying before deciding to devour its victim in the cover of casuarina trees nearby.

The White-bellied Sea Eagle closing in on the mudflats area

On attack mode - seconds before catching the fish

Flying up with prey in claws

It's a fish!

Flying for cover in the casuarina trees to devour the catch of the day.

Note: All images taken on 3 October, 2014.  Birding time : 3.30 - 5.00 pm, Location : Pantai Temasya Drive, Tanjung Batu, Bintulu.

Birding at Pantai Temasya Drive

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

 Pantai Temasya is one very good location for viewing the Bintulu sunset.  The beaches along the Pantai Temasya Drive ( Persiaran Pantai Temasya) are popular picnic spots.  We spent about two and a half hours of birdwatching along the long drive today starting at 3.00 pm.  The birds we encountered were the Common Kingfisher, Little Egret, Intermediate Egret and the White-bellied Sea Eagle.  One of the memorable moments of this trip was the spectacular show by the White-bellied Sea Eagle, caught in camera catching a fish.  The full story and images of the eagle will be shared in the next posting.  The  eagle made our day.

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Two species of egrets on the mudflats - Little Egret and Intermediate Egret

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Egrets in flight

Fishing boats on mudflats

White-bellied Sea Eagle with catch of the day