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

White-breasted Woodswallows and Large Egrets

Bathing by the Kemena River across Sebauh town

 Sebauh is easily reachable by road nowadays, a mere 15 minutes drive from Bintulu.  Sebauh is a district in the Bintulu Division.  It has been a long long time since I've not been there.  So today we decided to pay it a visit early in morning.  The Kemena River that was once the main and only means  of transportation from Bintulu passes by the former riverine town.  There were people still bathing by the river as was common in the 60's and 70's.  We saw a few White-breasted Woodswallows by the river bank and perching on a dead tree nearby.  On the way back to Bintulu we met a small flock of the Large Egret scavenging for food on a paddy field area.  Since this was not really a birding trip we were just as pleased to see at least two species of birds on a very brief outing. 

White-breasted Woodswallows

Large Egret in a paddy field

Long boats and a ferry seen just infront of the Sebauh town.

The old riverine town section of Sebauh with shophouses made of 'Belian' timber.

Birding by the Bintulu beach

The Reef Egret coming close to the rocks, but not landing.

Pacific Reef Egret
(Egretta sacra)

 It has been quite a while since my last visit to Tanjung Batu.  There is the popular picnic spot and sunset watching at the Pantai Temasya, situated somewhere in the middle section of the Persiaran Pantai Temasya or the Pantai Temasya Drive at Tanjung Batu.  Tanjung Batu is a breezy place to relax and many recreational activities are carried out here like fishing, jogging, cycling, swimming, photography and beach games.  Today I planned to take pictures of the Common Sandpiper that can be seen on any day on the rocky outcrops characteristic of Tanjung Batu.  My visit was given extra bonus with the sighting of the Pacific Reef Egret (Egretta sacra).  It was flying solo.  The Common Sandpiper came in a small group of three and were moving about places.  It was when I wanted to photoshoot them on the rocks that I saw the egret appearing from the sea.  It flew close to the rocky outcrop for me to photoshoot it.  I guess I was lucky today to have captured it, my first lifer.

Rocky outcrops like these are typical features at Tanjung Batu, Bintulu.  They slip gently into the South China Sea.

Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucos

Reef Egret