Flag Ringed Whimbrel - Details.

Clare G has been busy updating her data base and has been sending me a few email updates on earlier observations that I have previously sent to her as she has recently been updated herself and so details below:

A Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus was sighted at: Mersing bay (co-ords approx), Malaysia 2deg 30min 17sec N, 103deg 50min 8sec Eon 6/12/2012 with flag(s) as follows:
      

LEFT leg: nothing/unknown on tibia (upper leg) abovenothing/unknown on tarsus      

RIGHT leg: black flag on tibia (upper leg) above white flag on tibia.

This bird was flagged at Chongming Dao, Shanghai, China, approximateco-ordinates 31deg 27min N, 121deg 55min E, which uses the flagcombination Black/White.The resighting was a distance of approximately 3736 km, with a bearingof 214 degrees, from the marking location.

Thank you for contributing to shorebird research studies in the EastAsian-Australasian Flyway.  The information you have helped to collectis valuable for scientific and conservation purposes.

Red Knot CVV Observation Details.

The Red Knot above wearing the yellow flag with CVV inscribed was one I observed back in January 2012 at Miranda, New Zealand. There have been no further observations of this individual until 01st May this year.  Yesterday I received an email from Clare Grant with the following details:

Red Knot

  Banding/Recapture                                          CVV

            19/06/2010    Campsite Beach, Roebuck Bay, Broome  (-18.00, 122.37)  Australia

                             05255385  (CVV) Aged 1 

                             new secondaries-no shadows

  Resighting                                                       CVV

            01/07/2010    Wader Beach, Roebuck Bay, Broome  (-17.98, 122.33)  Australia

                             Chris Hassell  & Adrian Boyle

            02/10/2011    Kidds, Karaka  (-37.08, 174.83)  New Zealand

                             Tony Habraken

            11/01/2012    Miranda Firth of Thames  (-37.17, 175.32)  New Zealand

                             Simon Buckell

                             Photo provided

            01/05/2013    Nan Pu, Bohai Bay  (39.04, 118.36)  China (mainland)

                             Bohai Team 2013

Gone Diving...

Be back soon...

Saya Anak Mersing.

Whilst passing back through Mersing I had timed it well with the tides and so I decided to check the northern beach. The tide was on the retreat but there was still a few waders present. The Greater Sanplover above allowed for some close viewing but the location of where this bird was meant I could only photograph it with the sun side on, hence the harsh light in this shot. There was 2 Malaysian Plovers present on and off as per the individual below.  

For ages now I have been looking for a Mersing T shirt and for ages I have not been able to find one and then by pure luck whilst checking which restaurant was open to grab a quick cuppa I found a few new T shirts hanging in the front of one of the shops. Above shows the design of the new Mersing T shirt. Not so bad for MR20 = £4.00. "Been there, done that, bought the T shit" springs to mind.

Below shows the sun setting over Mersing before it drops in to the clouds and is lost to view where the brightness of day dilutes in to the twilight of dusk before darkness finally descends and night falls on this part of the world.

Recent BNT's.

BNT's have been keeping me busy of late as there has not been much else happening. I really do think these are a smart sterna. They seem to be down on numbers compared to last year with both migrants and breeding individuals. The floating marker buoy is still attracting them where most of these photos are currently being taken. 

1st summer BNT above.

Bird on the right in the image above is what I believe to be a first summer BNT, this is the first 1st summer I have seen of this species.

Above shows you the Batuan Tikus lighthouse which does attract large gatherings of Terns at times. The image below shows 1 Roseate and 2 Black Naped Terns flying past the boat. It can be extremely difficult trying to manoeuvre the boat and take photos at the same time.

Above is the best flight shot I have managed to get so far this season and below shows the egg of one pair of BNT's which is nesting close by. I have only managed to find 2 nesting pairs of BNT's this year compared to 16 pairs this time last year, maybe they will come in later ? 

Recent Jellyfish -May & June 2013.

For the past few weekends there has been a large arrival of  Jellyfish to the south and western beaches of the island. A few guests suffered minor stings and rashes with one guest experiencing some abnormal pain, some red blotching and some rather large swelling. 

I went in to water at one point to try and photograph a pair of Dugongs that were feeding on one of the patches of sea-grass but by the time I had entered the water and reached the location all I could see was lots and I mean lots of jellyfish. I experienced some itching and small pink rashes on my skin even though I was wearing a pair of board shorts and a thermo rash vest. Above an below are a few images I took whilst searching for Dugongs.

June Sandplovers - Mersing Estuary 03/06/2013.

Currently in Mersing and so I decided to have a look at the estuary, I checked the southern beach out on Sunday evening but there were no waders present. I scanned over to the north beach and could see some waders present along way down the beach. I headed over and was surprised at the amount of birds present. 

Primarily 1st year birds but with the odd red splash here and there. The best bird was a nice adult Red Necked Stint, alone away from the group. I went to take some shots but my camera battery went and died on me. The stint looked like it was a fresh in migrant, acting all nervous, flying up and down the beach calling but not settling at a time longer than a few seconds. I returned this evening with a freshly charged battery and found a few birds present on the north beach. Numbers were down today from yesterday. 

The Lesser Sandplover above was one of the brightest individuals present and below shows what I believe to be a 1st summer summer Greater Sandplover 1 of 3 present today.

Above and below shows a couple of different Lesser's which are always nice to see.

Terek Sandpipers are still present and I suspect these are non breeding individuals that will remain here throughout the summer months. Sadly None were sporting any bling today.  

Above shows a small part of the waders present on the shoreline with some of the islands in the distance as the sun was setting behind me. Image below shows Tioman Island in the distance and that is where I am off to next for a 2 day PADI speciality dive course.