Spent Thursday & yesterday out the boat checking out the islets and and the rocky outcrops surrounding the lighthouses to see if there was anything interesting around and also to see what was on the water. Had little time to arrange and prepare chum ingredients from the mainland and so just spent the time trawling the waters between here and Pulau Tioman. The sea was very quiet with only max count of around 90 Bridled Terns throughout the whole time which does indicate that when we had the big numbers earlier on in the season these birds were migrating through the area. I had hoped some would winter in the surrounding waters but I guess not and the birds yesterday are just late migrants. 4 Lesser Frigatebirds were the only other addition even though there were at least 5 big bait-balls witnessed during this trip. Surprisingly quiet seeing as I had a Pom and a Brown Booby just last week from the Mersing-Tioman ferry. Can't complain though as I did finally manage to get some photos of the white bellied sea-eagles that are present on and around the island. They are pretty common around these parts and even though don't nest on the island of Pulau Tengah where I am currently based I have managed to find a nest on the neighbouring island of Pulau Besar and also another nest on a pylon in the town of Mersing. Image above and 2 below show a bird that has not fully assumed adult plumage and so I believe this to be a sub-adult / 4th year bird.
Image above and 2 below shows an immature / 2nd year individual. These birds always create a fuss when on or over this island as the resident Brahminy Kites always go to mob them and even a grey faced buzzard went in and "buzzed" one just the other day.
