The trip begins at 05.30AM in the morning. I went there with
Khaleb, Derry and my youngest brother Yosafat. This is the first time for
Yosafat to go birding in his history although he has seen some good species before.
To reach the location, it takes around one and half an hour because of the
heavy morning traffic. When we arrive, we’re welcomed by the call from Zitting
Cisticola that was very common there and from its cousin the Golden-headed
Cisticola altogether with the Small Blue Kingfisher.
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| One of many Zitting Cisticola. |
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| The Terns flock from a distance. |
The last two species is my
Big Year ticks. Not long after that, we found our target. At the same time Me
and Yosafat are preparing our camera while Derry and Khaleb walks to the other
side of the pond looking for Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler. A new species for
Derry’s life list.
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| Derry looking for his target. |
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| Khaleb and Derry become upset. :P |
We spend around 2 hours in the pond documenting the Terns,
what makes it more interesting is they start to change into their breeding
plumage although some of them still their winter plumage.
Later on,
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| Whiskered Tern in breeding Plumage. |
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| Non-breeding plumage version. |
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| In moult White-winged Tern. |
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| White-winged Tern in moult. |
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| White-winged Tern in moult. |
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| In flight White-winged Tern. |
Derry with
Khaleb back to our place and with a bit upset they say that they didn’t find
their target although it sounds very close. When we’re about to leave, Derry
saw 2 Milky Stork soared in the distance. Although a bit far, we can see that
big white bird with its yellow long bill. Another tick for me, Yay!!!!!!.
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| Two Milky Storks. |
After
that, we heard the call from Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler. Just like before it
sounds very close. We wait and try the playback few times, but still it never
shows up. Then, I saw 2 Small Blue Kingfisher perched on the tree behind us. I
decide to take out my camera and take few pictures as a record. At the same
time I saw small movements on the same tree, and we find out that the movements
come from the Arctic Warbler, and Golden-bellied Gerygone. Arctic Warbler is a
regular winter visitor for Java Island.
Again, those two birds is another add for my Big Year. After that, we
end our trip as the dark cloud coming toward us.
In the end of the day I got 7 new ticks for my Big Year
list. Although some pictures isn’t good enough, but still I really enjoy the
trip because finally my youngest brother become a birder. And we got Checkered
Keelback or Asiatic Water Snake as a bonus.
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| non-breeding White-winged Tern diving. |
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| White-winged Tern in breeding plumage. |
