Little Ringed Plover, Kota Belud

The Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius has got to be one of my favourite birds.  Not only is it a nice little package but even the name has a comfortable “ring” to it.  I look out for it every migration season and it has yet to disappoint.

I used to have a lot of difficulty identifying the Javan Pond-heron Ardeola speciosa as during the winter migration we usually had eclipse birds which were quite difficult to tell  apart from visiting eclipse Chinese Pond-heron.   Nowadays it is quite possible to see the Javan in breeding plumage in the padi fields of Kota Belud in north-west Sabah.  I took this picture last month and there were quite a few others in breeding plumage.  I also saw them in the padi fields outside of Kota Kinabalu recently.  Now we just have to confirm whether they have taken residency.

A few more of the visitors seen daily along the Kota Kinabalu seashore.

Terek Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Grey-tailed Tattler

Another winter visitor here is the Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus. This bird is the most common of the curlews passing through Borneo but we do see it present throughout the winter season.  This particular lone bird was seen along the seashore in Kota Kinabalu but on a previous occasion I saw a big flock on a few mangrove trees near Mumiang at the mouth of the Kinabatangan river.

This morning on the Lok Kawi Beach south of Kota Kinabalu, Osman and I had a grand time with waders.  There were sandpipers – Terek and Common, Ruddy Turnstones, egrets, a lone Whimbrel and lots of plovers.  A pair of resident Malaysian Plovers added further delight to a fine outing.

Pacific Golden Plover

Grey Plover

Greater Sand Plover

Kentish Plover

Common Ringed Plover

Malaysian Plover female