Time to Balik Kampung

Langkawi is a stopover point for some of the migratory birds on East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Though the island does not host huge flocks of waders and waterbirds, we do get a few common wader species in small numbers. Anyone can pretty much guess one of the commonest wader is our Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos which is a small Palearctic wader. Common Sandpipers arrive as early as between second to third week of July and hold the longest staying visa as compared to other migratory birds. They can be spotted in habitats like reed beds, paddy fields, shorelines, mangroves and parks.

Another common wader on East Asian-Australasian Flyway is Whimbrel or Eurasian Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus but they only appear for a short visit to Langkawi and most of them would stayover on the mainland. They even prefer Singapore than Langkawi! Therefore, Whimbrel is considered as uncommon migrant to Langkawi.

To catch a Whimbrel on Langkawi, one has to look out for this species between August to early October, which is the beginning of the birds migration from the North Hemisphere. Unless reported, this species disappears from the birders' radar in Langkawi after October and this pattern happens annually. I personally yet to receive any reports on Whimbrel sightings from January till April until recently where 4 individuals were sighted on the mudflat of Kubang Badak mangroves. 

My birdwatching tour with Paul Hooper on 15th March 2025 has led us to Kubang Badak mangroves in search of our iconic Brown-Winged Kingfisher. While waiting for this stubborn kingfisher to show up, one Whimbrel was spotted at a far distance on the mudflat. The tide was low on that morning exposing the mudflat where the mud critters were easily available to be savored. Within less than five minutes, another individual showed up and eventually it added to four individuals seen. I was thrilled to see one of them caught a crab Metaplax crenulata and these crabs are commonly found on our mangroves mudflats. 

A Whimbrel having a bath

Another individual sighted

Whimbrels from afar searching for food

Whimbrel (left) caught a Metaplax crenulata crab

Caught a crab and ran away with it!

At the time this blog is written, we still have another month to go before the end of our migratory season. When Whimbrels are generally not sighted after October and these four showed up in March, could they be on their way back to their homeland from the mainland and made a pit-stop or a detour from the storm? I would like to conclude that they have made a detour and found our mudflats here to refuel before making their Balik Kampung (Return to their homeland in Malay) journey. 

Wishing all our migratory birds a safe Balik Kampung and see all of them again real soon.

This lone individual was photographed on a separate tour with Diane and Andy Butcher on 21 March 2025 while we were on a boat into the Kubang Badak mangrove

Guests of 2022 - Big Thank You

All I can say is that I had a fantastic 2022 for many reasons to be thankful for :

My fellow guests who have made their way back here and chosen Langkawi as their destination after a two-year hiatus. And my new guests who had somehow connected and picked me as their guide. Friends and acquaintances who had connected me with my guests. The top most to be thankful for would be our cooperative components which are our wildlife, natural habitats and weather.

I had a full schedule towards the end of 2022 and spilled over to January 2023 hence the delay of this post. For 2022 thank you post has a twist in it and definitely different from my previous ones.

With gratitude, every day in every way we will be better and better.

Strangling Figs, Hornbills and Blessings

The common types of strangling fig trees are those with red or yellow figs. When some of these trees produce figs, they can be seen along the road. During the fruiting time, the strangling fig tree becomes a stage for the bird enthusiasts.

In December 2022, there were three different productive strangling fig trees inviting the hornbills for free feasts of delicious vitamins and protein packed meals. One of them lasted till early January 2023.

My lucky guests who managed to photograph the hornbills feasting on one of these trees were Swales Family, Meyer Family, Jia Hui family, Dennis family, Ardish, Nasir and Nigel/Lucas Oh, Emily family.

Nasir from Singapore in joy of photographing a Great Hornbill

The photos here with Great Hornbill on a yellow and a red fig tree.

Great Hornbill female with yellow figs

Great Hornbill male with the red figs

Both are auspicious colours for the Chinese New Year. I like to wish everyone here a good year ahead with good health, happiness and prosperity.

Gong Xi Fa Cai 2023