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Notes on a short visit to Ujung Pangkah and the Lemahan River mudflats on December 20th , 2003.,
The village of Ujung Pangkah (coordinates 6°51'S - 112°33'E) was primarily visited because of the heronry mentioned in Birding Indonesia (PJ, 1997) and the nearby mudflats. Upon arrival it became apparent that the heronry had disappeared. Locals stated that the trees of the heronry started dying and that the birds did not have a place to roost anymore. It is more likely that the award-winning pond-keeper, who died a few years ago, did not have a follow-up pond-keeper (his son, Bas van Balen pers.comm..) who wanted to look after the bird-colony. Also, most of the mangrove-bushes and swamps have sadly disappeared and more fish- and shrimp ponds have been laid out. Luckily, the mudflats proved to be very fruitful and also the boat trip from Ujung Pangkah out to the mudflats was very relaxing and some very good birding along the river edges. An annotated checklist which follows M&P (1992) both in taxonomy and sequence.:
Australian pelican Pelecanus
conspicillatus
total of 58 birds were seen at two locations on the mudflats. A flock
of 5 and a flock of 53 birds.
Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax
melanoleucos
A total of 25 birds were noted in groups of up to 5 birds. Mainly
seen over flying the delta but several were seen sitting on broken-off
tree branches on exposed mud with following species.
Purple Heron Ardea
purpurea
Over 10 birds, mainly seen standing singly on the water’s edge
and estuary river sides.
Cattle Egret Bubulcus
ibis
Twenty-three birds in fishponds about 5 km South of Ujung Pangkah.
All birds in breeding plumage.
Pacific Reef-egret Egretta
sacra
Several dark-morphed birds were seen, mainly seen feeding in the water.
Great Egret Egretta
alba
Common, with over 30 birds seen. All black-billed and plumed.
Intermediate Egret Egretta
intermedia
Numerous birds seen feeding on the mudflats but also perched in trees
along the river. Breeding plumage.
Little Egret Egretta
garzetta
Hundreds of these birds observed on mudflats, river edges and trees,
many in breeding plumage.
Striated Heron Butorides
striatus
Several on river sides and fish ponds near Ujung Pangkah.
Javan Pond-heron Ardeola
speciosa
Over a 1,000 of these birds were seen in all types of vegetation
and on the mudflats. Most birds in breeding plumage.
Milky Stork Mycteria
cinerea
Just a single adult and an immature bird were seen standing perched
between hundreds of Egrets.
Glossy Ibis Plegadis
falcinellus
Four birds were seen foraging on the river edge close to the sea.
Sunda Teal Anas
gibberifons
pair was seen over flying the estuary before disappearing inland.
Osprey Pandion
haliaetus
An adult bird over flying the river about 1 km upstream from
Ujung Pangkah village.
Grey Plover Pluvialis
squatarola
Over 15 birds on the flats.
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis
fulva
Common with flocks of up to 15 birds seen.
Javan Plover Charadrius
javanicus
pair of Javan Plover C.javanicus was seen in a dry fishpond
near the village of Ujung Pangkah.
Javan/Kentish/Malaysian Plover Charadrius javanicus/alexandrinus/peronii
Many small Charadrius sp. Plovers were seen on the mudflats
but were sitting too far away to make positive identification. About
15 possible C.javanicus were observed and a single C.peronii.
Lesser Sand-plover Charadrius
mongolus
Four birds sitting together with C.leschenaultii.
Greater Sand-plover Charadrius
leschenaultii
About 25 Birds in small groups up to 4 birds. A group of 4 accompanied by C.mongolus.
Eurasian Curlew Numenius
arquata
About 20 scattered individuals seen foraging on the mudflats.
Whimbrel Numenius
phaepus
Many birds of this species seen foraging or just seen perched between
other waders.
Far-eastern Curlew Numenius
madagascariensis
At least 40 scattered over the area, sometimes accompanied by of N.arquata.
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa
lapponica
Just 2 birds seen close to the river mouth.
Asian Dowitcher Limnodromus
semipalmatus
total of about 100 birds, mainly in small groups of c.10 birds
and a group of 45 birds.
Common Redshank Tringa
totanus
Several individuals scattered over the area. A total of 7 birds.
Common Greenshank Tringa
nebularia
Very common, mainly singles and pairs. A total of c.35 birds.
Wood Sandpiper Tringa
glareola
Quite common, mainly seen on the edges of fish ponds near the village
of Ujung Pangkah and river edges. Also a few on the mudflats, perched
between other waders.
Terek Sandpiper Tringa cinereus
Four birds seen perched close to the rivermouth.
Common Sandpiper Actitis
hypoleucos
Numerous in all types of habitat. The commonest wader of the day.
Snipe sp. Gallinago
sp.
single snipe was flushed from vegetation near the village of Ujung
Pangkah. The bird flew low over the vegetation and disappeared back
into cover after a low flight, with little or no zigzagging, of about
20 meters. No legs were seen protruding from the tail which could
indicate either Swinhoe’s Snipe Gallinago megala or
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago. Seen too briefly to make
positive ID of the bird.
Great Knot Calidris
tenuiostris
Five birds seen foraging in a group of 5 Whimbrel, Common Sandpipers
and Common Greenshanks.
Rufous-necked Stint Calidris
ruficollis
Over 25 of these birds were observed feeding between other waders and
Terns.
White-winged Tern Chlidonias
leucopterus
large flock (>40 birds) seen sitting perched on the mud, often flying
off with Little Terns Sterna albifrons. Scattered groups of
up to 6 birds as well.
Gull-billed Tern Chlidonias
hybridus
flock of about 50 birds was seen sitting on the mudflats surrounded
by 100s of Little Terns S.albifrons.
Caspian Tern Sterna
Caspia
During the visit a large Tern was observed sitting on an exposed piece of
mud close to the Brantas river estuary. It was seen sitting surrounded by
over a hundred Little Terns Sterna albifrons. The bird was immediately
identified as a Caspian Tern Sterna caspia. It’s large
size (twice as big as Little Tern, direct comparison) and large, massive
red bill being distinctive. Also noted was a streaked white black cap which
indicates an adult bird in winter plumage.This is the first report of this
tern for Java. This record was published in the latest issue of Kukila
Common Tern Sterna
hirundo
A numerous tern out to sea where it was seen flying behind the chartered
boat. Not seen on the mudflats.
Little Tern Sterna
albifrons
Hundreds and hundreds of these Terns were seen all over the area.
Flocks of over a hundred birds. Also inland over the fishponds to
about 10 km South of Ujung Pangkah.
Pink-necked Green-pigeon Treron
vernans
Two of these birds were seen sitting in the scrub on the river edge
near Ujung Pangkah.
Spotted Dove Streptopelia
chinensis
Several individuals seen South of Ujung Pangkah and in the trees
bordering the river.
Island Collared-dove Streptopelia
bitorquata
Several individuals and a flock of 9 birds seen perched in trees
on the river edge and over flying the river.
Edible-nest/Black-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus sp.
A flock of all black/dark Swiftlets were seen near Ujung Pangkah. No positive
ID could be made as both Swiftlets mentioned are practically indistinguishable
in the field.
Linchi Swiftlet Collocalia
linchii
An abundant bird over the area. Many breeding houses were seen in the area
and they all seemed to be filled with these birds.
Collared Kingfisher Todirhamphus
chloris
Just a single bird seen near the village of Ujung Pangkah.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops
philippinus
Common along the river in small flocks up to 5 birds.
Barn Swallow Hirundo
rustica
Very common over the area, mainly close to the village.
Pacific Swallow Hirundo
tahitica
Also very common over the area and perched in trees along the river.
Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus
aurigaster
Common along the river and around the village. Singles, pairs and flocks
up to 7 birds.
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus
goiavier
Less common than P.aurigaster but still common, mainly in pairs.
Large-billed Crow Corvus
macrorhynchos
Four birds of this species were seen picking at plastic waste close to the
river mouth.
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola
juncidis
Common in the reed beds along the river’s edge and in the bushes
bordering fishponds. Some displaying.
Ashy Tailorbird Orthotomus
ruficeps
Several birds seen and heard in the scrub on the river banks. Several
caged birds seen in the village.
Bar-winged Prinia Prinia
familiaris
Just a single bird in a bush on the river bank, close to the river mouth.
Pied Fantail Rhipidura
javanica
Common in the scrub and other vegetation along the river.
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius
schach
Just a single bird outside the village in a tree in a fishpond.
White-breasted Wood-swallow Artamus
leucorhynchos
A flock of 4 perched in a river side tree near the estuary
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla
flava
A flock of >45 birds were seen over flying the village of Ujung
Pangkah, moving from North to South, calling loudly.
Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia
jugularis
Many pairs around the village and in the trees and scrub of the riverbank.
Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker Dicaeum trochileum
Just a single male seen flower pecking in a tree near Ujung Pangkah.
[ Javan White-eye Zosterops
flavus ]
Two White-eyes were seen crossing the river in front of the boat at eye-level
and disappearing in the scrub on the river-bank. Bright yellow under-parts
, light olive upper-parts and high-pitched, short “chits” might
not be enough to positively identify Z.flavus over Z.palpebrosus which
also could also occur at sea-level on Java but has a different contact call,
with which I’m familiar, and doesn’t normally inhabit coastal
areas, mangroves and river side scrub.
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
Flocks of up to 10 birds were seen near the village and river banks.
Javan Munia Lonchura
leucogastroides
Just 2 birds in a flock of 9 L.punctulata.
Tree Sparrow Passer
montanus
Many in and around the village of Ujung Pangkah.
Notes on a short visit to the PPLH Seloliman Centre for Environmental Education at Trawas on December 21st , 2003.
This Centre lies about 60km South (no coordinates) of the city of Surabaya and is surrounded by degraded forest. South of the Centre there is a path leading into the forest. The path leads all the way to the foot of Gunung Pananggungan, which can also be climbed. I just went to the foot of the mountain and backtracked to the Centre. I hired a guide at the centre (€ 3,- for the whole day) to show me the way but it is not really necessary. My guide did not know much about birds, although he did recognize some songs and calls but was a pleasant man with a lot of knowledge on the local environment. Good forest birding and a pleasant walk although local men airgunning birds and other animals constantly make you aware of the sad situation Indonesia’s wildlife is in. An annotated checklist which follows M&P (1992) both in taxonomy and sequence.:
Crested Serpent-eagle Spilornis cheela
At least 3 but possibly 4 birds were seen in the area. First bird was seen
perched in the top of a tree near the centre.Near the foot of Mt. Panang-gungan,
three Serpent-eagles were seen soaring accompanied by a Black Eagle Ictinaetus
malayensis.
Black Eagle Ictinaetus
malayensis
A single bird was seen soaring over the Northern slopes of Mt.Pananggungan
with 3 P.cheela.
[Javan Hawk-eagle Spizaetus bartelsi]
On the way back to the centre, almost at the exact spot where the above mentioned
raptors were seen, the guide attended me to some high-pitched shrieks that
were coming from higher up the slopes. The guide seemed to have no doubt
that the calls were from Javan Hawk-eagle. Moments later a Hawk-eagle was
seen flying high above us before disappearing into the trees high on the
slopes. The calls were different from the ones I’m familiar with
from Spizaetus cirrhatus floris, Changeble Hawk-eagle from Flores
but I wasn’t able to positively identify the bird. The guide told
me that Javan Hawk-eagle does occur in the area and that many birders come
to the Centre trying to find it.
Green Junglefowl Gallus
varius
male bird was heard calling from the forest at c.350m asl.
According to the guide this bird is under severe pressure from hunters
in the area.
Spotted Dove Streptopelia
chinensis
single bird observed just outside the Centre. Noticeable was the total
lack of other pigeons in the forest. Again, the guide expressed his
worries about the pressure on the bigger birds of the forest. Many
pigeons (he pointed out Black-naped Fruit-dove Ptilinopus melanospila and
Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica in my field guide (M&P,
1993) are being caught for the bird trade or food supplement.
Rusty-breasted Cuckoo Cacomantis
sepulcralis
single bird was heard singing from the forest at c.400m asl.
Violet Cuckoo Chrysococcyx
xanthorhynchus
single male seen near the centre, picking caterpillars from underneath
tree leaves. Another bird was heard singing in the forest.
Edible-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus
fuciphagus
A flock of all black/dark Swiftlets were seen on the Northern slopes
of the mountain. Although Black-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus maxima also
occurs on Java and is almost indistinguishable in the field from A.fuciphaga I’m
certain that these birds were Edible-nest Swiftlets mainly because
of their grey rumps and call plus the fact that Black-nest Swiftlets
are coastal and mangrove birds.
Linchi Swiftlet Collocalia
linchii
An abundant bird over the area. A breeding house in the village
of Trawas was teeming with these birds.
Little Swift Apus
affinis
Two of these birds were seen over flying the centre upon arrival.
Javan Kingfisher Halcyon
cyanoventris
single bird seen near the centre in the forest and a second bird
only heard calling from the forest.
Collared Kingfisher Todirhaphus
chloris
Two birds seen perched in a Ficus sp tree at c.
500m asl.
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaultii
Common, mainly pairs or flocks of up to 5 birds.
Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops
philippinus
flock of three was observed hawking from a large tree at c.
450m asl.
Blue-eared Barbet Megalaima
australis
single bird seen from the centre’s terrace in a large tree and
several birds were heard singing.
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker Dendrocopus
macei
single male bird seen anting on the trunk of a dead tree close to the
foot of the mountain.
Greater Goldenback Chrysocolaptes
lucidus
Again, just a single male seen flying from tree to tree, picking ants
of the trees.
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Common over the area and perched on power lines in Trawas village.
Large Wood-shrike Tephrodornis
gularis
female bird seen perched in a tree, eating a large dragonfly.
Small Minivet Pericrocotus
cinnamomeus
Very common, mostly in pairs but also a flock of over 20 birds near
the centre.
Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus
flammeus
Several pairs seen sometimes in a mixed flock with P.cinnamomeus.
Common Iora Aegithina
tiphia
Several scattered individuals in the area. Song often heard from the
forest.
Black-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus
atriceps
Several individuals seen. Vocalizations heard that the guide thought
belonging to this species.
Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus
melanicterus
Just a single bird seen perched in a tall tree, singing loudly for
about 2 minutes.
Sooty-headed Bulbul Pycnonotus
aurigaster
Two birds near Trawas village. Also several caged birds seen in Trawas.
Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus
goiavier
Several birds encountered in woodland leading up to Trawas village.
A bird seller was seen selling these birds house-to-house in Trawas.
Black Drongo Dicrurus
macrocerus
Just a single bird seen being chased by two Yellow-vented Bulbuls,
just below the centre.
Great Tit Parus
major
common bird in singles, pairs and flocks of up to 4 birds.
Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta
frontalis
common bird in singles and pairs. Mixing with other birds like
flowerpeckers and tits.
Crescent-chested Babbler Stachyris
melanothorax
single bird noted in a mixed flock of Flowerpeckers and 2 Nuthatches.
Chestnut-capped Babbler Timalia
pileata
Two of these birds were seen crawling through undergrowth near the
path. Very hard to get a good look as the birds did not sit still very
long.
Thrush sp.
Several Thrush-like songs were heard from the forest. One of the songs my
guide identified as Blue Whistling-thrush Myiphoneus caeruleus,
although I didn’t see it.
Arctic Leaf-warbler Phylloscopus
borealis
Several birds (>3) seen and heard from the foot of the mountain.
Common Tailorbird Orthotomus
sutorius
Fairly common with about 5 seen and several heard singing.
Olive-backed Tailorbird Orthotomus
sepium
Two birds in the trees surrounding the centre. Very noisy.
Long-tailed Shrike Lanius
schach
single bird perched on a power-line near Trawas.
Short-tailed/Asian Glossy Starling Aplonis
minor/panayensis
Two adult and an immature bird were seen in a dead tree near the centre
but no positive identification could be made due to the sun shining
from behind the birds.
Ruby-cheeked Sunbird Anthreptes
singalensis
single female bird was observed in the forest below the centre.
Purple-throated Sunbird Nectarinia
sperata
One pair and a single male observed from the centres’ porch.
Olive-backed Sunbird Nectarinia
jugularis
Several pairs throughout the area and the village.
Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum
agile
Very common through the area. Mainly single birds but sometimes 3-4
birds with other flowerpeckers and sunbirds in mixed flocks.
Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma
Three male and a female bird in mixed flocks with other flowerpeckers.
Scarlet-headed Flowerpecker Dicaeum trochileum
Three pairs and scattered individuals, especially near the centre.
Oriental White-eye Zosterops
palpebrosus
flock of more than 15 birds was observed working it’s way through
the trees just below the centre.
Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura
punctulata
Several birds near the entrance of the centre.
Tree Sparrow Passer
montanus
Common in the village of Trawas.
Short notes on other interesting birds noted on Java in December 2003/Januari 2004:
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
A single bird noted on Surabaya-Juanda airport on Dec.22nd, perched in a
group of about 65 Purple Herons Ardea purpurea.
2. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Approximately 65 of these herons were seen on Surabaya’s Juanda airport
on Dec.22nd. The colony is located right across from the domestic departure
terminal.
3. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Close to the Ardea colony, a flock of 33 of these Egrets were observed
sitting on the edge of a platform drainage ditch on Dec.22nd.
4. Peregrine Falcon Falco
peregrinus
A single Peregrine Falcon was seen at the Jakarta-Soekarno Hatta airport.
The observation was made from the transit terminal.
Bird was seen flying in from the North, flying low over the grass lawns and runways before settling on a lamp post in front of the terminal. The birds’ dark head would indicate local F.p.ernesti race (M&P 1997). Observation was made on Jan.9th, 2004.
References:
MacKinnon J. & Phillips K. 1993. Birds of Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali, Oxford University Press
Jepson P. (Main contributor), various authors 1997. Birding
Indonesia, A birdwatcher’s guide to the
World’s largest archipelago. Periplus Edition
(HK) Ltd.
Coates B.J. & Bishop K.D. 1997, Birds
of Wallacea Sulawesi, The Moluccas and Lesser Sunda Islands,
Indonesia, Dove Publications, Alderley
Pizzey G. & Knight F. 1997, Birds of Australia, HarperCollins Publishers, London
Personal thanks to Bas van Balen for his comments and remarks on the noted birds.
Mark Schellekens
Woloara – Ende – Kelimutu
Flores, NTT, 86372
Indonesiae-mail: ljmschellekens@yahoo.com
Mobile: (0062)81339165676
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