Some 10 per cent of Malaysia’s 700 bird species inhabit mangroves and mudflats which are rich feeding grounds for resident, migratory shorebirds and other water birds. While these saltwater habitats are not as rich in bird species as rainforests, they nevertheless provide sufficient food, shelter and nesting sites for resident and migratory avifauna during the northern hemisphere winter months. Migratory shorebirds feed continuously, influenced by the daily tide rather than day or night.
The bird community in these areas include herons, egrets, lesser adjutants, warblers as well as brownwinged storkbill, mangrove blue flycatcher and mangrove pitta which are darlings of Malaysian bird lovers. One of my favourite destinations for photographing these birds is Kuala Gula, Perak. My eyes popped when I saw the Lesser Adjutant for the first time five years ago, in my excitement almost losing my camera in the saltwater.
On another occassion at Matang Mangrove Forest, my husband fell through a strip of rotting wood on the boardwalk. Fortunately, the camera he was carrying was saved but we lost our lunch pack.
On another occasion, a local jogger knocked me down, then insisted that the boardwalk was for the exclusive use of joggers!
