AWC Kpg Masjid, Kuala Baram with the children of Kpg Masjid

The three routes taken to cover AWC for Kpg Masjid, Kuala Baram for 2012.

Last Saturday MNS Miri Branch birders and friends drove up to Kpgg Masjid, Kuala Baram to conduct Asian Waterbird Census in Kampung Masjid along the Sg Baram not far from the Baram estuary. Oriental Darter, Peregrine Falcon, Changeable Hawk-Eagle (breeding), White-bellied Sea Eagle (breeding), Grey-headed Fish Eagle (breeding), Wandering Whistling Duck (breeding) have all been recorded in the area by MNS Miri in the recent past.

Partly the objective of this AWC in the area is also to exposed the children of the village to the wholesome actvity of birdwatching and introduce them to the common birds in their backyard.

The village is situated between Sg Baram near the estuary and South China Sea, and criss-crossed by little canals, it's a perfect place for children to birdwatch with abundant opportunity to look for common wetlands associated birds, shorebirds as well as raptors in the area. With most of the area already converted to oil palm plantation and tree plantations by Shin Yang (Linau Mewah Sdn Bhd), there is no better time to get the kids to come out and enjoy birdwatching.

MNS Miri Branch (Musa, Sara, Nazeri, Erwin briefing the children on the day's activities. Birders were assisted by Yusree (Kpg Masjid JKK), Nicholas (Curtin U), Paula, Ibram, Sufian and Rowina. Twenty children participated in the activity.

Children of the village getting to know the common birds in their area. Most are very excited to see the birds up close and personal using binoculars and scopes brought along for the day's event.

A pair of Oriental Honey Buzzard which made an appearance minutes after our program concluded. This pair was spotted by young Azmi who also managed to correctly id the raptor using the MNS Raptor card handed out earlier in the day. Image by Nazeri Abghani

White-breasted Woodswallow are common in the area. Image by Nazeri Abghani

Scaly-breasted Munia, supposedly very common in the Kuala Baram area this is the first photo ever recorded by MNS Miri Branch. Image by Musa Musbah.

Striated Grassbird, a common sight along the roads to the village. Image by Nazeri Abghani

Lesser Coucal are often sighted in the grassy parts of the village. Image by Nazeri Abghani

The boys enjoying ketupat pulut and chicken curry specially ordered for them. Thank you Sara for sponsoring the drinks, Nicholas for snacks and tit-bits. Image by Sara Wong.

Our birdlist from the teams:-

Group 1 : Lead by Musa, Nicholas and Sufian

Scaly-breasted Munia

Chestnut Munia

Little Egret

Asian Glossy Starling

Yellow-vented Bulbul

Eurasian Tree Sparrow

White-breasted Woodswallow

Pink-necked Green-pigeon

Cinnamon Bittern

Collared Kingfisher

Spotted Dove

Oriental Magpie-robin

Pied Triller

Rock Pigeon

Group 2 : Lead by Nazeri, Sara, Ibram

Yellow vented Bulbul (3)

Dusky Munia (6)

Barn Swallow (more than 50)

White-breasted Waterhen (1)

Common Sandpiper (2)

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (2)

Spotted Dove (1)

Yellow bellied Prinia (1)

Pink-necked Green Pigeon (2)

Cattle Egret (1)

Yellow Wagtail (1)

White-breasted Wood-swallow (5)

Blue Throated Bee-eater (2)

Pied Fantail (2)

Lesser Coucal (1)

Striped Tit-babbler (1)

Olive-backed Sunbird (1)

Common Iora (2)

Black-shouldered Kite (1)

Little Egret (1)

Oriental Magpie-Robin (1)

Asian Glossy Starling (3)

Chestnut Munia (4)

Collared Kingfisher (1)

Group 3 : Lead by Erwin, Paula, Rowina

Yellow vented Bulbul (2)

Yellow-bellied Bulbul (1)

Scaly-breasted Munia (2)

Barn Swallow (15)

White breasted Waterhen (1)

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (2)

Zebra Dove (1)

Pink necked Green Pigeon (2)

Great Egret (4)

White-breasted Wood-swallow (4)

Greater Coucal (1)

Oriental Magpie-Robin (1)

Asian Glossy Starling (2)

Chestnut Munia (2)

Collared Kingfisher (6)

Pied Triller (2)

Edible-nest Swiftlet (20+)

Oriental White Eye (3)

Striated Grassbird (1)

On way back along road by Erwin:

Slaty-breasted Rail (1)

Dollarbird (2)

Blue-throated Bee-Eater (3)

After the program by Nazeri, Azmi:

Oriental Honey Buzzard (2)

At the close of the program, Yusree (JKK Kpg Masjid) expressed his gratitude to MNS Miri Branch for bringing birdwatching to the village kids. He's happy of the positive response from the kids and hope for greater appreciation of birds and the surroundings by his young charge. He also informed us of the plans to involve the PTA in the activities and make birdwatching a regular activities in the village for the children. That's definitely good news for MNS Miri.

Current landuse map around Kpg Masjid, Kuala Baram. Land conversions within the past 3 years have been astounding, not much of the original swampland is left to be replaced by oil palm plantations, pulp and paper plantations as well as new townships.

Write-up by Nazeri Abghani

Image contributors as per credit.