Kuala Selangor

[khiemtran]

Today we drove from Kuala Lumpur to the sea-side town on Kuala Selangor, for a spot of nature-watching...




Pretty much as soon as we got out of the car, we met some monkeys...







A white-bellied sea eagle...




And some Brahminy kites.



But then, when we were having lunch...



At this fishing village...



I looked down and gave a cry that startled all the other diners...



Smooth-coated otters! I didn't even know they had otters in Malaysia.



Here they are swimming away across the muddy river.



And here are the tracks they left behind. Note both the paw prints and long tail marks.



After lunch, we head out on an eagle-feeding tour.



Our small boat races down to the river mouth...



Past the village.



And its temples.



Past the otters on the far shore.



And out to sea, just as the fishing fleet is coming in.



A huge flock of terns has gathered. They know what's coming next.



It's feeding time for the eagles and brahminy kites...









We counted at least fifteen of the raptors, all feeding around us.





Meanwhile, back on shore, more white-bellied sea eagles. You can see the difference between the sea eagles at the bottom and the smaller birds of prey above them.



If only this shot was just a bit better focussed...



Heading home again, after a truly exhilarating day....

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

**so much love**

I'd like to go to that village one day.

And the shots of the birds--*bliss*

And the otters! I didn't even mention the otters first time around. Just--wow--what a great trip!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was especially pleased by the otters, especially since there were so many eagles that you couldn't help but see them, but the otters were a lucky find. We only spotted them by chance because we were trying to identify a bird down on a little jetty and I happened to look down under the restaurant.

The bird photos don't really do the experience justice. There were so many birds wheeling around that it seemed like the sky was full of them, but any shot with a camera wide enough to capture more than two eagles would have them as tiny specks.

[soon_lee]

Lovely. Now if you could just transmit food with photos...

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Well, I can certainly recommend the fish - fresh pineapple and tomato, sauce not too sweet or too sour, flesh not overcooked, but the skin nice and crispy on the outside.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

What an exhilarating day. I'd be over the moon to see so much wildlife in a day.