It was about 6.15pm at Sungei Balang and the sky was turning slightly dark due to ominous rain clouds on the edge of the ricefields. It had rained heavy for about an hour earlier in the afternoon and the everything was still a bit wet. Only about 10% of the fields were brown having been harvested sometime earlier and left unplanted. The remaining 90% were very green and flooded. Quite a few of the resident raptors such as brahminy kites and black-winged (or -shouldered) kites had been active flying about looking for dinner. The menu would have contained frogs and snakes mostly. The rats would likely only appear after the flooded fields have been drained and the padi harvested.
On the way out through one of the paths, a short frond bore an unmistakeable form. At first glance through the warp of the windscreen, I thought it was a juvenile brahminy kite. Slowly approaching closer, this was realised to be a marsh harrier. After taking some initial record shots, moving the car closer slowly proved a good ploy. The car was about 5 metres away and the engine switched off. The cover of the car provided a good vantage point for the camera to be carefully extended out and rested on the sideview mirror casing angled appropriately at the bird's direction. The bird eventually flew off showing a characteristic white band on its rump.
I'm guessing this was a juvenile female eastern marsh harrier. It also had a dash of white at the top rear of its head which is partially visible at certain parts of the clip. A most beautiful bird. Glad it took some time out to share its beauty.
(There is a residual hum in the background and that is presumably from the motorised sprayer in use by one of the farmhands about a hundred metres away.)
Find out more about the marsh harriers :
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