|
Outing To Kek Lok Tong by Ipoh International School
13 Sep 2007
Outing To Kek Lok Tong by Ipoh International School with MNS Perak Bird Group on Thursday 13th September 2007
(Note from bird group coordinator : The request from International School to organize this outing came only after the newsletter was published.)
Six members of the Perak Branch Bird Group were at Kek Lok Tong, Ipoh early on Thursday morning of September 13 to welcome a group of 63 pupils, aged between 14 and 16, from the Ipoh International School. Accompanied by four of their teachers they had come to enjoy the natural surrounding and avian delights that this magnificent limestone cave temple and its adjacent gardens have to offer.
Having allotted ten or so students to each MNS volunteer, the birdwatching adventure began in the car park near the steps leading up to the cave, which is always a hive of activity with fast flying House Swifts (Apus affinis) zooming in and around the cave entrance. Aiming our ‘scopes at the rock face we were soon able to pick out the very pretty Java Sparrows (Padda oryzivora) a non-indigenous species and a popular cage bird that has been introduced to the area. They are now well established here and breed high up amongst the rock crevices.
Moving over to the nearby gardens we spotted the first Blue Rock-Thrush (Monticola solitarius) of the morning, which was admired by everyone, and some Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) were seen by some, if not all, of the group. Several more familiar garden species also recorded in this area were the Eurasian Tree-Sparrow (Passer montanus), the highly vocal songster, Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis) and the attractive Peaceful Dove (Geopelia striata).
By now several members of the group had climbed up into the cave itself and – my group anyway - seemed very impressed by the huge golden statues of Buddha, as well as the magnificent stalagmites and stalactites - the "mites" going up and the "tites" coming down, for any who are still unsure which is which! The Blue Whistling Thrush (Myiophoneus caeruleus) is frequently seen in the grounds of Kek Lok Tong, often within the cave area itself, today being no exception and a number of the students were lucky enough to see this handsome species.
For some this was obviously their first visit to the cave temple as there were several who seemed quite surprised when they reached the further exit and saw the attractive gardens and lotus ponds spread out below. The bird life, it has to be admitted, was somewhat lacking during this outing – possibly because of the large-sized group, although we were not all following each other closely. However, the group members were obviously enjoying themselves regardless of the paucity of species, with cameras much in evidence and the results being shown to those "digitally captured" amid much laughter. Several students removed their shoes and bravely trod the reflexology walkway - however, either the stones are well smoothed off, or these kids are impervious to pain, as there were no facial grimaces or other outward sign of obvious discomfort! This particular group leader declined to follow!
The inner grounds seemed equally devoid of birdlife on this particular morning, but Mr. Loke added Chestnut-headed Bee-eater (Merops leschenaulti) to the list of his group’s sightings, and Kim Chye added a Pied Fantail (Rhipidura javanica) to his list. Connie’s group saw a Paddyfield Pipit (Anthus rufulus) and Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus, a newly arrived winter visitor. Sadly, there was no sight nor sound of a Crested Serpent Eagle, and neither was the diminutive Black-thighed Falconet spotted on any of the power-lines, both regularly sighted in this region.
However, despite the lack of species around for the students to enjoy (most unusual for this particular area), the Ipoh International School outing was an obvious success. Our thanks go to the four teachers who accompanied the group, Mr. Ang Chee Teong, Mrs. Leong, Mr. Phang and Mr. Francis Roberts - we hope that they, too, enjoyed the outing - and, of course, to the students themselves. It is hoped that this brief introduction to bird-watching might encourage some of them to one day take up this absorbing hobby and become active members of the MNS.
Last, but not least, a word of appreciation also goes to our stalwart volunteers, Dr. Chan Kai Soon, Connie Khoo (the organizer for this trip), Lim Kim Chye, Mr. & Mrs. Loke, and Avril McLeod, for sparing the time to take the group around.
Finally, the MNS Perak Branch is most grateful to the Ipoh International School for so very generously donating the sum of RM200 to the Perak Branch Bird Group. We hope to welcome the school on another bird-watching outing one day.
Complete checklist of species recorded
Rock Pigeon Columba livia
Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata
House Swift Apus affinis
Chestnut-headed Bee-eater Merops leschenaulti
Oriental Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis
Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius
Blue-Whistling Thrush Myiophoneus caeruleus
Pied Fantail Rhipidura javanica
Paddyfield Pipit Anthus rufulus
Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
Philippine Glossy Starling Aplonis panayensis
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Java Sparrow Padda oryzivora
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
(Submitted by Avril McLeod)
|
