Malacca - March 2012

A four day driving trip to checkout some of the birding spots in the Malacca and Muar vicinity. Our main focus was Batang Tiga, a popular birding area of rice fields.

After a quick detour to Panti Forest on the way, we headed for Ayer Keroh, where we checked into the Seri Hotel and had lunch, arriving at Batang Tiga at around 4 pm.

We had little difficulty seeing the birds including Munias, Weaver, Black-winged Kite, Drongo, Egrets, Bee-eaters, Pond herons, Fantail and last but not least the Asian Openbills, of which there must have been 30 to 40 still in residence. We had heard the Openbills had been here for several  weeks, so we were probably lucky they had not all migrated.

Next day was quiet with a walk around the Ayer Keroh Botanical Gardens and a change of hotel to the Puri Hotel in the centre of Malacca old town. Following morning was back to Batang Tiga and more birds including Eastern Marsh Harrier, Common kingfisher, Brahminy Kite and Common Sandpiper.
In the afternoon a quick trip to Pantai Penyengat, south of Muar was not very productive, maybe bad timing.

Another night in Malacca and homeward bound!