The Species
The Black Baza is a raptor with a spectacular plumage of black, white and chestnut. It's relatively small size and it's strong, bold pattern makes it stand out among all other raptors in the region. It breeds in northern areas of east Asia, and migrates to southern Southeast Asia. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern, but decreasing in numbers.
The Site
Kuala Selangor Park is an area of protected Mangrove on the west coast of mainland Malaysia. It is a known birdwatching sight in Malaysia and more info can be found the internet. It has a small network of trails through forest and mangrove and boasts a well constructed and shaded watchtower. The park is a short walk from a modern village of the same name, and is reached by public bus from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur (KL). At the time of my 2009 visit, the 1.5 hour journey (US$3) departed from outside the somewhat chaotic Pudaraya Bus Terminal. Kuala Lumpur's transportation network has evolved since then, and there are numerous bus stations, so it is worth checking ahead.
The hotel rooms in Kuala Selangor village started at US$12/night, although the Park itself does have a selection of accommodation that was either not appealing at the time of my visit. (Either too grubby or too expensive or both, I forget.)
This was my second visit to Kuala Selangor, and both times I had the place to myself in the mornings and evenings. Whether the park gets busy with day trippers and school groups during mid-day is unknown to me.
Migrating Black Baza
On this sunny, humid morning I ventured into Kuala Selangor park with the intention of finding two species of birds. One of the middle story, the Mangrove Whistler, and a species of the ground, the Mangrove Pitta. In short time I spotted a very cooperative Mangrove Whistler and proudly placed a check mark next to its name in Craig Robson's Field Guide. My attention was then diverted 30 meters (100 feet) above the canopy to the sight of a dozen or so low soaring birds, effortlessly gliding southward in loose formation with a steady and direct purpose. Without the aid of optics, I was able to determine almost instantly that they were a group of Black Baza. I admired them briefly until they disappeared from my sight and I went back to my noisy blundering about the boardwalk in search of a Pitta species that does not care much for noisy blundering.
Again, my eyes latched onto a group of Black Baza. This time I estimated the numbers at about 75. Shortly after wards a smaller flock of 25 followed and then a larger group in excess of 100. Now they had my full attention, and I made my way along the boardwalk out of the mangrove forest to the shore. I could see hundreds more raptors spiraling upwards above the mangrove canopy in a mass swarm, like smoke rising from the ashes. The nearest of these were Black Baza with a few Oriental Honey Buzzard, but the majority of the rising swarm appeared as unidentified specks.
In total I estimated the mornings total at 400-500 Black Baza, with an additional 500 distant and unidentifiable raptors. I thought this a high number, so I notified the friendly staff and made a short note about the account. Recently I researched the Black Baza migration, and discovered that these high migrant numbers reflect observations of various Raptor Watches throughout Southeast Asia, including a single day count of 42,046 Black Baza on 23 October, 2003at Chumphoung, Thailand. These sightings and those form others suggest a peak of the Black Baza migration in this region of Asia the last week of October to first week of November.
I never saw my Mangrove Pitta, but here is a list of species seen at Kuala Selangor on my two day visit.
References
Brazil, Mark Field Guide to the Birds of Asia 2009
Robson, Craig Field Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia 2000
DeCandido, Robert / Allen, Deborah / Bildstein, Keith L. Spring migration of Oriental Honey-buzzards Pernis ptilorhyncus and other raptors at Tanjung Tuan, Malaysia, 2000–2001
DeCandido,Robert / Nualsri,Chukiat / Allen, Deborah and L. Bildstein / Keith Autumn 2003 raptor migration at Chumphon, Thailand: a globally significant raptor migration watch site.
Chong Leong Puan, Northbound Migration Count of Raptors at Tanjung Tuan, Peninsular Malaysia: Magnitude, Timing, and Flight Behavior, Journal of Raptor Research 48(2):162-172. 2014
MEAL-SIZED BIRDS
Red Junglefowl (heard/ wild?)
White-breasted Waterhen
HERONS
Greater Egret
Intermediate Egret
Little Egret
Purple Heron
Chinese Pond Heron
Little/Striated Heron
RAPTORS
Crested Serpent Eagle
Brahminy Kite
Black Kite
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Black Baza
Oriental Honey Buzzard
Sparrowhawk sps
SHOREBIRDS
Common Sandpiper
Whimbrel
STORK
Lesser Adjutant
KINGFISHER
Stork-billed Kingfisher
Collared Kingfisher
White-collared Kingfisher
Black-capped Kingfisher
Common Kingfisher
MYNA
Glossy Starling
Javan Myna
Common Myna
CUCKOO
Asian Koel
Greater Coucal
Chestnut-winged Cuckoo
Cuckoo sps (Juvenile being fed by much smaller adult Gerygone)
WOODPECKER
Common Flameback
Greater Flameback
Laced Woodpecker female
Sunda Pygmy Woodpecker
BULBUL
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Olive-winged Bulbul
FLYCATCHER
Yellow-rumped Flycatcher
Asian Brown Flycatcher
DOVE
Rock Dove
Zebra/Peaceful Dove
Pink-breasted Green Pigeon
SUNBIRD/FLOWERPECKER
Ruby-cheeked Flowerpecker
Olive-backed Sunbird
Brown-throated Sunbird
Copper-throated Sunbird
COLORFUL BIRDS
Ashy Drongo
Oriental Magpie Robin
Black-naped Oriole
Brown Shrike
Shrike sp (first winter)
Mangrove Whistler
Blue-tailed Bee Eater
Coppersmith Barbet
Abbott's Babbler
WEE BIRDS
Pied Fantail
Pied Triller
Golden-bellied Gerygone
Ashy Tailorbird
Scaly-breasted Munia
Oriental White-eye
Common Iora
Great Tit (now split) to Cinereous
Pacific Swallow
Swiftlet sps (Hundreds of these in village suggest Germain's)
Warbler sp (phyllo)
Eurasian Sparrow