Nov 24, 2010

The Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) 69 - 74 cm

I was rewarded for getting up early in the morning whilst on a nature trip to Tasik Chini with these Eagle pics. I decided to take my chances by positioning myself on the wooden jetty by the side of the lake. Tasik Chini have a kind of mysterious air about it and the somewhat darkish color of the water in the lake further add to the mysteriousness. A Malaysian Loch Ness living in the large lake? Well who knows.

As I observed the boatmen in their smallish 'sampans' cast the fishing nets -  from the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of what looked like a large 'object' rise from the forest at left of the lake's forested edge. It started by flapping it's wings then gliding in a very familiar pattern that befits a raptor! Yes indeed it is a raptor - a lone Lesser Fish Eagle out hunting for it's breakfast! 

I trained my camera on it and followed it as it flew across the lake until it decided to perch on one of the tree branch on the right side of the lake. I patiently waited knowing full well that it will fly back across the lake to where it had originally appeared. 15 minutes or so later the Eagle made it's return flight ( as expected ) this time flying from the right side to the left. My camera again trailed it's flight.






Have a nice day! Cheers!

3 comments:

  1. Picture 2 look like a grey-headed fish eagle. The two tone colour on the tail separate the species.

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  2. Once again thank you Terence for the ID of this Eagle. It does have a close similarity to the Lesser Fish Eagle's 2 tone feather at the chest and under belly. Only an expert's eyes could tell them apart. Cheers Bro!

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  3. Definitely a Grey Headed Fish Eagle. Saw one in Bukit Cahaya Shah Alam last month.

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