awc 2008 report brunei darussalam

Asian Waterbird Census, Brunei Darussalam Method Description & 2008 Census Results Andrea Bloem

AWC – 2008 Brunei Darussalam

PANAGA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 2008 Preparation of the census and reporting the results of the AWC 2008 has been done in

collaboration with Samhan Nyawa, the curator at Brunei Museums Department. Scientific

data on this topic will be published by the co-authors Andrea Bloem and Dr. Joe Charles.

Text and data from this publication may be reproduced freely for educational, journalis-

tic, and other non-commercial purposes. Full credit must always be given to the copy-

right holder.

This report is available in PDF on the website of the Panaga Natural History Society Photographs: Wilson Chong (page 23) and Mark Hessels (all other pictures) Cover design: Mark Hessels

DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not

necessarily reflect those of the government of Brunei Darussalam

While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication

are factually correct, the author and the Panaga Natural History Society does not accept

responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for

any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or

reliance on, the contents of this publication.

Kuala Belait, July 2008

AWC – 2008 Brunei Darussalam 2

SUMMARY

A total of 17 geographic locations were surveyed during the Asian Waterfowl Census

(AWC) 2008 in Brunei Darussalam. Thirteen sites had been counted in previous years

and 4 sites were added in 2008. Most sites are located in the coastal environment;

Luagan Lalak and Tasek Merimbun are inland lakes and Bekiau is an inland buffalo field.

The count was conducted between 15 December 2007 and 10 February 2008 as it was

not possible to arrange the surveys at all sites in January. However, we plan to conduct

the AWC at all sites in January for the 2009 census.

Close to 30 people participated this year including an increased number of Bruneians.

The secondary objective of the AWC in Brunei is to create an awareness as to the number

and variety of waterbirds in Brunei, and to help more people become enthusiastic

birders. It is especially effective as to the environment when these people are permanent

residents of Brunei. By organising several training sessions and encouraging people to

join the count at more than one AWC site, we hope to develop experience and more

permanent enthusiasm for this beautiful hobby.

A total of 14,288 waterbirds of 51 species have been reported in AWC 2008. This is the

largest number of waterbirds ever recorded since Brunei Darussalam started participating

in the census in 1990. The observed major waterbird groups were Cormorants & Darters

(1 species; 74 birds), Herons & Egrets (15; 11,301), Storks (1; 4), Geese & Ducks (2;

59), Rails & Coots (3; 137), Waders (25; 2,687), Gulls & Terns (4; 26). The highest

number was for Cattle egrets with 1,591 individuals identified. In addition, 18 wetland

dependent species were identified: 51 Raptors of 7 species, 207 Kingfishers of 5 species

and 148 birds of 6 other species (Warblers, Wagtails, Quail) were recorded.

Two globally threatened and two near-threatened (NT) species of waterbirds were repor-

ted: the Chinese egret (Vulnerable VU, 11), Lesser adjudant (VU, 4), the Oriental darter

(NT, 74) and the Grey-headed fish-eagle (NT, 2). Other highlights were Northern

lapwing, Black-headed gull, Striated Grassbird, Nankeen night heron and White wagtail.

The site with the highest number of threatened species is the Asean National Heritage

Site Tasek Merimbun with certain breeding activities of Oriental darter, while Seria

Wetlands and Brunei Bay Estuary know the highest variety with Oriental darter, Chinese

egret and Lesser adjudant.

Brunei Bay Estuary (Mentiri Prawn Farms), Wasan Rice Fields and Seria Wetlands are the

sites with the highest number and greatest variety of shorebirds, while large concentra-

tions of herons and egrets can be found in sites with roosts, such as Seria Wetlands,

Tasek Merimbun, Makam di Luba, Brunei Bay Estuary and Tutong Sewage Tanks.


Compared to previous years, several sites show a very different survey result. This is

believed to be mainly due to increased knowledge of the site, and a more extensive

count with more people involved. This shows clearly that continuity, methodology and

capacity in experienced bird watchers is essential to conduct a consistent and useable

AWC.

Though the method for Sungai Seria and Bera was the same as last year, the increased

numbers of birds still hide the major disturbances having taken place recently. Sungai

Bera was impacted by a significant oil spill October of 2007. Even worse are the ongoing

flood mitigation projects of the Brunei government. Many lowland rivers are currently

being canalised with the removal of all riparian vegetation.


CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION ...........................................................7

2. GEOGRAPHY AND WETLAND HABITATS .................................8 2.1. Geography...............................................................................8 2.2. East Asian-Australasian Flyway ...................................................8 2.3. Wetlands Habitats.....................................................................9 2.4. Threats to Waterbirds.............................................................. 10

3. METHODOLOGY .........................................................11 3.1. Survey Sites .......................................................................... 11 3.2. Volunteers ............................................................................. 22 3.3. Itinerary and transportation ..................................................... 23 3.4. Counting ............................................................................... 23 3.5. Data analysis ......................................................................... 24

4. RESULTS PER SURVEY SITE............................................25 4.1. Overall results ........................................................................ 25 4.2. Results per location................................................................. 25

5. CONCLUSIONS ..........................................................46

6. RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................48

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .....................................................49

REFERENCES ................................................................50

MAPS, TABLES, FIGURES AND APPENDICES Map 1. Distribution of the sites counted for AWC 2007 throughout Brunei

Darussalam ................................................................................ 11 Map 2. The sites around Seria ................................................................. 13 Map 3. Map of Luagan Lalak .................................................................... 15 Map 4. Map of Tasek Merimbun................................................................ 15 Map 5. Map of Sewage Treatment Plant Tutong.......................................... 16 Map 6. Map of Wasan Rice Fields.............................................................. 16 Map 7. The sites on the north-eastern coast .............................................. 18 Map 8. Map of Brunei Bay Mudflats........................................................... 19 Map 9. Map of Telisai Mudflats ................................................................. 19 Map 10. Map of Makam Diraja ................................................................... 20 Map 11. Map of Makam di Luba ................................................................. 20 Map 12. Map of Bekiau Buffalo Field ........................................................... 21 Map 13. Map of Semaun Prawn Farm.......................................................... 21 Map 14. The observation points along Sungai Seria Estuary........................... 27 Map 15. Map of the Grasslands Panaga – Seria ............................................ 31 Map 16. Map of the 4 sections in Wasan Rice Fields ...................................... 35 Map 17. Northern sites in Brunei Bay.......................................................... 37 Map 18. Southern sites in Brunei Bay ......................................................... 37


Table 1. Protection status of the sites ......................................................... 12 Table 2. Dates and ways of counting .......................................................... 22 Table 3. Data of AWC 2007 for all areas and per species group. ..................... 25 Appendix 1. Complete table of AWC 2007 Brunei Appendix 2. Site forms of all sites counted in Brunei for AWC 2007 Appendix 3. Compressed count forms of all sites counted in Brunei for AWC 2007 Appendix 4. Tables of all AWC sites where old data are available. Appendix 5. Sketch of the prawn ponds at Mentiri.


1. INTRODUCTION 2007 was the first year that Brunei participated in the Asian Waterfowl Census (AWC)

after a number of years of inactivity. As the result of the success of that Census, and to

prepare for the AWC 2008, much effort has been spend on the investigation of new sites,

and on further investigation and monitoring of existing sites. Training sessions were

organized during the year to give participants an opportunity to visit some of the sites.

Very important was the participation of Samhan Nyawa, the curator at Brunei Museums

Department. He proposed a new site and offered his knowledge and help in the explora-

tion of some less accessible sites. All this extra effort and knowledge made it possible to

be much better prepared for the AWC in 2008.

The main objective of AWC 2007 was to restart the census in Brunei, and lay the foun-

dation for a regular, nationwide and high quality waterbird monitoring programme. The

objective for 2008 and 2009 is to try and give a nationwide overview of waterbird hot-

spots in Brunei. As we were limited as to the number and experience of volunteers, we

were not able to visit Temburong this year.

We are building a network of volunteers to assist in future Census. Training sessions

have proved a very useful tool to interest people in bird watching and to improve their

identification skills.

Before I leave we hope to find a more permanent, enthusiastic and maybe even a local

coordinator; to have initiated an active network of beginning and experienced bird wat-

chers; and to have built a straight forward framework of action that can be used yearly.

This report is aimed to set up an AWC-framework for Brunei. It tries to give a straight-

forward but comprehensive overview of all the areas covered and the methods used for

monitoring the waterbirds. This year even more historical data were recovered and added

in order to give an impression of the development of each site.

This report is meant to be used as a data base and a framework for future AWC reports.


2. GEOGRAPHY AND WETLAND HABITATS

2.1. GEOGRAPHY Brunei Darussalam is a small country on the northwest coast of Borneo, between latitu-

des 4˚00’N and 5˚05’N and longitudes 114˚04’E and 115˚22’E. The country is divided

into two components by a portion of the Malaysian state of Sarawak. To the east lie the

Lawas and Limbang districts of Limbang Division, Sarawak and to the southwest, the Miri

Division, Sarawak. The entire coastline of Brunei is approximately 130 km in length, and

consists of either a high-profile sand beach, aligned in a southwest direction on the edge

of the South China Sea, or a complex estuarine, mangrove and mudflat zone within

Brunei Bay in the northeast.

Brunei Darussalam has a population of about 400,000 people of which about 90% is

living in the region around the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan and the northern

coastal areas. This is the area where most of the important wetlands are concentrated as

well.

The humid tropical climate is influenced by two monsoonal regimes; the northeast mon-

soon predominates from mid December to March and the southwest monsoon from mid

May to the end of October. The average annual rainfall varies from a minimum of about

2500 mm on the northeast coast to a maximum of over 4300 mm in the highlands in the

extreme south and east. Temperatures are lowest during the northeast monsoon (maxi-

mum 29-30˚C), and reach their highest in the transition period before the onset of the

southwest monsoon in May (average maximum 33-35˚C).

2.2. EAST ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN FLYWAY Brunei Darussalam lies in the middle of the main routes of the East Asian-Australasian

Flyway. This Flyway is a couple of migration highways stretching from the Russian Far

East to Australia and New Zealand. Over 50 million migratory waterbirds1 use the Flyway

on their yearly migration north and south. Brunei Darussalam is one of the important

stopovers and wintering areas for these migratory waterbirds. As a result Brunei is

visited by a great diversity of migratory birds. Some stay the full winter, but many use

the Bruneian wetlands to forage and replenish reserves to continue their journey.

1 Migratory birds are birds that undertake long journeys between their breeding grounds in the north and wintering stopover sites in the tropics


2.3. WETLAND HABITATS Mangroves and Tidal Mudflats

Mangroves are restricted to three major areas in Brunei Darussalam. The largest is the

shallow Brunei Bay (about 2500 km2). The Bay is bounded to the north by the Malaysian

Federal Territory of Labuan, to the northeast, east and south by the Malaysian states of

Sabah and Sarawak, and the southwest mostly by Brunei Darussalam. The Brunei portion

is a shallow estuarine complex of mangrove swamps, mudflats and tidal channels, fed by

the two large rivers of Sungai Brunei and Sungai Temburong as well as other smaller

rivers. Further west along the coast, there are several smaller mangrove marshes close

to Tutong and between Seria and the Sarawak border. These coastal areas provide a rich

habitat for waterbirds.

Rice fields and Grasslands

Rice fields provide a good freshwater habitat for specific waterbirds. Brunei Darussalam

imports most food, including rice, and so there is little large scale agriculture. The Wasan

Rice Scheme was started some 20 years ago to provide for jobs and a wider diversity in

economic income. Wasan is the only relatively large agricultural area. Small scale (rice)

cultivation can be found in the regions of Kilanas, Pangkalan Batu and Kiudang between

Bandar Seri Begawan and Lamunin. But these sites are too scattered for counting

waterbirds.

Vegetation within residential areas and alongside roads is often kept very short, turning

them into grasslands. Most of these areas are artificially cleared, and some are kept

short by buffalos. After rain these grasslands frequently are flooded and encourage large

populations of insects. A number of waterbirds forage in these areas.

Around Seria and Kuala Belait rather a large area of open and half open, wet grass fields

can be found. Along the Sungai Birau close to Kampung Bekiau a large buffalo field

attracts quite some waterbirds.

Freshwater lakes

In spite of the high rainfall, Brunei Darussalam only has two natural freshwater lakes.

The lakes are actually flooded portions of a river and experience a large variation in

water level, which is related to the monsoonal regimes. After periods of low rainfall, such

as at the end of the seasonal dry period, these lakes came become completely dry. The

surface water has high contents in humic acids, which results in clear but coffee coloured

water with a low pH (4-5), typical peat swamp water. This water is presumably low in

nutrients, resulting in limited food (fish, invertebrates, algae) for waterbirds.


Artificial sites

Artificial sites like sewage ponds, rice fields and shrimp farms attract a good lot of

waterbirds because of the abundant availability of food. These sites are especially

attractive when the fields or ponds are only covered with a thin layer of water. In the

shrimp farms, the waterbirds are most crowded during high tide.

2.4. THREATS TO WATERBIRDS Local pollution and destruction of waterbird habitat are considered the most serious

threats to waterbirds in Brunei Darussalam. Hunting of waterbirds, a problem in the

other parts of South-East Asia has not been recognised as a threat to waterbirds in

Brunei.

In large parts of the country there is no effective treatment of domestic sewage. All the

sewage is dumped into rivers, lakes and the sea. As a result several rivers have become

heavily polluted.

Considering the volume of oil production in the country, oil pollution has not been identi-

fied to be a major problem to waterbirds at the moment. However, in the event of oil

spills due to blow-outs, leaks and accidents, there may be a great risk of oil entering

rivers, Brunei Bay and other coastal areas, and therefore the potential risk to waterbirds

cannot be ruled out. Sungai Bera and Sungai Seria have been heavily polluted by oil

spills by incidents over the last 70 years (see Ch 3.1).

Until recently the destruction of wetland habitats in Brunei Darussalam was considered a

minor problem. But developments go fast and nowadays more and more wetlands have

to give way to residential, commercial and industrial areas. Muara district in the east is

still the fastest growing area, but Tutong, Lumut (Liang), Seria and Kuala Belait are follo-

wing rapidly. Vast areas of former peat swamp forests are drained, the peat removed

and replaced by sand. Mangrove forests north of Bandar and west of Tutong change into

shrimp and fish farms.

At the moment a national Masterplan is executed by the Government wherein many

rivers are canalised and reduced into straight channels with bare earth walls or someti-

mes even vertical concrete walls to drainage residential and industrial areas. Time will

have to show whether this large operation helps to prevent floods, but one can be

already sure it will have major implication on the number of waterbirds.


3. METHODOLOGY

3.1. SURVEY SITES

All sites surveyed in 2007 where also surveyed in 2008, and four new sites were visited

this year. Of these four, two sites along Sungai Brunei were already counted in March

last year. A prawn farm between Lumut and Telisai appeared to be an interesting high

tide roost and the Bekiau Buffalo Field was proposed by Samhan Nyawa. Of course more

sites could be added, but with a very limited number of experienced bird watchers we

would risk to overload ourselves, which we certainly didn’t want.

1 23 4 5

8

6

7

910

11

121415

13

16

17

Map 1. Distribution of the sites counted for AWC 2008 throughout Brunei Darussalam. 1. Sg Seria Estuary, 2. Sg Bera Estuary, 3. Grasslands Panaga – Seria, 4. J14 former Disposal Site, 5. Luagan Lalak, 6. Tasek Merimbun, 7. Sewage Treatment Plant Tutong, 8. Wasan Rice Fields, 9. Muara Beach, 10. Serasa Beach, 11. Mentiri Prawn Farm, 12. Brunei Bay Mudflats, 13. Telisai Mudflats, 14. Makam Diraja, 15. Makam di Luba, 16. Bekiau Buffalo Field, 17. Semaun Prawn Farm. Most of the sites are concentrated along the coast of Brunei, except for the freshwater

lakes of Luagan Lalak and Tasek Merimbun, Bekiau buffalo field and Wasan rice fields

(Map 1). Only the two freshwater lakes enjoy a protected status. The Seria Coast (Sg

Seria, Sg Bera, Grasslands Panaga-Seria), Wasan Rice fields and Brunei Bay have been

identified as Important Bird Area by Birdlife International, but this has not resulted in any

official national protection so far (Table 1).


Site Code Name of Site Coordinates Protection Status

204311411 Sungai Seria Estuary 04˚36’N, 114˚18’E Unprotected IBA, Potential RAMSAR site

204311412 Sungai Bera Estuary 04˚35’N, 114˚20’E Unprotected IBA

204311413 Grasslands Panaga - Seria 04˚36’N, 114˚18’E Unprotected IBA

204311410 J14 former Disposal Site 04˚35’N, 114˚18’E

BRUNEI008 Luagan Lalak 04˚30’N, 114˚28’E FRP

BRU000002 Tasek Merimbun 04˚34’N, 114˚41’E Protected IBA, ANHS

BRUNEI003 Sewage Treatment Tutong 04˚49’N, 114˚39’E

204411450 Wasan rice fields 04˚47’N, 114˚48’E Unprotected IBA

BRUNEI005 Muara Beach 05˚02’N, 115˚04’E

BRUNEI006 Serasa Beach/spit 05˚00’N, 115˚03’E

BRUNEI007 Mentiri Prawn Farm 04˚38’N, 115˚02’E

BRUNEI004 Brunei Bay Mudflats 04˚51’N, 115˚01’E Unprotected IBA

204311414 Telisai Mudflats 04˚43’N, 114˚33’E

204311415 Makam Diraja 04˚53’N, 114˚56’E

204311416 Makam di Luba 04˚50’N, 114˚53’E

204311417 Bekiau Buffalo Field 04˚47’N, 114˚43’E

204311418 Semaun Prawn Farm 04˚41’N, 114˚29’E Table 1. Protection status of the sites IBA: Important Bird Area identified by Birdlife International (2005) ANHS: Asean National Heritage Site FRP: Forest Reserve Park Seria Wetlands Before 1940 the district of Seria and surroundings were all covered with peat swamps

(with the exception of the beach on the coast). Starting in the 1940’s the peat was slowly

replaced by considerable amounts of sand originating from the beach and inland sand

deposits. In 1993 – ’94 a sea wall was constructed from Panaga Camp to Anduki. This

resulted in restriction of the existing rivers and the creation of an extensive open grass-

land area. Industrial activities caused a lot of changes but also prevented complete

logging and development of the area. Till today the Seria Wetlands have a large variety

of habitats with a relative rich and original wildlife. Many waterbirds are seen around

Seria.

In this district, 4 sites are counted for AWC which lie in close proximity of each other.

Just east of Seria lies Sungai Bera, west of the city is Sungai Seria. In between both

rivers, the artificial open grasslands can be found were many birds forage when the

mudflats are flooded and during the wet monsoon periods. Southwest of Seria, small

parts of the original peat swamp remain. Here 2 flooded former waste dump sites are

located which regularly attract waterbirds.


1. Sungai Seria Estuary Sungai Seria is a small river draining the area west of Seria, the Panaga Camp and the

drained peatswamp to the south (Map 2). The river has a length of about 15 km and its

basin covers an area of at least 30 to 40 km2. In former years the course of the river

channel has been changed on behalf of residential and industrial (oil exploitation)

development. The most upstream part of the river was canalised and a shortcut created

already some time ago. A number of the small eastern tributaries have been cut off. As a

result, a brackish water swamp has developed which is artificially drained during low tide

(Bloem, 2007).

Since September 2007, part of the main river between the already canalised upstream

part and the shortcut is in the process of being canalised as well. The government has

plans to continue this canalisation all the way to the sea. If this project proceeds as

planned, the Sungai Seria Estuary will be definitely be lost as an Important Bird Area.

For the AWC the lower 4 km of the river, the brackish water swamp and the neighbouring

beaches have been surveyed.

1

2

43

Map 2. The sites around Seria. 1. Sungai Seria Estuary, 2. Sungai Bera Estuary, 3. Grasslands Panaga – Seria, 4. J14 former Disposal Site.

2. Sungai Bera Estuary Sungai Bera is the first river to the east of Sungai Seria. It’s about twice as long and has

a drainage basin 2 to 3 times as large (Map 2). The level of the river is strongly influen-

ced by tide and rainfall as well.


This river has been under influence of industrial development ever since oil drilling in this

area started. It has been heavily polluted by oil on several occasions (Bloem, 2007). The

most recent oil spill occurred in October 2007 when the mangrove flats were covered

with spilled oil. Several mud volcanoes developed next to the river mouth as a result of

gas leakage (leaking salt water into the Sungai).

In the course of 2006 and ’07 90% of the river has been canalised as part of the prepa-

ration of the area southeast of Seria for industrial development. Only the river mouth

north of the Seria – Anduki road is still relatively undisturbed. Canalisation will have

major influence on the discharge of the river and the surrounding peat swamp and

mangrove area.

3. Grasslands Panaga – Seria The Grasslands at Panaga-Seria cover an area of about 700 - 750 ha, between Sungai

Bera in the east, the limits of the residential area and upriver Sungai Seria to the south,

Supasave and the crossroad to the west and the seashore to the north (Map 2). Sungai

Seria, that lies within this site is excluded as a separate site.

The Grasslands are artificial (Bloem, 2007), the sandy soil originating from offshore

beach sand and inland sand layers. The vegetation is kept short by regular maintenance.

Over the years oil and gas extraction caused the soil to subside about 1 to 2 meters,

leading to regular flooding of the area during peak tides and heavy rain. During inter-

monsoon and dry periods the sandy soil dries out quickly, becoming less interesting for

waterbirds.

These fields, particularly those just behind the sea dike, the flooded fields and ditches,

offer important high tide roosts for many species of water birds.

4. J14 former Disposal Site This former disposal site is today an isolated lake surrounded by secondary peat swamp

forest and in concession to Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP). The lake borders are complete-

ly covered by low vegetation and water grass (Map 2; Bloem, 2007).

Since September 2007 the areas north and east of the lake have been taken under deve-

lopment. Here the remaining mangrove and peat swamp forest was cleared and the peat

removed. Part of Sungai Seria passing north of the former disposal site was canalised as

part of the Flood Mitigation Project. It can be expected that these works will influence the

water economy of the lake as well.

The H13 lake that was counted as well last year, is included in the flood mitigation plans.

Half of the border vegetation being already removed, the planned canal will run through


the middle of the lake. Because of all disturbance lake H13 was not included in the AWC

2008.

Luagan Lalak Luagan Lalak is a freshwater lake and is part of the Labi Hills Forest Reserve, covering

270 ha (Map 3). The lake drains via the Sungai Lalak into the Sungai Belait and accor-

dingly it has substantial fluctuations in water level following the different seasons. During

the dry season the lake may dry out completely. Its maximum surface will be about 150

ha. The vegetation covering the lake consists of Purun, a kind of long grass which resists

the fluctuating water levels. The borders are covered with bushes, gradually shifting into

relatively undisturbed peat swamp forest.

The lake is situated along the road to Labi. During holidays it gives easy access to visi-

tors, who can have a picnic or a stroll along a small part of the western border. During

the week always some fishermen try their luck. In general the recreation pressure is very

small as most of the borders are inaccessible and no boats are used.

Map 3. Map of Luagan Lalak. Map 4. Map of Tasek Merimbun. Tasek Merimbun Tasek Merimbun is part of the Merimbun Heritage Park with a total area of 7.200 ha (Map

4). Because of its rare and unique wildlife bio-diversity and its archaeological values, on

the 29th November 1984, it was declared an Asean National Heritage Site. Recently

research activities by the staff of the Brunei Museum have been increased and there are

studies ongoing to investigate and improve the recreational potential of this Park.

Tasek Merimbun is not a true lake. Actually there are kind of 2 depressions surrounded

by swamps, connected by the short Sungai Piasau and have an area of 100 and 120 ha

respectively. Both drain into one of the tributaries of Sungai Tutong. The water is colou-

red tea brown due to the presence of tannin sourced from the streams that feed into the


lake after flowing through the inland peat swamps. This water is low in pH and in

nutrients (Wong, 1998).

The lake borders are mostly covered with sedges (Purun, Lepironia articulata) and

bushes/shrub slowly shifting into hardly accessible peat swamp forest. On the north side

of the lakes, fires have destroyed large parts of the original forest, leaving an open

degraded swamp with dead tree trunks. Also in this part of the lake small islands of

Banjiru (Licuala paludosa) can be found. The Peat swamp forest is typically and

dominantly characterized by Kapur Paya Dryobalanops rappa, Ramin Gonystylus

maingayi and Malawaring Cyrtisachys renda.

Sewage Treatment Plant Tutong The Sewage Ponds of Tutong consist of 4 water basins with a total area of nearly 10 ha.

The ponds are surrounded by Casuarina and Coconut palms and lie between the beach

and the city of Tutong (Map 5; Bloem, 2007). In general the water of the basins is deep

and full with fish, so quite a number of waterbirds stay around the whole day and

(immature) raptors regularly visit to catch some fish.

The Coconut palms on the southeast side of the basins provide a roosting for a group of

egrets (Great, Intermediate, Little and Cattle egrets) each night. Oriental darter and

White-bellied sea-eagle are suspected to roost in the nearby Casuarina.

Map 5. Map of Sewage Treatment Plant Tutong. Map 6. Map of Wasan Rice Fields. Wasan Rice fields As a first step towards the attainment of self-sufficiency in rice, in 1978 the government

launched an experimental large scale mechanized rice planting project at Kampung Wa-

san, about 15 km southwest of the capital. Covering an area of 400 hectares, the project

was a joint undertaking between the Agriculture Department and the Public Works

Department (Map 6). The project was aimed at planting padi twice a year, from April to


September and from October to March. Unfortunately early ‘90ties more and more a “dry

field” rice method was used and since around 1997 the rice fields seemed to have been

left unattended and were slowly turning into scrub grassland. Rice was no longer produ-

ced on a regular base and the whole area was very dry. Conditions for waders and other

waterbirds decreased year by year.

From mid 2006 to the present a cooperative of retired Brunei military personnel caused a

revival of the growing of rice. The supply of water was permanently improved as was the

infrastructure to reach the fields. More and more fields are taken into production again.

In the middle of the field a through road has been opened, making the area also more

busy and noisy. The impact of this development starts to be visible and overall seems

very positive indeed.

The rice fields offer an open, manmade fresh water habitat. Through the centre of the

complex streams a relatively undisturbed, small river. The east side of the field is not yet

recovered and so offers good hiding places for all kind of rails and coots, bitterns and

warblers. Every farmer uses a slightly different method so all fields are in a different

stadium of rice growing. This small scale combination of habitats attracts a lot of water-

birds, so many that it doesn’t surprise that the area was considered as an Important Bird

Area (Table 1).

Brunei Bay Estuary Brunei Bay Estuary is a large and shallow embayment of 325 km2 in the south west

corner of Brunei Bay (1,380 km2) (Map 1). During low tide large mud and sand flats are

exposed and much of the bay becomes inaccessible for boats. The majority of its

southern and eastern coastline is still fringed with mature mangrove forests (85% of the

country's mangroves) especially towards Temburong District. The western coastline

between Muara and capital city Bandar Seri Begawan is developed; most of the original

mangrove vegetation is removed and replaced by residential, industrial and recreational

activities.

The estuary is fed by several large rivers within Brunei Darussalam (S. Brunei and S.

Temburong) and Sarawak (S. Limbang and S. Trusan). The estuary is of major signifi-

cance for the local shrimp fishery. Aquaculture is still on small scale. The major concern

for this area is towards pollution control from domestic effluent load and solid waste

(especially plastics).

Brunei Bay Estuary is too large a site to be counted as a whole or as one single site.

Besides the fact that many mudflats can only be monitored by boat, accessibility is a

major problem caused by shallowness of the water during low tide and the fact that a


large part of the Bay falls under the territorial waters of Sarawak, Malaysia. Since 2002

counts were conducted at 4 separate sites; Muara and Serasa beach, Mentiri Prawn Farm

and Brunei Bay Mudflats. The number of sites is still the same but an effort was made to

cover a larger portion of the western part of the estuary.

Unfortunately Temburong was again excluded from the AWC, since this is also the most

remote part of the country. However it is probably of great interest to include this district

since many waterbirds are to be expected foraging in the mangroves and at high tide in

the rice fields located between the mangroves and the Limbang – Lawas road.

9

10

11

Map 7. The sites on the north-eastern coast. 9. Muara Beach, 10. Serasa Beach, 11. Mentiri Prawn Farm

1. Muara Beach Pantai Muara lies north of the village of Muara looking towards the South China Sea (Map

7). The sandy beach has a length of about 3.5 km ending in a stony spit on the eastern

point. The inhabitants of Muara have a long history of using the beach for fishing and

recreational purposes.

2. Serasa Beach Serasa Bay is situated in the north of Brunei Estuary south of Muara Port. It is enclosed

by a 1.6 km long Serasa Sand Spit (Map 7) which is an artificial sand bar created by

dumping dredged sands from Muara Port area complex. The whole length of the sand spit

has been planted with Casuarina equisetifolia. On both sides of the spit beaches have de-


veloped, serving recreational needs such as swimming, fishing, windsurfing, boating and

picnicking.

During low tide a large mudflat is uncovered on the north western side of the spit where

it’s connected to the mainland. This is where most of the waterbirds can be found.

In addition to the spit the Sewage Ponds at the entrance of the road have been included.

3. Mentiri Prawn Farm The Mentiri Prawn Farm is a relative new and modern complex of farms of about 90 ha in

total, east and north of the village of Mentiri and close to the coast of Brunei Bay (Map

7). Unfortunately the mangrove forest had to give way to the farm, leaving only the thin

edges.

The shrimp farms attract quite a lot of waterbirds. Depending on the depth of the water,

waders forage in the soft mud of unused ponds or on the bare banks in between, Egrets

fish from the sides of filled ponds and terns catch shrimps from the air.

The Sewage Ponds have been included in the count. These quiet and abandoned ponds

provide habitat for even different species waterbirds.

4. Brunei Bay Mudflats

The Brunei Bay Mudflats refer to the mud and sand flats in the Brunei Estuary that are

exposed during low tide. In 2008 counting was conducted from three different places in

order to cover as many mudflats as possible (Map 8).

Map 8. Map of Brunei Bay Mudflats. Map 9. Map of Telisai Mudflats. Telisai Mudflats The Telisai Mudflats have resulted in the confluent of the rivers of Sungai Pepakan and

Sungai Telamba. At just 1 km from the coast, the large mudflat of about 23 ha is expo-

sed during low tide, most of the time it is covered by a layer of shallow water. The mud-


flats are surrounded by mangrove vegetation, which are relatively pristine on the south

and west side. Behind a thin mangrove zone on the north and east side lie the villages of

Telisai and Kampung Telamba (Map 9). So far this site doesn’t have any protection. Pos-

sible future government plans like flood mitigation projects are not known. Probably the

most important current threat to this site is pollution by untreated sewage and domestic

waste. Locals also use the rivers for small scale fishing.

Makam Diraja This area indicates the mudflats of Sg Brunei that lie at the foot of the Royal Cemetery

(Map 10). The mudflats are partly covered by the water villages of Kampung Pengiran

Bendahara Lama and Kampung Pengiran Tejuddin’Hitam. The mudflats must be very rich

in food as a result of sewage and refuse abundantly dumped in the river water and on

the mudflats. During low tide waterbirds are probably much at ease on these flats, as the

houses are built on stilts of about 4 meters connected with each other by wooden plank

walks and only fishermen venture down in the mud.

The northern border of the river is still more or less covered by mangrove trees, although

part of them have been cut recently, probably in function of the construction of the new

mosque. The stumps are used by the Little, Great and Intermediate egrets to roost.

This and the next site were not included in Brunei Bay Estuary, since both are considered

too far upstream Sungai Brunei. The habitat is more of a freshwater river, thought still

under tidal influence and there certainly is a daily migration along the river of birds

moving between high and low tide feeding places and roosts.

Map 10. Map of Makam Diraja. Map 11. Map of Makam di Luba. Makam di Luba This name is used to indicate the parts of the Sg Brunei and Sg Damuan flowing past

Pulau Luba (Map 11). At this location the edges of both rivers are mostly covered in

mangrove trees. The northern border of Sg Damuan is partly developed into a residential


area and a quarry (still actively in use). During low tide, only small mudflats are exposed,

so the area is in use mostly by heron, egrets and kingfishers. Both rivers are used as

highways by egrets to reach their roost at the eastern edge of Pulau Luba.

The expectation is that over the next 10 years the whole of the northern border of the Sg

Damuan will be developed, but hopefully the other parts will stay untouched as Pulau Lu-

ba as well as Pulau Ranggu accommodate groups of the protected and endemic Proboscis

Monkey. These monkeys are one of today’s main tourist attractions of Brunei.

Bekiau Buffalo Field Bekiau Buffalo Field is a large elongated field of around 150 ha. located along both sides

of the Sungai Birau (Map 12). The field is about 9 km distance from the coast, this might

be too far to function as a high tide roost for coastal species. The Sungai Birau and some

of its tributaries have been canalised into a more or less straight channel with bare earth

bunds only quite recently. The bunds seem to prevent drainage of the adjacent grassland

and as a result both sides of the river get very wet during monsoon. A large group of do-

mesticated buffalos keep the vegetation low and open and in combination with the rather

isolated position provide an excellent place for waterbirds to forage.

Probably this field is owned by the government who agreed the local villagers to use it.

This situation makes its future uncertain and there is no clear image on potential threats.

Telisai Mudflats

Semaun Prawn Farm

Map 12. Map of Bekiau Buffalo Field Map 13. Map of Semaun Prawn Farm. Semaun Prawn Farm Semaun is a relatively new and small shrimp farm constructed along the north side of the

road Lumut – Telisai. It’s situated directly behind the coastal fringe of Casuarina (Map

13). Originally this land must have been covered by Kerangas forest growing on a very

poor sandy soil. The opposite side of the road is barren land created by a sand quarry.

Waterbirds use the ponds as a high tide roost. Egrets choose to stand on the border of

inundated ponds, the waders prefer the empty ones. Even though the bottom of the


ponds are layered with plastic, as long as it is covered by some mud, waders are

attracted to come and forage.

3.2. VOLUNTEERS An important objective of the AWC in Brunei is to make more people enthusiastic for bird

watching and bird counting, especially (young) permanent residents of Brunei. Between

September and December 2007 eight training sessions were organised to learn people a-

bout interesting birding sites and bird identification. Three sessions were organised close

to Seria, one halfway the country at the sewage ponds in Tutong and four in Muara Dis-

trict at different sites around Bandar. Especially the volunteers coming from Bandar took

the opportunity to attend more than one of the offered excursions.

In total a group of about 30 people have been volunteering in this AWC, divided in about

10 temporary and 20 (more) permanent residents. A complete list of names is included

in the acknowledgements.

Unfortunately 2 of the more experienced bird watchers left halfway 2007, leaving us with

a relatively small group of 6. None the less did we manage to count larger sites like

Wasan rice fields and Mentiri prawn farms with a group of four team each site resulting in

a more than 75% coverage for both sites.

Site Code Name of Site Date of counting Counting by

204311411 Sungai Seria Estuary 12 January Foot

204311412 Sungai Bera Estuary 5 January Foot

204311413 Grasslands Panaga - Seria 13 January Car

204311410 J14 former Disposal Site 15 January Foot

BRUNEI008 Luagan Lalak 19 January Foot

BRU000002 Tasek Merimbun 8 January Boat

BRUNEI003 Sewage Treatment Tutong 27 January Foot

204411450 Wasan rice fields 16 December Foot

BRUNEI005 Muara Beach 11 January Foot

BRUNEI006 Serasa Beach/spit 11 January Foot

BRUNEI007 Mentiri Prawn Farm 20 January Foot

BRUNEI004 Brunei Bay Mudflats 10 February Boat and foot

204311414 Telisai Mudflats 7 January Foot

204311415 Makam Diraja 18 January Foot

204311416 Makam di Luba 10 January Foot

204311417 Bekiau Buffalo Field 12 January Foot

204311418 Semaun Prawn Farm 20 December Foot Table 2. Dates and ways of counting


3.3. ITINERARY AND TRANSPORTATION The AWC generally takes place during the second and third week of January. Because of

the number of sites, holidays and monsoon it was obvious that it was difficult to achieve

this schedule. A total of 13 out of 17 sites were counted during the preferred period from

January 6 till 21 (Table 2), the rest had to be conducted before or after because of

several reasons.

Wasan Rice Fields was counted half December because of the rice growing season. Since

the rice was planted in October inevitably all fields would be covered in high grass by mid

January. Harvest would only take place in March or April. It would be impossible to see

any small bird at that time and underestimation was expected to be huge. Half December

the rice was already tall but still quite transparent so we considered that that would be

the best time for conducting the AWC.

For some sites we depended on the agenda of people. Semaun was actually found more

by accident and subsequently counted straight away. The agenda was already fully boo-

ked and we didn’t feel like asking even more than we already did from our volunteers.

For Brunei Bay the census was delayed because January was expected to be the peak of

north-east monsoon, like last year. Actually January this year was more calm then

February, but then the boat was already planned.

Most sites were reached by private car, and the count was done on foot. Brunei Bay was

visited by boat and by foot, Tasek Merimbun as well by boat and the Grasslands Panaga

– Seria were counted by car all along. Per site a short explanation will be given of how

the site was covered including advantages and disadvantages.

3.4. COUNTING Most of the counts were conducted by a teams of two to four people, one identifying and

counting, one recording and the others helping to trace and identify less visible birds.

Most counts of waterbirds in this survey

were carried out early morning when

birds are most active and feeding. Rivers,

beaches, sand and mudflats were visited

during low tide. Sewage ponds, prawn

farms, rice and buffalo fields on the

contrary were more interesting at high

tide. Only the Grasslands Panaga – Seria

were counted during low tide, whereas


they are normally counted at high tide, but this was to prevent too much double counting

with Sungai Seria.

Sites that were known to have an egret roost in the vicinity were counted at the end of

the day when the egrets fly in. In this way only one or two flyways could be counted, so

these numbers can only serve as an indication of the total number of birds using that

particular roost. Accidentally we managed to locate a Whimbrel and Common sandpiper

roost as well. Only the roost along Sg Seria was counted early morning at the moment

the birds set off to their feeding grounds.

3.5. DATA ANALYSIS Four sites are counted on a weekly to monthly base and five sites were visited a number

of times preliminary to the AWC, so the occurrence and numbers of species are better

known than January 2007. In most cases species not seen at the AWC but that were

recorded between the first December and end of February were added to the sighting

list.

In the total number of species given per site, “unidentified” waders and terns are inclu-

ded as a species because they can be of any kind. “Unidentified herons and egrets” on

the contrary were not included as a separate species, because all the unidentified were

one of the white egrets already seen on that particular site so already included as a

species.

Of the sites that have been participated before in the AWC, the old data were used for

comparison and giving an indication on possible developments (Appendix 4).


4. RESULTS FOR BRUNEI PER LOCATION

4.1. OVERALL RESULTS A total of 14,713 waterbirds and water related birds of 69 species have been reported,

consisting of 14,307 waterbirds of 51 species and 406 water related birds of 18 species

(Table 3. and Appendix 1.).

The observed major waterbird groups were Cormorants & Darters (1 species, 74 birds),

Herons & Egrets (15, 11,320), Storks (1, 4), Geese & Ducks (2, 59), Rails & Coots (3,

137), Waders (25, 2,687) and Gulls & Terns (4, 26). The highest number was for Cattle

egrets with 1,591 individuals identified. Besides waterbirds 18 wetland dependent species

were identified: 51 Raptors of 7 species, 207 Kingfishers of 5 species and 148 birds of 6

other species (warblers, wagtails, quail) were recorded

Two globally threatened and two near-threatened (NT) species of waterbirds were repor-

ted: the Chinese egret (Vulnerable VU, 9), Lesser adjudant (VU, 4), the Oriental darter

(NT, 74) and the Grey-headed fish-eagle (NT, 2). Other highlights were Northern

lapwing, Black-headed gull, Nankeen night heron, Striated grassbird and White wagtail.

Species groups CORMORANTS & DARTERS

HERONS & EGRETS STORKS GEESE &

DUCKS

RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS

SHOREBIRDS- WADERS

GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS

ADDITIONALSPECIES

Site Sg Seria estuary 3 5601 0 0 26 189 0 51Sg Bera estuary 0 12 0 0 0 19 1 22Grasslands Panaga-Seria 0 367 2 0 8 79 0 10J14-former Disposal site 1 4 0 1 3 0 0 7Luagan Lalak 4 6 0 0 0 0 0 7Tasek Merimbun 44 1100 0 0 2 0 0 4Sewage tanks Tutong 14 707 0 0 1 8 0 8Wasan Rice Fields 0 369 0 58 60 536 0 116Muara beach 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1Serasa beach/spit 2 88 0 0 0 50 7 25Mentiri prawn farm 0 467 0 0 5 1237 3 44Brunei Bay Mudflats 0 870 1 0 0 250 14 38Telisai Mudflats 0 78 0 0 1 12 1 10Makam Diraja 0 287 0 0 20 75 0 34Makam di Luba 0 1076 0 0 6 12 0 2Bekiau Buffalo Field 6 90 1 0 2 124 0 25Semaun prawn farm 0 178 0 0 3 96 0 2

Total 74 11301 4 59 137 2687 26 406Total waterbirds 14307

Table 3. Data of AWC 2008 for all areas and per species group.

4.2. RESULTS PER LOCATION Per location the method of counting and the results for this year will be evaluated. Seve-

ral of the sites have been counted before, so historical data are available for comparison.


Since every site has been monitored in a unique way the value of these data will be

described and if possible an indication given of the development of the site regarding

waterbirds and their habitat.

Seria Wetlands Seria Wetlands consists of a complex of 2 small rivers, grasslands with many drains and

some remnants of peat swamp forest with a couple of former dump sites. Waterbirds re-

gard this area probably as one wetland complex but actually it’s too large to be counted

as one. Historically 4 sites are counted in the Seria Wetlands for the AWC which all lie in

close proximity of each other.

Generally waterbirds use the rivers, mudflats and beaches during low tide. When the ti-

des comes in many transfer to the fresh water swamp (or Seria Lagoon), the Grasslands

or roost somewhere hidden. The J14 former dump site might also be used as high tide

roost. At night there is a large egret roost in de mangrove trees along Sungai Seria. The

egrets that roost here are all the white egret species that forage in a large area around

Seria.

To avoid double counting of egrets but some waders as well we intended to count the 4

sites including the egret roost on one day, but capacity problems forced us to plan the

sites on different days.

Regarding the whole of Seria Wetlands a total of 6316 waterbirds of 35 species, respec-

tively 90 water-related birds of 10 species have been recorded. Most of the birds are he-

rons and egrets (95%, mainly Cattle egrets), waders contribute for nearly 5%. However

per AWC site the distribution is quite different.

Most important species recorded were 2 Lesser adjudants first seen the 5th of January;

they stayed for several weeks. This species can be found regularly in ones or twos on the

Grasslands and the mudflats of Sungai Seria. Chinese egrets (2) can be found along the

beach and in the estuaries of both Sungai Seria and Bera. Near-threatened Oriental dar-

ter (3) moves around between the several fresh water lakes and swamps around the

area. A potential visitor of Seria Wetlands might be the Endangered Storm’s stork, which

has been recorded on several occasions just south of the area.

Regarding water-related birds the Wetlands know a wide variety of raptors (4 sp. recor-

ded), kingfishers (4 sp.) and other birds from open, wet and grassy habitats.


1. Sungai Seria Estuary Method

Since August 2006, Sungai Seria Estuary forms part of an extensive weekly based study

(by A. Bloem) on waterbirds. So the best observation sites, best timing and which bird

species to expect were known quite well. The counting done at low tide was started in

the Tattler hide at the fresh water swamp. The river was counted subsequently in up-

stream direction, starting at the beach and ending about 4 km upstream (Map 14). This

took in total about 5 hours, giving a risk of double counting. Lack of survey participants

forced to count the site to be done in this manner .Experience has taught that there is

not much disturbance as long as there are not too many people and/or activities around.

The roost along the river was counted separately by a different group of people. Two

subgroups counted the number of birds flying off in different directions. The egrets of the

Sungai Seria roost spread out over the river and a large area grossly between Anduki

and Kuala Belait. This area is larger than the surface the AWC site Grasslands cover. The

limits of the home range are not known and they will depend on the species, individual

birds and might vary according to the availability of food. The egrets recorded in the field

most probably all sleep at the roost along Sungai Seria, so are in fact double counted.

2

13

45

67

Map 14. The observation points along Sungai Seria Estuary. The green star represents the location of the egret roost.

Result and discussion

Regarding the surrounding residential and industrial activities this site knows a surpri-

singly high diversity in species of waterbirds and water related birds. Respectively 30 and

7 species and 5819 and 51 birds have been counted along the lower parts of Sungai Se-

ria and the adjacent fresh water swamp.

The AWC for Sg Seria consists of two recordings, namely one record of all the birds found

foraging along the river and the swamp by day time and a second record of all the egrets

roosting at night along the river border. During daytime the total number of waterbirds

recorded were 371 of 30 species, consisting for 42% of herons and egrets, 7% of rails


and coots and 51% of waders. The herons and egrets are mainly Intermediate, Little and

Great egret, but there are always a few vulnerable Chinese egret (2), Pacific reef heron

(black as well as white morph) and Grey heron that mix with them. More hidden between

the mangrove are small numbers of Yellow bitterns, Black-crowned night herons, Chinese

pond herons and Little Green-backed herons. Purple heron only visits Sg Seria occasio-

nally and Cattle egret prefer to forage on the grasslands. Special feature were 3 near-

threatened Oriental Darter foraging at the fresh water swamp.

The birds of the rails and coots group are limited to the fresh water swamp. White-bro-

wed crake and White-breasted waterhen (less limited) are residents, but Moorhen only

stay over the northern winter.

The waders were a diverse group more or less subdivided by habitat. Kentish, Mongolian

and Greater sand plovers (22% of the waders) are restricted to the beach and sandy

mudflats. The others are found more upriver in the brackish and fresh water zone on

mudflats, sometimes between the roots of the mangrove trees. During high tide they

roost or transfer temporarily to the adjacent grasslands or the fresh water lagoon when

the water level is low.

The egrets were roosting about 100 meter further upstream compared to their location at

2007. The roost was counted at first daylight and totalled 5929 birds, consisting of pre-

dominantly Cattle egrets combined with an estimate of 400 to 500 Intermediate, Little

and Great egrets. Exact numbers of the species are not known as it is impossible to iden-

tify the species at dusk: therefore the roosting egrets are administered under “Unidenti-

fied egrets”.

The number of egrets is very high

compared to last year AWC and to

the totals of the months before as

well. The average number of roos-

ting egrets counted from half Octo-

ber 2007 till January 2008 was a just

over 3,300, so indeed considerably

higher than during winter 2007 (on

average 2250). The high number for AWC 2008 could be caused by the fact that some-

one else counts the roost for AWC, though this same person conducted the count in 2007

and no deviation was noticed then. Maybe the usual counter generally underestimates

the size of the roost. Another cause might be found in the fact that the roost seemed a

bit restless since 1 month. The roost changed to another place and since then the num-

bers varied more. Maybe another roost along the coast was disturbed by developments

and those birds decided to temporarily join the roost at Sungai Seria.


The egrets leave the roost early in the morning and spread over a large area ranging

roughly from the western border of Panaga to Sungai Bera in the east and from the

northern coast to the Seria Bypass in the south. So probably all the egrets that were

found on the Grasslands (see further down) roost here as well. As a result we considered

all the egrets counted foraging along Sg Seria and on the Grasslands as double counted.

The Sungai Seria of old receives lot of attention by local bird watchers because it’s an

interesting river lying in their back garden. So quite a lot of old data are still available,

though often they lack some indication about the method of counting and monitoring.

AWC data for Sungai Seria are known to start at 1986 (Appendix 4). The first 4 years

only waders were counted, thereafter all waterbirds were included. The main conclusion

looking at these data might be that the numbers and diversity of waders have decreased

notably during the 90’s. Where the average number and species from 1986 - 1989 were

respectively 537 and 14.2; in the last two AWC only an average of 169 waders of 12.5

species were observed. Stints seem to have disappeared altogether, though small num-

bers still pass by in autumn.

On the other hand the numbers and species of egrets and heron have clearly increased.

Whereas in 2007 and ‘08 12 to 13 species were observed, early 90’s only about 6 species

were found. The egret roost seems to be from recent years only, as I could not find

records of any roost before 2006.

Besides possible differences in methods, an important reason for these trends might be

the change of landscape. Twenty years ago the area around Sungai Seria was more open

than today and at least the last few km’s of river borders at places lacked mangrove ve-

getation (both probably due to industrial activity), providing a more open habitat prefer-

red by waders. On the other hand there was much more undisturbed forest nearby.

Looking at species from the red list, Chinese egret might have been more common

around Sungai Seria around 1990, while Oriental Darter appears to be of more recent

times. This is not so strange since the swamp at Tattler hide was only isolated from the

river (and sea) somewhere around 1995 and Oriental Darter are known to prefer fresh

water habitats.

2. Sungai Bera Estuary Method

At Sungai Bera all the birds were counted north of the road Seria – Anduki: by foot along

the river, its tributaries from the east and on the beach since this area is closed for cars.

The egrets counted at this site were assumed not to roost at Sg Seria, although this is

not proven.



On the mudflats and in the mangrove at the Sungai Bera estuary and the adjacent coas-

tal habitat 32 waterbirds were found of 11 species and 22 water-related birds of 4 spe-

cies. In the flooded grasslands on the other side of the road 6 more snipes were counted,

but these were not included in AWC because this field was not visited last year.

Black-headed gull

A special and uncommon sighting was a single Black-

headed gull, a rare visitor to Brunei.

Sungai Bera is known to have a turbulent history (Ch

3.1., Bloem, 2007) with developments and pollution ta-

king their toll. This is shown very well in the old data for

AWC from 1986 till today (appendix 4). Especially from

1986 till 1989 various plovers and stints seemed to like this site; on average over 520

waders of 12.7 species were counted yearly. Since 1990 the numbers declined fast

except for a small uprising around 1996. In 2008 only 18 waders of 4 species were seen.

Hopefully the last part of the river can be preserved from the canalisation activities.

3. Grasslands Panaga - Seria Method

In order to cover the whole area of grasslands between Panaga and Seria without too

much risk of double counting areas, the itinerary was fixed and same as in 2007. From

the car the birds were counted as far as one could see, which was often not further than

a few hundreds of metres (Map 15). To cover the area it took about 2.5 hours starting at

7 am. At this time all egrets have left the roost and settled in their foraging places. 2,5

hours of counting certainly poses a risk of double counting birds, but experience tells that

the egrets in general don’t move around very much in the morning and if they do mostly

in small groups.

This site was visited during low tide when most waterbirds prefer to forage on the mud-

flats and the beach. This was in order to prevent double counting with Sungai Seria.


On the artificial Grasslands between Panaga and Seria a total of 456 waterbirds of 13

species and 10 water related birds of 3 species have been count (Appendix 1, Table 3).

These numbers consisted for 80% of egrets (Cattle egret 86%, Little egret 3%, Interme-

diate egret 9% and Great egret 1%) and 17% of waders and few White-breasted water-

hen. The waders were mainly Pacific golden plover and some Little-ringed plover, Wood

sandpiper and Common sandpiper.


The most special sightings were of two vulnerable Lesser adjudant and a Malayan night

heron. The Adjudants were seen together on the grasslands between Sungai Seria and

Sungai Bera. The Malayan night heron was spotted in the garden of one of the Panaga

houses.

There are some old data available of former AWC (appendix 4). Since the area covered

before was probably much smaller than we do today, the data are hardly comparable.

But what is striking is that in 1997 a large number of small plovers was recorded and no

herons and egrets. Possibly the count was conducted at high tide, but still we don’t see

so many plovers in this area today.

Map 15. Map of the Grasslands Panaga-Seria.

4. J14 former Disposal Site Method

The J14 former Disposal Site was counted by foot going round the south side of the lake.

It could be overseen completely so there was a good impression about bird activity

though abundant vegetation on the borders will have hidden some of the more inconspi-

cuous species. Lake H13 was skipped because, as part of the Seria Flood Mitigation Pro-

ject, extensive excavation was taking place. This project might have influence on the

biodiversity of J14 lake as well, because it will end up being an island in between housing

and industrial areas.



In and around the lake of the former J14 former Disposal Site 9 waterbirds have been

recorded of 7 species. Water related birds contributed with 7 individuals of 3 species.

One near-threatened Oriental darter was observed. This species is a regular visitor of this

lake. Other special features were one Black-capped kingfisher and a single Wandering

whistling duck arriving from the surrounding secondary swamp.

Data from former AWC (Appendix 4) show much larger numbers of waterbirds visiting

this site in 1990 (106 birds of 14 species), but since then numbers have declined fast. It

is not very clear what caused this site becoming less suitable for waterbirds, maybe it’s

just the development of vegetation and the varying activity of dumping of mud in the

lake over the years.

Overall conclusion for Seria Wetlands is that this area still is an important stop-over

location - not for great numbers but instead - for quite some species, besides offering a

roost for considerable numbers of egrets during northern winter.

Another conclusion to be taken from these data is that the situation along Sg Seria, in

the Grasslands and the surrounding peat swamp has changed slowly over the years.

Trees were cut in one place because of industrial and residential developments creating

open grasslands; in other places mangrove spread out along the lower river borders and

existing trees on production sites and Panaga Camp matured. A fresh water swamp was

developed but several (mud) dump sites removed or inundated. Subsidence of the whole

production area has caused more flooding and in general wetter grasslands.

Continuous threats for the habitat and waterbirds in Seria Wetlands are a decline of

suitable habitats, disturbance by people (fishing, recreation, disturbance of the egret

roost), dumping of sewage water and solid waste. Major threat is the final execution of

the Flood Mitigation Projects in both estuaries resulting in an irreversible destruction of

the key resting and foraging habitats of most waders, herons and egrets.

Luagan Lalak Method

Luagan Lalak has the form of a kidney surrounded by forest. Access is limited to a few

100 m plank walk in bad to very bad condition. This makes it not easy to overlook the

whole lake. The best view points are from the plank walk along the west coast for about

200 m (about 20% of the length of the lake) and the now closed plank walk going to the

middle of the lake. During the census the water level was quite low, since it was

relatively dry in January 2008.



A total of 10 waterbirds of 4 species and 7 water related birds of 4 species have been re-

corded along the lake of Luagan Lalak, the most interesting sightings being four records

of the near-threatened Oriental darter, one near-threatened Grey-headed fish-eagle and

a couple of Striated grassbird. Regarding the additional observed birds, this area is clearly

more suitable for forest (edge) species than waterbirds which seems logic as the lake is

surrounded by large areas of – until recently - closed peat swamp forest. Additionally this

lake might be too deep in the period waterbirds visit Brunei since the level is at its

highest during the winter monsoon.

The oldest records for this site date from 2002 (Appendix 4). Considering the protected

status of this area the pressure on this lake and surrounding rain forest are probably not

so high and changes in near future will be fairly limited.

Tasek Merimbun Method

This year we were invited by Samhan Nyawa, curator at the Brunei Museums Depart-

ment, to join him and his staff to conduct the AWC per boat. The staff of the Brunei

Museum is doing a long-term research in Tasek Merimbun, so know the site and its

wildlife very well. By boat we visited the eastern lake late afternoon before sunset. By

this means we managed to count the incoming birds that roost on the margins of the

lake and the breeding colony of Oriental darter.

I realise that we used a different method compared to last year and probably also

compared to AWC 1998. There is a chance we cannot repeat this count the same way in

future. But still I think it was a very important opportunity to give a more complete

impression of the value of Tasek Merimbun for waterbirds.


At Tasek Merimbun a total of 1146 waterbirds of 7 species were

recorded and 4 water related birds of 4 species. 96% of the

waterbirds were herons and egrets, the remaining 4% were

Oriental darter. Most important observations were a breeding

colony of 44 near-threatened Oriental darter and 1 hunting

Grey-headed fish-eagle.

The northern coast of Tasek Merimbun experienced an exten-

sive forest fire some years ago. Now the seasonally flooded

forest is slowly recovering. The low and dead trees on the

border of the eastern lake are used by several species to roost

Oriental darter nesting


alongside each other. During the day, a colony of 45Black-crowned night-heron roost and

breed in the Licuola paludosa trees. Oriental darters have built their stick nests in nearby

small trees. We recorded 9 nests in December, but in January only 2 nests had chicks. In

January 2007, Samhan recorded nesting attempts of Oriental darter as well, but unfortu-

nately they were not successful. Next to the Oriental darter a colony of 16 Purple heron

roost, they started breeding in January, a few weeks later than the former. In between

these herons and darters about 1000 egrets roost during the night, being a mix of Cattle,

Little and Great egret, maybe Intermediate as well. Purple heron, Little green heron and

Oriental darter are year-round residents of the lakes. The egrets and Yellow bittern stay

only during the northern winter and Black-crowned night-heron seasonally travel over

Borneo.

Unfortunately no long-term records of the bird population of Tasek Merimbun are availa-

ble, therefore no indication can be given of any development.

Sewage Treatment Plant Tutong Method

The best view point to overlook the four basins is the terrace in front of the offices. Ad-

vantage is that it is a high point giving a good view and that the birds are accustomed to

movements on this location so don’t get too much stress. Disadvantage is that one can

not have a good view on the eastern sides of all ponds and the southern sides of the nor-

thern ponds. Moving around the site does not really help because of the risk of disturban-

ce. So probably some waders and small herons were missed.


At this site a total of 730 waterbirds of 11 species, respectively 8 water related birds of 5

species have been observed. These numbers consisted for 97% of herons and egrets, the

remaining 3% were for Oriental darter (14) and waders. The ponds attract water-related

raptors (5 of 3 species), mainly immature birds and Stork-billed kingfisher.

In daytime Oriental darter, Little and Great egret and Grey heron forage on the large fish

in the ponds, during the night accompanied by large groups of Cattle egret and – less –

Great egret


Intermediate egret. Also a small group of Black-crowned night-heron was discovered this

year.

Early morning the observed group of near-threatened Oriental darter is always larger

than at the end of the day. Close to sunset they fly off heading south and early morning

they return from the same direction, as the Black-crowned night-herons did. Possibly

they don’t roost respectively feed at the sewage ponds, but more south maybe along the

Sungai Tutong. Tasek Merimbun appears a bit far to fly up and down on a daily basis.

Probably there is no particular threat for the treatment plant, but there certainly are for

the surrounding areas. Infrastructural developments and the transformation of the major

part of the mangrove area west of the plant into a shrimp farm will have notable effect

on the numbers of waterbirds. In fact this was the last large and unspoiled mangrove

area in central Brunei.

Wasan Rice Fields Method

Since we managed to be with 4 experien-

ced birdwatchers and 5 helpers we were

able to cover a large part of the whole

complex of rice fields. The area was divi-

ded in four sections (Map 16) and each

section was covered crisscrossing it by

foot. The abandoned fields and non-agri-

cultural parts could only be overlooked

from the sides since high vegetation and

sometimes deep water prevented entering.

1

3

2

4

Rice shoots were planted during the month Map 16. Map of the 4 sections in Wasan Rice Fields.

of October and were growing very fast and tall. Experience from AWC 2007 had learned

that the crop would be very high in January distracting most waders from sight. Harvest

would only be somewhere end March. Knowing this we decided that December would be

the best month to conduct the AWC.


A total of 1023 waterbirds of 29 species and 116 water-related birds of 5 species were

recorded in the rice fields. The waterbirds consisted for 36% of herons and egrets, 52%

of waders and 12 % of ducks, rails and coots. There is a group of around 55 Wandering

whistling duck which stay all year round according to the farmers. Somehow they repla-

ced the resident group of 46 Garganey staying here early ‘90ties.


This year we only saw 3 individuals of the latter. Another important species recorded was

one single Northern lapwing staying for at least 3 weeks and we also saw quite a number

of Blue-breasted quail. The egret roost north of the rice fields was not counted since the

exact location is still not known.

Comparing these data with last year AWC we see a large difference mainly explained by

the fact that in 2007 a much smaller area was covered by only one team during a period

where most of the fields were covered with tall rice plants.

Wandering whistling duck

The last three months of 2007 in total 7 visits were made to Wasan. The overall impres-

sion was one of a high variety of waterbirds with some species in large numbers. Several

different species were recorded that were not seen during AWC. Looking at the old data

in Appendix 4, bearing the recent change of policy in mind and seeing the well maintai-

ned complex of rice fields today, it probably can be concluded that intensification has

caused a great improvement of the habitat for waterbirds. Numbers of birds and species

richness seem comparable with the situation in the late ‘80ties. Therefore it would be of

great value if this site could be monitored more closely and regularly during the year.

A threat is the still ongoing catching of birds with mist nets and glue sticks. Scarecrows

chase the seed eating birds away but the non-seed eaters as well. Another threat might

be the improvement of houses in the rice fields. Since many of the farmers are retired

military they might choose to live permanently in the field, causing an increase of distur-

bance and pollution as sewage facilities lack completely. Fortunately production is still

only for the local market.

Brunei Bay Estuary The data for Brunei Bay Estuary form a compilation of several counts on different dates

conducted in a total of 4 AWC sites and 9 sub-sites during high tide as well as low tide.

This was done in order to have the best impression of waterbirds using the western part

of the Estuary. With this method major problems with double counting would be expec-

ted, but the overall impression was that that was not the case. For example Great egrets

were the major egrets counted on the mudflats of the Bay during low tide, whereas pre-


dominantly Little Egrets were counted at high tide in the Mentiri prawn farms. Grey

plovers were seen on the mudflats and on offshore poles at high tide, while Golden

plovers roosted at the prawn farms. Stints were not seen in the bay, but many roost in

empty shrimp ponds. Sewage ponds attracted completely different species, which might

not even forage regularly on the brackish mudflats nearby, like Oriental darter and Grey

heron.

Sewage Ponds

Serasa Spit

Pulau Bedukang

P. Pasir Tengah

P. Simangga Besar

Mentiri Prawn farms

25 Jan. ‘08

11 Jan. ‘08

Map 17. Northern sites in Brunei Bay. In red Serasa Beach. In yellow 2 sub sites of Brunei Bay Mudflats.

P. Pepatan

P. Berambang

P. Baru-Baru

P. Berbunut

10 Februari 2008

Map 18. Southern sites of Brunei Bay. The sites counted by boat. The total number of waterbirds for the whole of Brunei Bay Estuary was 2995 of 36 spe-

cies and 108 water-related birds were recorded of 10 species. Herons and egrets contri-

buted for nearly 48% of the waterbirds, waders for a good 51%. However per AWC site


the distribution was quite different. Most important species recorded were 2 near-threa-

tened Oriental darter at the sewage ponds in Serasa, 9 Chinese egret and 1 vulnerable

Lesser Adjudant foraging on the mudflats of Pulau Berbunut close to Limbang District,

Sarawak. This species can be seen regularly in ones or twos circling the skies of the

Estuary. The Chinese egrets were found at different locations around the Estuary.

Another special sighting was one Nankeen night heron on the mudflats close to the

Brunei Museum. According to Dr Joe Charles from the University of Brunei Darussalam

there once was a mixed breeding colony of Black-crowned night heron, Little green heron

and Nankeen night heron in the mangrove close to the museum. Unfortunately it was

disturbed by the locals.

1. Muara Beach Method

This northward facing beach was accessed on the most western side and overlooked by

telescope. The tide was still quite low so that beach and rocks in the sea were visible.


Along this beach a total of 1 Pacific reef egret has been count. It is not clear if historically

there have been more birds, but as the beach is increasingly used for recreation the

habitat will only worsen in the future. This might also not be the right season. From May

till early October several species of Terns breed on nearby Pelong Rocks, maybe they

visit the beach during this period as well.

2. Serasa Beach Method

The spit was followed along as far as possible by foot counting all birds east, south and

west of the spit using binoculars. The mudflats northwest of the spit were included in this

count, but the birds seen by telescope far off along the coastal mudflats of Pulau Salar,

P. Pasir Tengah, on both sides of Sungai Bindu till Tanjung Pauluran were included in the

count for Brunei Bay (Map 17). Those results will be evaluated in that site.

Newly added were the sewage ponds at the entrance of Simpang 287 – the road to

Serasa Spit.


Along Serasa spit, the flats west of the spit and the sewage ponds a total of 147 water-

birds of 17 species have been recorded and 25 water-related birds of 6 species. The most

interesting being 3 vulnerable Chinese egret. Also 4 Reef herons were seen, 3 white and

1 black morph. All were in non-breeding plumage, which made it not always easy to


separate them. We differentiated both species mainly by the length of the legs and their

behaviour.

Whiskered terns were seen hunting over the sewage ponds. We saw large terns flying

over the Bay as well but they were too far out to identify.

The amount of activity along Serasa Spit does not seem to have changed in 2007. No

planned (large) operations are known off.

3. Mentiri Prawn Farm Method

Preceding the AWC for Mentiri Prawn Farms four visits were paid to investigate the

situation in and around the farms. This resulted in a good impression of the distribution

of species and number of birds, the accessibility of the different farms (with different

owners) and a schematic map (Appendix 5).

On the day of AWC we managed to operate in four teams each with one experienced and

one beginning birder. Each team counted a specific section of the farms, sewage ponds

and mangrove coast. About 75% of the area was covered, excluding the farms fenced of

against public. The count was done at high tide, in order to have as many birds as possi-

ble. Specific problem at this site was the fact that the waders – and egrets - were easily

disturbed when counters were walking from one pond to the other, where after they fly

some rounds and settle in different ponds. Especially the stints were very skittish. So risk

of under and over counting were large. We tried to minimize this problem by choosing

distinct routes and counting blocks of ponds.


A total number of 1712 birds of 26 species

were recorded, consisting for 27% of he-

rons and egrets and 72% of waders. The

biggest bulk consists of Pacific golden

plover, Little ringed plover, Redshank,

Wood sandpiper and stints. Water-related

birds contributed with 9 species and 44

individuals. Red list species were 2 Chinese

egret in the prawn farm. Oriental darter is Black-winged stilt and Little egret

a common sighting at the sewage ponds, though not on the day of AWC. Special record

was a White wagtail, a rare sighting in Brunei.

Some species were confined to the sewage ponds: Black-crowned night-heron and Grey

heron. On the offshore poles Grey plover and Whimbrel were roosting.


Most of the prawn farms at Mentiri are of relatively recent date, constructed in the man-

grove vegetation of Brunei Bay west coast. Since there are not many prawn farms in

(this part of) Brunei, these ponds may be the main roost for many coastal species. Open

grasslands like around Seria are not wide spread, though there are some very open bare

building grounds northwest of Mentiri but they may be too dry and poor most of the year.

It would be of great value if this site could be monitored more closely and regularly du-

ring the year, because the waterbird population at this site might give a good impression

of the numbers and species of waders and Chinese egret that visit Brunei Bay Estuary.

Not much is known about threats of this site, but it is certain that whatever is left of the

original natural coast north and south of this site will soon be developed. In order to

attract waterbirds the use of the prawn farms should not be too intensively focussed on

production. The relative small scale, the large amount of empty ponds and a relative

friendly policy towards birds can hopefully be continued over the years.

4. Brunei Bay Mudflats Method

The Brunei Bay Mudflats were counted from 3 different sub-sites, all at low tide. The

most northern part was observed by telescope from Serasa Spit. This covers the coastal

mudflats of Pulau Salar, P. Pasir Tengah, and both sides of the estuary of Sungai Bindu

till Tanjung Pauluran (Map 17). The “middle” part consisted of Pulau Bedukang and far of

P. Simangga Besar. P. Bedukang was reached by boat, since it was possible to join a field

trip of UBD. This island was rounded by foot; the east coast of P. Simangga Besar was

overlooked by telescope. The southern part of Brunei Bay Mudflats was completely

covered by boat (Map 18). The curator of the National Museum Dept. was so kind to

organise and sponsor this opportunity. During this trip the islands of Pulau Berambang,

P. Pepatan, P. Baru Baru and Pulau Berbunut were covered as far as the Malaysian

border.

Compared to 2007 a relatively large part the Brunei part of the Bay was covered. It

would be even better if Temburong and the Sarawak and Sabah part could be included at

the same time. This would also give a better impression of the distribution of waders

around the Bay. Hopefully this can be organised some time in future.


On the 3 sub-sites of Brunei Bay Mudflats a total number of 1135 waterbirds of 21

species and 38 water related birds of 7 species were counted. The majority of observed

waterbirds were herons and egrets (77%) and waders (22%). Many egrets were too far


away to be identified, but Great egret seemed to be most abundant. At least four near-

threatened Chinese egret and 5 Pacific reef heron could be identified.

There were some difference between the sightings around P. Bedukang and around P.

Baru Baru. On the flats around P. Bedukang Grey-tailed tattler, Kentish plover and Pacific

reef heron were observed, while on the mudflats around the islands in the south part of

the Estuary we saw more herons (Little green heron, Black-crowned and Nankeen night

heron), one Lesser adjudant, Common greenshank and Pacific golden plover. Grey plover

and Whimbrel were seen all along the west coast. The environment is slightly different as

well; closer to the sea the texture of the flats becomes more sandy and the water more

salty, probably providing different kind of food.

The Brunei coastline of Brunei Bay Estuary forms only a small section of the whole Brunei

Bay. It is probably the most developed part of the Bay and little of the original coastal

vegetation is left. The 3,000 birds counted must form only a minor part of the complete

population of waterbirds using Brunei Bay and Estuary. Especially in Temburong District

and Sabah much of the coast is still (relatively) undisturbed and very little is known

about the bird populations of these areas.

Overall conclusion for the Brunei part of Brunei Bay Estuary is that this area is probably

not only an important stop-over and wintering location for a large variety of migratory

birds but resident birds as well, including several threatened species. Lesser adjudant

and Oriental darter possibly breed in the extensive mangroves.

Since there are hardly any old data available for comparison it is difficult to indicate

anything on the development of birds in the Estuary or the whole Brunei Bay. The most

recent surveys done in Brunei and Sarawak were done in respectively October 1985 and

April/May 1986.

Continuous threats for the waterbirds are a decline of suitable habitats by housing and

industrial development, disturbance by people (fishing and recreation, for example

disturbance of the heron roost at the National Museum), dumping of sewage water and

solid waste. The interior of Pulau Bedukang is heard to be completely covered by plastic

bags deposited there by peak high tide.


Major threat is the expansion of Muara Cargo Port, which might include the still relatively

unspoiled Pulau Muara. The Brunei Government has plans to improve the facilities for

containers and multi-purpose cargo but it’s not clear when the project starts.

Telisai Mudflats Method

Telisai Mudflats are for the most part not visible from the surroundings, but a good view

can be obtained from some of the gardens of the houses of Kg Telamba. Even then not

the whole mudflats can be overlooked and they are still quite far off, the furthest end

being nearly 1 km away.


At Telisai Mudflats 92 waterbirds of 13 species were counted and 10 water related birds

of 4 species, most kingfishers. Unexpected was a group of at least 39 Black-crowned

night-heron, roosting just out of sight up river Sg Telamba. The roost must have been

more or less in the back garden of a house. Since it was breeding season, they might

even have nested there. In February the number counted was even 54, consisting of

adults and juveniles. Most probably the roost hadn’t increased, just more of them were

visible.

Somewhere downstream Sg Danau towards the river mouth of Sg Tutong, there is a

egret roost with at least Great, Little and Intermediate egret. Early morning they are

seen flying upstream Sg Danau and along the coast westward. Some settle on the Telisai

Mudflats before going on.

The site seems relatively undisturbed as the surrounding vegetation is mostly intact

though narrow. The rivers that form Telisai Mudflats drain a relative quiet back country

and are connected with the extensive complex of the Sg Danau – Sg Tutong estuaries.

Momentary threats are local from the villagers going fishing and searching crabs in the

mud. A more important threat is the plan to construct a double lane connection between

the Seria and Tutong Bypass. This will have major effects on the drainage area of Sg

Telamba.

Makam Diraja Method

This area has been counted by using the plank walks of Kampung Tamoi and Kg Pengiran

and overlooking the mudflats between Kg Pengiran and Makam Diraja from the walls of

the new mosque. Advantage is that the whole area can be covered and birds are little


disturbed as they are used to people walking and living around. The plank walks can be

reached from the parking lot in front of the new mosque.

The count is a combination of the numbers of several species that roost at night close to

the village and the birds that forage on the mudflats at low tide.


On the mudflats underlying the Kampung Ayer and the close-by mangrove vegetation

382 waterbirds of 13 species and 34 water related birds of 3 species have been counted.

Whimbrel roost About 156 egrets were roosting on the short cut mangrove vegetation at the foot of a

new built mosque when we arrived. These were all Little, Intermediate and Great egrets.

But when more came in from the sea they all took of and followed Sg Brunei to roost

somewhere more inland. On the electric wires connecting the Kampung Ayer with the

coast, 37 Whimbrel were roosting, and Common sandpiper liked to roost on the corruga-

ted iron roofs of the homes.

During daytime mainly herons and egrets (75%) foraged on the mudflats. Waders (11%)

were Whimbrel, Common greenshank and Common sandpiper.

Disturbance is large at this site: the mud must be very polluted by the sewage and waste

coming from all the stilt houses. But since the mud is rich in food the birds don’t seem to

bother much. There was even a small group of Small-clawed otters living there.

Makam di Luba Method

From the walkway and the jetty at the Makam (= grave site) di Luba, Sg Brunei and Sg

Damuan were observed simultaneously up- and downstream as far as possible. This site

was visited by the end of the afternoon during high tide.



Along both rivers 1094 waterbirds of 10 species have been recorded. They were nearly

all egrets coming downstream along Sg Brunei and Sg Damuan flying to their roost in the

mangrove opposite the quarry of Kg Medewa, at the shortcut between Sg Damuan and

Sg Brunei. The egrets were predominantly Cattle egret (90%). Also small numbers of

Great and Little egret could be identified. Intermediate egret were difficult to separate

from Cattle egret in flight at dusk. Since the tide was high waders were not expected, but

Little green heron is common here. Water related birds observed were Brahminy kite and

Common kingfisher.

The whole area south east of Sungai Damuan is still relatively undisturbed and covered

with forest. Several groups of Proboscis monkey reside here. It is recommended that this

area is monitored more closely but for the problem of accessibility. Beside the jetty this

area can only be visited by boat.

Nothing is known of any near future threat.

Bekiau Buffalo Field Method

Since the field is very elongated, the best way to observe birds is by walking on top of

the earth levee going upstream and downstream along the river. The count was done in

the morning. Disturbance can occur when the buffalo’s get too excited and start running

in all directions. Fortunately this did not happen.


Along the river and the valley a total of 223 waterbirds of 18 species and 25 water-

related birds of 4 species were observed. The majority of waterbirds were waders (56%)

and herons and egrets (40%). Pacific golden plover were the largest group, followed by

Wood sandpiper. Most special sightings were 6 near-threatened Oriental darter and 1

vulnerable Lesser adjudant. Early December even 2 Lesser adjudant were seen together.

It might be interesting to monitor this site more frequently, especially regarding species

of waders that prefer to forage more inland in this specific habitat.

Besides the fact that the original habitat of this site is already destroyed, no direct

threats are known of.

Semaun Prawn farm Method

All birds foraging in the ponds and the ditch along the farm were observed by foot.



A total of 277 waterbirds of 13 species and 2 White-collared kingfisher were observed in

and around this new prawn farm. Most waterbirds were egrets (64%), but there was

quite a variation of waders (35%, 9 species) as well.

Since there are (still) not so many prawn farms along the north coast and this farm is

easily accessible, it may be an interesting site to monitor at high tide during the

migration season.


5. CONCLUSIONS The observed wetlands of Brunei Darussalam are used by a minimum of 14,288 water-

birds from 15 species. The major waterbird groups were Cormorants & Darters (1 spe-

cies, 74 birds), Herons & Egrets (15, 11,301), Storks (1, 4), Geese & Ducks (2, 59), Rails

& Coots (3, 137), Waders (25, 2,687), Gulls & Terns (4, 26). The highest number was

again for Cattle egret with a minimum of 1,591 individuals identified. Next to these figu-

res 51 Raptors of 7 species, 207 Kingfishers of 5 species and 148 other wetland related

birds of 6 species were recorded. This is the largest number of waterbirds recorded since

Brunei Darussalam started participating in 1990.

There are four globally threatened species recorded in Brunei.

Vulnerable;

− Chinese egret Egretta eulophotes – total 11 individuals in Brunei Bay Estuary and

Seria Wetlands.

− Lesser adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus – total 4 individuals at Seria Wetlands,

Brunei Bay Estuary and Bekiau Buffalo Field. They are thought to breed along the

coast of Brunei Bay and maybe Sg Tutong, but there are no recent records.

Near Threatened;

− Oriental darter Anhinga melanogaster – total 74 individuals in several coastal and

inland sites. They are breeding in Tasek Merimbun.

− Grey-headed fish-eagle Ichthyophaga Ichthyaetus – total of 2 individuals in

Luagan Lalak and Tasek Merimbun.

The site with the highest number of threatened species is the Asean National Heritage Si-

te Tasek Merimbun with certain breeding records of Oriental darter, while Seria Wetlands

and Brunei Bay Estuary know the highest variety with Oriental darter, Chinese egret and

Lesser adjudant.

Brunei Bay Estuary (Mentiri Prawn Farms), Wasan Rice Fields and Seria Wetlands are the

sites with the highest number and greatest variety of shorebirds, known in Brunei, while

large concentrations of herons and egrets can be found in sites with roosts, like Seria

Wetlands, Tasek Merimbun, Makam di Luba, Brunei Bay Estuary and Tutong Sewage

Tanks.

Compared to previous years several sites show a very different result. This is mainly due

to increased knowledge of the site and a more extensive count with more people

involved. There is no relation whatsoever with developments at the site itself. This shows


clearly that continuity, methodology and capacity in experienced bird watchers is essen-

tial to conduct a consistent and useable AWC.

The high number of waterbirds recorded in 2008 still by no means gives an indication of

the total number of waterbirds in Brunei. Some species like Cattle egret, White-breasted

waterhen and Little green-backed heron are very wide spread over the country. Others

like bitterns, crakes and quails are difficult to find. Beside the sites that are monitored

now, there must be many more, maybe smaller, sites where waterbirds can be found in

Brunei. The small scale and often very wet agriculture area between Bandar Seri Bega-

wan, Lamunin and Tutong is most certainly rich in a variety of waterbirds. And of course

the northern part of Temburong is still a blank map regarding waterbirds.

A major in-country threat to waterbird populations in Brunei is habitat loss caused by

residential and industrial development of the wetlands. Except for Brunei Bay, only small

parts of the coast are in original unspoiled state. Many rivers in the lowlands, small and

large, are being canalised, while the riparian vegetation is removed and replaced by

short, easy-to-maintain grass. Peat swamps are being drained on large scale as part of

flood mitigation plans. Drained peat swamps are more vulnerable to fires, leaving barren

land. Flooding seems actually to increase currently, it is said because of more abundant

rainfall.

None the less, the remaining wetlands of Brunei Darussalam still play a prominent role as

wintering ground for migratory waterbirds and it is very important to treasure and con-

serve this environment.


6. RECOMMENDATIONS Since waterbirds are the most important indicators for the quality of wetlands it’s highly

recommendable that more wetlands are monitored on regular basis, the most important

sites being Brunei Bay Estuary (including Mentiri Prawn Farm, Sg Brunei and Sg

Damuan), Seria Wetlands, Wasan rice fields and Tasek Merimbun.

Very little historical information is known as to the waterbird situation of Brunei. Only at

Sg Seria and Sg Bera is data available reaching back to the early 1970’s. Wasan rice

fields had been monitored in 1987 and ’88. The only comprehensive research on Brunei

Bay dates back to 1985 – ‘86.

This intensity of survey can only be made possible with the support of the government

and by working towards a larger population of, and more experienced group of bird

watchers. Training sessions held to improve identification skills and to create enthusiasm

are essential elements in the growth and maintenance of numbers of bird watchers. Field

trips are best to be organised between August and May, when most waterbirds are pre-

sent. June – July is a good period to learn about terns.

Andrea Bloem has been coordinator for the AWC 2007 and 2008. Her stay in Brunei is

uncertain since she is relying on a dependant pass. Before she leaves a new coordinator

must be found in order to continue the work for AWC and waterbird monitoring in

general.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my greatest thanks to all the volunteers without whom this AWC

would not have been such a great success. In spite of all the mosquitoes, wet and muddy

feet, heat and sunburn, thirst and hunger, many people were very enthusiastic to join

the training excursions and often participated in more than one site count. I hope to see

many of you again when the new set of training sessions start in August/September.

Special thanks to Samhan Nyawa and the staff from the Brunei Museums Department,

not only for taking us to the most beautiful parts of Tasek Merimbun, but also for

organising and funding our boat survey of Brunei Bay.

I would like to express my greatest thanks to Shirley Hee and her great enthusiasm.

Together we initiated and revived the AWC in Brunei since 2002. Hopefully many years of

successful census will follow.

On behalf of Shirley and me we wish to thank David Li Zuowei, Waterbird Conservation

Officer from Wetlands International for visiting us in March 2008. It’s very inspiring to

have his full support in our works and efforts.

We wish to thank the Brunei Museums Department and Brunei Shell Petroleum for

financially supporting our project.

Special thanks to Samhan Nyawa, Pushpa Thambipillai, Jeremy Moore, Irene Poh Ai-

Cheong, Nurhafizah Abdullah, Hj Ramlee Hj Shahdan, Abdul Hady Shamsuddin, Mohd

Azri Hj Asri, Hj Mohammad Hj Ibrahim, Hassan Hj Munab, Lily Khoo, David Mendes,

Graham Durrance, Douwe de Vries, Mursidi Murah, Siti Khairuniza, Kwie-Hiang and Jan-

Willem de Graaf, George Varghese, Annie Varghese, Wilson Chong, Chris Cooper, Sue,

Nicola King, David Gibb, Liow Mee Lien & friend, Mark Hessels and Shirley Hee who

contributed to this survey for rendering a full support and advice.

Last but not least I want to thank Derek Gunn very much for his help in editing this

report.


REFERENCES Asian Wetland Bureau, 1993. A Status Overview of Shorebirds in the East Asia – Aus-

tralasian Flyway. BirdLife International, 2004. Important Bird Areas in Asia: Key Sites for Conservation. Bloem, A. 2007. Asian Waterbird Census, Brunei Darussalam. Method Description &

2007 Census Results BSP, 1998. A Summary Report on the Shell Land Field Assessments carried out in 1997

and 1998 Davison, G.W.H. and C.Y. Fook, 1996. A Photographic Guide to Birds of Borneo, Sabah,

Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan. Elkin, J, & D. Harvey, 1986. Wader Movements in S.W. Brunei. Elkin, J.A., 1988. Unpublished Notes on Japanese Night Heron Gorsachius goisagi, a spe-

cies new to Borneo. Francis, C.M., 1998. Pocket Guide to the Birds of Borneo. Hancock, J., 1999. Herons & Egrets of the World. A Photographic Journey. Hj Mohd Jaya bin Hj Sahat, J.R. Howes, 1990. A Study of the Littoral Ecosystem in

Brunei Estuary, Brunei Darussalam. The Brunei Museum Journal, Vol.7, No.2, 1990 Howes, J.R. and N.P.W.O., 1986. Evaluation of Sarawak Wetlands and their Importance

to Waterbirds. Report 4: Limbang / Lawas Districts of Brunei Bay, Interwader Publication No. 14, Kuala Lumpur.

Li, Z.W.D. and Mundkur, T. 2007. Numbers and Distribution of Waterbirds and Wetlands in the Asia-Pacific Region. Results of the Asian Waterbird Census: 2002-2004. Wetlands International, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Message, S. and D. Taylor, 2005. Waders of Europe, Asia and North America. MNS, 2006. AWC Report Sarawak 2006 PNHS-Newsletters, from February 1987 till August 1998. Robson, C., 2002. A Field Guide to the Birds of South-east Asia. Smythies, B.E. 1999. The Birds of Borneo. Revised by G.W.H. Davison. Sonobe, K. and S. Usui, 1993. A Field Guide to the Waterbirds of Asia. Wild Bird Society

of Japan, Tokyo. Strange, M., 2002. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia, including the

Philippines & Borneo. Wong, M., 1998. Conserving Natural and Cultural Heritage at Tasek Merimbun, text of a

talk delivered at Hokkaido University Japan during the International Symposium “Land-use and Biodiversity of Changing Environments: Several Studies in Southeast Asia”

Yeap, C.A., Wong, A., Sebastian, A., Rahmah Ilias and Siti Hawa Yatim. (Compilers) 2007. The Asian Waterbird Census 2005 & 2006 Country Report (Malaysia). Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Nature Society.

A FEW INTERESTING WEBSITES TO LOOK FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION http://www.arcbc.org.ph/wetlands/brunei/brn_brubay.htmhttp://www.arcbc.org.ph/wetlands/brunei/brn_tas.htmhttp://www.rdb.or.id/http://www.wetlands.org/articlemenu.aspx?id=8fb450de-f760-42bb-8337-c9942a41d5fchttp://www.wetlands.org/publication.aspx?ID=1a546b58-7bbe-47df-90f3-9eeadda386fahttp://www.ramsar.org/


http://www.arcbc.org.ph/wetlands/brunei/brn_brubay.htm

http://www.arcbc.org.ph/wetlands/brunei/brn_tas.htm

http://www.rdb.or.id/

http://www.wetlands.org/articlemenu.aspx?id=8fb450de-f760-42bb-8337-c9942a41d5fc

http://www.wetlands.org/publication.aspx?ID=1a546b58-7bbe-47df-90f3-9eeadda386fa

http://www.ramsar.org/

SUMMARY OF AWC 2008 IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM Appendix 1

Site Sg Seria Sg Bera Grasslands

J14 LL TM STT Wasan Muara Serasa Mentiri Brunei Bay

Telisai MDiraja MdiLuba Bekiau Semaun

Date 12-1 5-1 13-1 15-1 19-1 8-1 27-1 16-12 11-1 11-1 20-1 10-2 7-1 18-1 10-1 12-1 20-12speciesCORMORANTS & DARTERSOriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster (NT)

(VU)

(VU)

74 3 1 4 44 14 2 6HERONS & EGRETSYellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis 53 16 2 3 30 1 1Schrenck’s Bittern I. eurhythmus Cinnamon Bittern /. cinnamomeus 9 8 1Malayan Night Heron (Tiger Bittern) G. melanolophus 1 1Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 121 5 45 5 2 10 15 39Nankeen night heron Nycticorax caledonicus 1 1Chinese Pond Heron A. bacchus 17 5 1 2 4 2 3Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 1591 2 314 253 166 15 73 1 712 55Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 73 3 2 1 1 3 8 14 1 28 12Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 12 1 1 1 4 5Chinese (Swinhoe’s) Egret E. eulophotes 11 2 3 2 4Little Egret E. garzetta 717 20 3 12 22 45 30 257 68 17 139 7 4 93Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 386 86 2 33 1 1 84 92 4 42 1 24 1 11 4Great Egret E. alba 510 10 4 5 35 75 10 6 40 208 6 15 1 14 81Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 31 1 3 16 6 2 3Grey Heron A. cinerea 48 2 18 2 18 1 6 1Unidentified herons and egrets 7720 5448 998 250 4 42 555 6 74 343STORKSLesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 4 2 1 1GEESE & DUCKSWandering Whistling Duck D. arcuata 56 1 55Northern Pintail A. acuta Garganey A. querquedula 3 3RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS White-browed Crake P. Cinereus (Poliolimnas cinere 14 13 1White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus 119 10 8 2 2 1 59 5 1 20 6 2 3Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 4 3 1SHOREBIRDS- WADERSBlack-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 40 1 26 13Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus 1 1Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 477 43 49 21 250 51 60 3Grey Plover P. squatarola 59 12 47Little Ringed Plover C. dubius 180 4 3 11 1 7 129 14 11Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus 123 32 10 1 27 51 2Mongolian Plover C. mongolus 6 4 2Greater Sand Plover C. leschenaultii 6 6Oriental Plover C. veredus Whimbrel N. phaeopus 82 20 25 37Redshank T. totanus 219 6 2 1 1 205 2 2Marsh Sandpiper T. stagnatilis 62 4 26 32Greenshank T. nebularia 65 5 1 1 20 4 6 10 13 5Wood Sandpiper T. glareola 525 15 14 1 309 13 131 2 1 19 20Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 263 37 3 5 6 23 30 96 9 5 26 5 15 3Grey-tailed (Grey-rumped) Tattler Heteroscelus brevip 19 6 13Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura 40 40Sanderling C. alba 25 25Red-necked (Rufous-necked) Stint C. ruficollis 190 18 172Long-toed Stint C. subminuta 98 48 1 41 1 7Unidentified large sandpipers 5 2 2 1Unidentified plovers 17 3 3 11Unidentified shorebirds 67 30 31 6Unidentified snipe 3 1 2Unidentified small sandpipers 37 31 5 1Unidentified stints 78 78GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus 1 1Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus 2 2White-winged Black Tern C. leucopterus 3 3Unidentified terns 20 5 14 1ADDITIONAL SPECIESCollared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris 168 37 19 8 2 15 21 23 7 29 5 2Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis 25 2 3 3 1 1 1 3 3 2 1 5Common kingfisher Alcedo Atthis 10 4 1 1 1 1 1 1Black-capped kingfisher Halcyon pileata 1 1Ruddy kingfisher Halcyon coromanda 3 1 2White-bellied sea-eagle Haliaeetus Leucogaster 23 1 3 2 5 8 4Brahminy kite Haliastur indus 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1Osprey Pandion haliaetus 8 1 1 1 1 1 2 1Grey-headed Fish-eagle Ichthyophaga Ichthyaetus (N 2 1 1Crested Serpent-eagle Spilornis Cheela 1 1Black-shouldered kite Elanus caeruleus 5 5Peregrine falcon Falco Peregrinus japonensis 1 1Blue-breated quail Coturnix chinensis 18 18Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava 110 85 3 8 14White wagtail Motacilla alba 1 1Yellow-bellied prinia Prinia flaviventris 15 5 3 7Striated grassbird Megalurus palustris 3 2 1Oriental great reed warbler Acrocephalus orientalis 1 1

Total of all birds 5870 54 466 16 17 1150 738 1139 2 172 1756 1173 102 416 1096 248 279Total of all species 38 15 16 10 8 12 17 35 2 23 35 29 17 17 12 22 14Total of waterbirds 5819 32 456 9 10 1146 730 1023 1 147 1712 1135 92 382 1094 223 277

Total species of waterbirds 31 11 13 7 4 8 12 30 1 17 26 22 13 14 10 18 13Total of additional birds 51 22 10 7 7 4 8 116 1 25 44 38 10 34 2 25 2

Total of additional species 7 4 3 3 4 4 5 5 1 6 9 7 4 3 2 4 1Overall total of individuals 14694 14288 406

Overall total of species 70 52 18


APPENDIX 2.

COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Sungai Seria Estuary DATE: 13-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max + 1 m.m above sea level

Belait district AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Seria 115 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 36 min. N SITE CODE: 204311411

114 deg. 18 min. E (For official use only)WETLAND TYPE: (please circle the relevant figures)

0 Open seas, bays, straits 6 Reservoirs, barrages, tanks1 Estuaries, tidal mudflats, salt pans (loc 1, 2, 4, 5) 7 Gravel pits, mineral workings, mining pools2 Brackish or saline lakes, lagoons, salt pans 8 Fish ponds, shrimp ponds3 Rivers, streams, canals, drains 9 Grassland, arable land4 Freshwater marshes, flooded areas (loc 3) 10 Mangrove, nipah5 Freshwater lakes, ponds 11 Freshwater swamp forest, peat swamp forest

If any other type, please specify: DESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: december b. Annual rainfall: 2500-2750 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: ca 3 m e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown

m. Agriculture: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unrecordedn. Cattle grazing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unrecordedo.

If any other type of threats/uses, please specify: Risque of oil pollution

p. Pollution by: 1. Domestic sewage 2. Solid waste 3. Industrial waste 4. Oil 5. Pesticides 6. Fertilisers 7. Mining If any other type of pollution, please specify:

q. Active Conservation measures by: 0. Unknown 1. Local Government 2. National Government 3. Managed by conservation group (including local community) 4. No management

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:Especially loc 3 is covered by low vegetation (growing on bank, submerged and free floating).

Locations along the estuary:Loc 1 04 deg. 36 min. 52,01" N 114 deg. 18 min. 43,03" E West side estuary Sg SeriaLoc 2 04 deg. 36 min. 45,15" N 114 deg. 18 min. 48,69" ELoc 4 04 deg. 36 min. 39,99" N 114 deg. 18 min. 39,34" E BridgeLoc 5 04 deg. 36 min. 22,78" N 114 deg. 18 min. 01,16" E BridgeLoc 7 04 deg. 36 min. 52,13" N 114 deg. 18 min. 47,66" E East side estuary Sg SeriaLoc 10 04 deg. 36 min. 20,51" N 114 deg. 17 min. 47,62" E Foot bridge at BSRCViewpoint at Tattler Hide which overviews former tidal area, but now closed lake with permanent water level, prob. brackishgetting more and more fresh, because mostly supplied by fresh riverwater.Loc 3 04 deg. 36 min. 49,57" N 114 deg. 18 min. 53,47" E Tattler Hide

More part of the upstream section of Sg Seria is under development: the government is canalising the river, removing the vegetationand digging out the peat. Probably for housing development. Activities go very fast.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Andrea Bloem, [email protected] Durrance

Outline map of wetland count unit (limit of the area covered by the count) with important geographical features (cities, roads, rivers, hills) included. Reverse of sheet may be used if necessary. Attach a copy of map if available.

Asian Waterbird Census (Site Form)

Please return to your National Co-ordinator or Wetland International, 3A39 Bk A, Kelana Centre Point, SS7/19, Petaling Jaya 47301, Selangor, MALAYSIA (before the end of March)

PROVINCE/STATE/PREFECTURE

Threats/uses: 0. Unknown 1. None 3. Excessive over growth of vegetation 4. Cutting/clearance of vegetation 5. Eutrophication 6. Agriculture along dry margins, 7. Excessive cattle grazing 8. Partial/complete reclamation 9. Dam/barrage construction 10. Tourism


COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Sungai Bera Estuary DATE: 31-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max + 2 m.m above sea level



0 Open seas, bays, straits 6 Reservoirs, barrages, tanks1 Estuaries, tidal mudflats, salt pans 7 Gravel pits, mineral workings, mining pools2 Brackish or saline lakes, lagoons, salt pans 8 Fish ponds, shrimp ponds3 Rivers, streams, canals, drains 9 Grassland, arable land4 Freshwater marshes, flooded areas 10 Mangrove, nipah5 Freshwater lakes, ponds 11 Freshwater swamp forest, peat swamp forest



If any other type of threats/uses, please specify: Risque of oil pollution



ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

Few Months ago there has been an oil spil in the Sungai Bera, in the eastern tributaries close to the river mouth. BSP was doingefforts to prevent spreading of the oil, but over few ha's the mudflats and mangrove vegetation is covered with oil.Also there were problems with some mud vulcanos, probably as a result of the oil drilling and removal. From insiders is learnedthat the surface of the concession area is subsiding because of the oil extraction.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Andrea BloemShirley HeeNurhafizah Abdullah







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Grasslands between Panaga DATE: 14-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max + 2 m.and Seria m above sea level




If any other type, please specify: DESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: December b. Annual rainfall: 2500-2750 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: 15 cm e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown


If any other type of threats/uses, please specify:Risk of execution of housing development plans: building of houses.Risk of development of more oil-pump stations leading to disturbance and risk of oil pollution

p. Pollution by: 1. Domestic sewage 2. Solid waste 3. Industrial waste 4. Oil 5. Pesticides 6. Fertilisers 7. Mining If any other type of pollution, please specify: petrol and oil from BSP activities, the grasscutters, illigal dumping, leaking pipes.

q. Active Conservation measures by: 0. Unknown 1. Local Government 2. National Government 3. Managed by conservation group (including local community) 4. No management (only grass cutting every few weeks)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:This concerns all the grasslands between Panaga and Seria town, sometimes partially covered by trees.After heavy rain they can be partially inundated.

Locations of the four corners of the area:04 deg. 36 min. 20,84" N 114 deg. 17 min. 00,22" E NW-corner04 deg. 35 min. 47,98" N 114 deg. 17 min. 14,95" E SW-corner04 deg. 37 min. 13,35" N 114 deg. 19 min. 42,87" E NE-corner04 deg. 36 min. 28,88" N 114 deg. 19 min. 56,77" E SE-corner

Since about 1 year there are lots of activities on the grasslands: some new drilling sites are installed, old drilling sites are underrenovation. The housing area of Panaga will be extended to some degree, but this was a less important habitat. Also thegovernment is constructing new houses here and there. In total the more interesting locations for birds are slowly declining.During monsoon and very high tides, large surfaces of the grasslands are flooded, offering good feeding places.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Jeremy MooreJan-Willem de GraafDouwe de VriesPanaga, Seria, Brunei







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: J14-former Disposal site DATE: 20-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max + 3 m.m above sea level




If any other type, please specify: DESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: december b. Annual rainfall: 2500-2750 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: ca 3 m e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknownk. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown


If any other type of threats/uses, please specify: Former well-bore fluid dump siteBrunei Shell considers giving this area to the government.




Not sure about the status of this former dump site yet. This is because the government is busy reconstructing the whole upstreampart of Sungai Seria. The most upstream part was already canalised, now they are in process reconstructing a more downstream part. This part of the river is streaming through the H13 lake, but along J14 lake. J14 is still accessible, but the situationthere is unclear. The H13 lake has been changed as well. At least part of the riparian vegetation has been removed.Not many birds to be expected at both lakes at the moment.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Andrea BloemShirley Hee







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Luagan Lalak DATE: 20-jan-08 ALTITUDE: about 10m above sea level

Belait AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Kampung Labi 170 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 30 min. N SITE CODE: BRUNEI 008



If any other type, please specify: DESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: december b. Annual rainfall: 2750-3000 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: unknown e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown


If any other type of threats/uses, please specify:




The lake is part of the Labi Hills Forest Reserve, covering 270 ha.This area is a lake with substantial fluctuations in water level according to the season (dry/monsoon).It drains in the Sungai Belait. Actually you find more forestbirds here than waterbirds.The reason might be oligotrofy (poor in food) of the water of the lake. The water is peat swamp water with brown colour, clear,probably low pH and very low in salts.It seems that eutrophication is very limited at the moment, but it will certainly be a risk in near future as Brunei is developingvery fast.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Andrea BloemDouwe de Vries





Threats/uses: 0. Unknown 1. None 3.U 4. Cutting/clearance of vegetation 5. Eutrophication 6. Agriculture along dry margins, 7. Excessive cattle grazing 8. Partial/complete reclamation 9. Dam/barrage construction 10. Tourism


COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Tasek Merimbun DATE: 10-jan-08 ALTITUDE: less than 15m above sea level

Tutong district AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Mukim Rambai, close to Lamunin 220 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 35 min. N SITE CODE: BRU 000002



If any other type, please specify: DESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: december b. Annual rainfall: 3000-3250 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: unknown e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. Unknown. Only along the shoresI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown


If any other type of threats/uses, please specify:Government tries to stimulate tourism by offering boat trips on the lakes. This can cause serious disturbance to the colonies.




Samhan Nyawa: in Dec. 2006 about 20 Purple heron nests in TM area. Oriental Darter tried to build his nest closeby, but he wasaccidentally disturbed by Samhan and his people. Darter left unsuccesful.Nesting season for Purple heron will start in the beginning of DecemberEgret roost: mainly Cattle egret and also Little egret.In Dec '07/ Jan '08: nesting activities of Purple heron, Oriental darter and Black-crowned night-heron.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Samhan Nyawa, Brunei Museums Dept.Hj Ramlee Hj Shahdan Shirley HeeAbdul Hady Shamsuddin Mark HesselsMohd Azri Hj Asri Andrea Bloem







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Sewage Trearment Tutong DATE: 30-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max + 1 mm above sea level

Tutong district AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Tutong 9,9 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 49 min. 15.72"N SITE CODE: BRUNEI003

114 deg. 39 min. 28.82"E (For official use only)WETLAND TYPE: (please circle the relevant figures)


If any other type, please specify: Waste water treatment reservoirsDESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: b. Annual rainfall: 3000 - 3250 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: few m e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown


If any other type of threats/uses, please specify:Use as oxitdation reservoirs for waste water




West of the Sewage tanks the area is under construction. This is dry kerangas area; very open with bushy vegetation, not a veryinteresting place for waterbirds, but it might affect them still.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Mark HesselsDavid Mendes







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Wasan Rice fields DATE: 20-dec-07 ALTITUDE: about 10m above sea level

Muara district AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Kilanas / Limau Manis 430 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 47 min. N SITE CODE: 204411450



If any other type, please specify: DESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: unknown b. Annual rainfall: 2750-3000 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: 20 cm e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown


If any other type of threats/uses, please specify:When agriculture becomes too large scale, production process is mecanised, this will have negative impact. Not yet fortunately.

p. Pollution by: 1. Domestic sewage 2. Solid waste 3. Industrial waste 4. Oil 5. Pesticides 6. Fertilisers 7. Mining If any other type of pollution, please specify: Actual use of pesticides and fertilisers is unknown



Locations of the four corners of the area:04 deg. 47 min. 57,59" N 114 deg. 48 min. 37,50" E NW-corner04 deg. 47 min. 03,41" N 114 deg. 48 min. 20,33" E SW-corner04 deg. 47 min. 25,49" N 114 deg. 49 min. 26,46" E NE-corner04 deg. 46 min. 33,79" N 114 deg. 49 min. 01,36" E SE-corner

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Jeremy Moore Nurhafizah Abdullah Pushpa Thambipillai Lily KhooMark Hessels George & Annie VargheseAndrea Bloem Douwe de Vries

About 90% of the field is under agriculturale use now. Rice is planted in October and November and growing fast; in January the crops are too high to locate birds. The farmers are Bruneian pensioners, former military. There may also be some Philippino, Thai and Indonesian workers. Some bird catching is done to add to the menu, but more to scare the seed eaters away. The effect on the bird population is uncertain. In the middle of the field a through road had been opened, making the area more busy and noisy than before. In total can be concluded that the situation for waterbirds has improved by reactivating agriculture.







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Muara Beach DATE: 31-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max + 1 m.m above sea level

Muara AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Muara 30 haCO-ORDINATES: 05 deg. 02 min. N SITE CODE: BRUNEI005



If any other type, please specify: BeachDESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: december b. Annual rainfall: 2750-3000 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: ca 3 m e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown


If any other type of threats/uses, please specify: recreation

p. Pollution by: 1. Domestic sewage 2. Solid waste 3. Industrial waste 4. Oil 5. Pesticides 6. Fertilisers 7. Mining If any other type of pollution, please specify: Possibly industrial waste from Muara Port



PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Lily KhooIrene Poh-Ai CheongNurhafizah AbdullahAndrea Bloem







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Serasa Beach DATE: 5-feb-08 ALTITUDE: max + 1 m.m above sea level

Muara District AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Muara 28 haCO-ORDINATES: 05 deg. 00 min. N SITE CODE: BRUNEI 006



If any other type, please specify: BeachDESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: December b. Annual rainfall: 2750-3000 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: 3 m e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown






Nowadays the area is used as a recreational and picnic area.The close by Sewage tanks has been included.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Lily Khoo Pushpa ThambipillaiIrene Poh-Ai Cheong Nicola KingNurhafizah Abdullah David GibbAndrea Bloem Liow Mee Lien & friend







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Mentiri Prawn farm DATE: 25-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max 2m above sea level

Muara AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Mentiri 125 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 58 min. N SITE CODE: BRUNEI 007



If any other type, please specify: DESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: december b. Annual rainfall: 2750-3000 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: about 1 m. e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown


If any other type of threats/uses, please specify: The normal threats for shrimp farms




Large area with shrimp farms at different locations and from different owners. Some allow you to enter their premises, othershave their gates closed. If we would contact the owners, it might be possible to enter their farm as well

The development of shrimp ponds is not finalized yet, still new parts of the mangrove is claimed for new ponds.Included in this site is the sea shore at the end of the road when passing through the shrimp farms, and the sewage ponds at thebeginning. Seperate sighting lists are available.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Jeremy Moore Irene Poh-Ai CheongDavid Mendes Nurhafizah AbdullahLily Khoo Mark HesselsPushpa Thambipillai Andrea Bloem







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Brunei Bay Mudflats DATE: 12-feb-08 ALTITUDE: max + 1 m.m above sea level

Muara AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Bandar Seri Begawan 115 km2CO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 53 min. N SITE CODE: BRUNEI004





If any other type of threats/uses, please specify: Risque of birds being trapped in fishing nets.Fish farming, shrimp farms




Planning is to develop Pulau Muara into a large container harbour. When this will start is not known yet. Today Pulau Muara iscovered by mangrove and coastal forest. No settlements, so the nature quality is quite high. This development will certainly haveinfluence on the whole environment of Brunei Bay.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Samhan Nyawa, Brunei Museums Dept.Staff of Brunei Museums Dept.Jeremy Moore Andrea BloemMark Hessels







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Telisai Mudflats DATE: 15-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max 0.5m above sea level

Tutong District AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Kampung Telisai 44 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 43 min. N SITE CODE: 204311414









Large mudflat in something like a dead end of the river. The mudflat is falling dry by very low tide, otherwise shallow water.On 2 sides bordered by the river, on the third side bordered by mangrove. Behind the mangrove is the village of Telisai.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Andrea BloemShirley Hee







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Makam Diraja DATE: 20-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max 2m above sea level

Muara AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Kampung Ayer 13 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 53 min. N SITE CODE: 204311415






p. Pollution by: 1. Domestic sewage 2. Solid waste 3. Industrial waste 4. Oil 5. Pesticides 6. Fertilisers 7. Mining If any other type of pollution, please specify: most houses in Kampung Ayer have no sewage drain what soever. So a lot of wastewater and solid waste as well is dropped into the river (the tide will wash it away!)


ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Kampung Ayer is a protected site, maybe this gives some protection to the mudflats as well.

Although this area is very disturbed and filthy, quite some birds seem to like this place. They forage on the mudflats duringlow tide between the kampung ayer and the coast, but also underneath the houses.Apparently the mud is very nutrient rich.And in the short cut mangrove vegetation there is an egret roost where Little, Great and Intermediate egret roost. No Cattle egret.All the birds that could be seen from the mosque and wooden walkways through Kg Ayer have been counted.Best time to visit this site is during low tide early morning or late afternoon when the egrets come to the roost.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Irene Poh-Ai Cheong Wilson ChongNurhafizah Abdullah Chris CooperMursidi Murah SueSiti Khairuniza Andrea Bloem







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Makam di Luba DATE: 14-jan-08 ALTITUDE: max 2m above sea level

Muara AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Kampung Bunut 136 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 50 min. N SITE CODE: 204311416









Along the shortcut between Pulau Luba and Pulau Ranggu there is a large egret roostBirds are counted from the bridge over the Sg Damuan and from the jetty at Sg Brunei. Best time to go there is during low tide.In the evening egrets follow the river to their roost, so it's easy to count them passing by.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Lily KhooIrene Poh-Ai CheongNurhafizah AbdullahAndrea Bloem







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Bekiau Buffalo Fields DATE: 20-jan-08 ALTITUDE: around 10m above sea level

Tutong district AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Tutong 150 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 47 min. N SITE CODE: 204311417



If any other type, please specify: DESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: December b. Annual rainfall: 2500-2750 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: 5 cm e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown

m. Agriculture: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unrecordedn. Cattle grazing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unrecorded Water buffalo´so.


p. Pollution by: 1. Domestic sewage 2. Solid waste 3. Industrial waste 4. Oil 5. Pesticides 6. Fertilisers 7. MiningIf any other type of pollution, please specify:



Exact coordinates of the bridge with Google Earth: 4?47’00.51” N114?43’42.12” E

Varied habitat with bare ground along the canalized river, short grass along side it where the buffalos have eaten it, long grasswith shrub, small trees. Surrounded by secondairy forest.The grassland streches along the canalized river over a distance of 3 km. It has an average width of 500 m.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Samhan Nyawa, Brunei Museum [email protected] Mohammad Hj IbrahimHassan Hj Munab







COUNTRY: Brunei

NAME OF SITE: Semaun Prawn farm DATE: 20-dec-07 ALTITUDE: max 2m above sea level

Belait AREA:NEAREST LARGE TOWN: Lumut max 10 haCO-ORDINATES: 04 deg. 41 min. N SITE CODE: 204311418



If any other type, please specify: DESCRIPTION OF SITE: (please circle the relevant figures)a. Month of maximum flooding: december b. Annual rainfall: 2750-3000 mmc. Source: 1. Local rains 2. River/stream 3. Sea 4. Other 0. Unknownd. Maximum depth of water in meters: about 1 m. e. Tidal variation: 1. Present 2. Absent 0. Unknownf. Salinity: 1. Freshwater 2. Brackish 3. Saline 0. Unknowng. Is the site: 1. Permanent 2. Temporary 3. Semi-permanent 0. Unknownh. Vegetation cover: 1. None 2. Half area 3. Complete 4. Recently cleared 0. UnknownI. Vegetation type: 1. Growing on bank 2. Submerged in water 3. Free floating 4. Floating-leaved rooted 5. Emergent 0. Unknownj. Protection/conservation status: 1. By Government 2. By tradition 3. Private ownership 4. Unprotected 0. Unknown k. Fishing: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknownl. Hunting/trapping/poaching of birds: 1. None 2. Little 3. Moderate 4. Large scale 0. Unknown


If any other type of threats/uses, please specify: The normal threats for shrimp farms




Relatively new shrimp farm with modern looking facilities. The bottoms of the ponds are all covered with black plastic.Few ponds are still under construction and not yet covered with plastic. This is where the waders stay. The egrets preferto sit on the plastic borders of the ponds and hunt for shrimp.

PARTICIPANT(S) NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES): Mark HesselsAndrea BloemAndrea [email protected]







APPENDIX 3. Name of Site: Sungai Seria Estuary Date: 12-Jan-08

Province/State/Prefecture: Belait District Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Seria 204311411

Type: A - Aerial, F - On foot, B Y-75-99%,

- By boat, M - MixedCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50%, X-50-75%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsCORMORANTS & DARTERS SHOREBIRDS- WADERS

3 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus

HERONS & EGRETS 43 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

16 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis 4 Little Ringed Plover C. dubius

5 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 32 Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus

5 Chinese Pond Heron A. bacchus 4 Mongolian Plover C. mongolus

2 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 6 Greater Sand Plover C. leschenaultii

3 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 6 Redshank T. totanus

1 Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 5 Greenshank T. nebularia

2 Chinese (Swinhoe’s) Egret E. eulophotes 15 Wood Sandpiper T. glareola

20 Little Egret E. garzetta 37 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

86 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 6 Grey-tailed (Grey-rumped) Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes

10 Great Egret E. alba 25 Sanderling C. alba

1 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 5 Unidentified shorebirds

2 Grey Heron A. cinerea ADDITIONAL SPECIES

5929+1 Unidentified herons and egrets 1 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus

RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS 37 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

13 White-browed Crake P. Cinereus (Poliolimnas cinereus) 5 Yellow-bellied prinia Prinia flaviventris

10 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus 2 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

3 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 4 Common kingfisher Alcedo Atthis

1 Oriental Reed warbler Acrocephalus orientalis

1 Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Has the site been counted before?x

Name of Site: Sungai Bera Date: 7-1-2008


Type: A - Aerial, F - On foot, B X-50-75%,

- By boat, M - MixedCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50%, Y-75-99%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsHERONS & EGRETS 3 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

2 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 1 Unidentified shorebirds

1 Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS

3 Little Egret E. garzetta 1 Black-headed Gull L. ridibundus

2 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia ADDITIONAL SPECIES

4 Great Egret E. alba 19 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

SHOREBIRDS- WADERS 1 White-bellied sea-eagle Haliaeetus Leucogaster

3 Little Ringed Plover C. dubius 1 Common kingfisher Alcedo Atthis

10 Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus 1 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus

2 Redshank T. totanus

Has the site been counted before?

Name of Site: Grasslands Panaga-Seria Date: 20-1-2008

Province/State/Prefecture: Belait District Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Labi none so far, proposed: 204311413

Type:F - On foot, B - By boat, M - Mixed, C - By carCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50%, X-50-75%, Y-75-99%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsHERONS & EGRETS RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS

1 Malayan Night Heron (Tiger Bittern) G. melanolophus 8 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus

1 Chinese Pond Heron A. bacchus SHOREBIRDS- WADERS

314 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 49 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

1 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 11 Little Ringed Plover C. dubius

12 Little Egret E. garzetta 14 Wood Sandpiper T. glareola

33 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 5 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

5 Great Egret E. alba ADDITIONAL SPECIES

STORKS 8 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

2 Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 1 Crested Serpent-eagle Spilornis Cheela

1 Common kingfisher Alcedo Atthis



Name of Site: J14-former Disposal site Date: 15-1-2008


Type: A - Aerial, F - On foot, B

- By boat, M - MixedCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50%, X-50-75%, Y-75-99%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsCORMORANTS & DARTERS RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS

1 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1 White-browed Crake P. Cinereus (Poliolimnas cinereus)

HERONS & EGRETS 2 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus

2 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis ADDITIONAL SPECIES

1 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 3 Yellow-bellied prinia Prinia flaviventris

1 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 3 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

GEESE & DUCKS 1 Black-capped kingfisher Halcyon pileata

1 Wandering Whistling Duck D. arcuata


Name of Site: Luagan Lalak Date: 19-1-2008

Province/State/Prefecture: Belait District Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Labi BRUNEI008

Type: A - Aerial, F - On foot, B Y-75-99%

- By boat, M - MixedCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50%, X-50-75%, , Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsCORMORANTS & DARTERS ADDITIONAL SPECIES

4 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1 Osprey Pandion haliaetus

HERONS & EGRETS 3 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

2 Chinese Pond Heron A. bacchus 1 Grey-headed Fish-eagle Ichthyophaga Ichthyaetus

1 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 2 Striated grassbird Megalurus palustris

3 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea


Name of Site: Tasek Merimbun Date: 8-1-2008

Province/State/Prefecture: Tutong district Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Lamunin BRU 000002

Type: A - Aerial, F - On foot, B - By boat, M - MixedCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50%, X-50-75%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsCORMORANTS & DARTERS 998 Unidentified herons and egrets

44 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS

HERONS & EGRETS 2 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus

3 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis ADDITIONAL SPECIES

45 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 1 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

3 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 1 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus

35 Great Egret E. alba 1 Osprey Pandion haliaetus

16 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 1 Grey-headed Fish-eagle Ichthyophaga Ichthyaetus

Has the site been counted before? Y-75-99%,

Name of Site: Sewage Water Treatment Tutong Date: 27-jan-08

Province/State/Prefecture: Tutong District Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Tutong BRUNEI003




14 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1 Little Ringed Plover C. dubius

HERONS & EGRETS 1 Wood Sandpiper T. glareola

5 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 6 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

253 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis ADDITIONAL SPECIES

22 Little Egret E. garzetta Grey-headed Fish-eagle Ichthyophaga Ichthyaetus

84 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 2 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

75 Great Egret E. alba 3 White-bellied sea-eagle Haliaeetus Leucogaster

18 Grey Heron A. cinerea 1 Osprey Pandion haliaetus

250 Unidentified herons and egrets 1 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus

RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS 1 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

1 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus



Name of Site: Wasan Rice fields Date: 16-12-2007

Province/State/Prefecture: Muara district Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Kilanas / Limau Manis 204411450

Type: A - Aerial, F - On foot, B - By boat, M - MixedCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50%, X-50-75%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsHERONS & EGRETS SHOREBIRDS- WADERS

30 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis 1 Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

8 Cinnamon Bittern /. cinnamomeus 21 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

2 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 7 Little Ringed Plover C. dubius

4 Chinese Pond Heron A. bacchus 1 Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus

166 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 2 Mongolian Plover C. mongolus

45 Little Egret E. garzetta 1 Redshank T. totanus

92 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 1 Greenshank T. nebularia

10 Great Egret E. alba 309 Wood Sandpiper T. glareola

6 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 23 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

2 Grey Heron A. cinerea 40 Pintail Snipe Gallinago stenura

4 Unidentified herons and egrets 18 Red-necked (Rufous-necked) Stint C. ruficollis

GEESE & DUCKS 48 Long-toed Stint C. subminuta

55 Wandering Whistling Duck D. arcuata 64 Unidentified shorebirds

3 Garganey A. querquedula ADDITIONAL SPECIES

RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS 18 Blue-breated quail Coturnix chinensis

59 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus 1 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus

1 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 85 Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava

5 Black-shouldered kite Elanus caeruleus

7 Yellow-bellied prinia Prinia flaviventris

Has the site been counted before? Y-75-99%,

Name of Site: Muara beach Date: 11-1-2008

Province/State/Prefecture: Muara District Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Muara BRUNEI005

Type: A - Aerial, F - On foot, B X-50-75%

- By boat, M - MixedCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50%, , Y-75-99%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsHERONS & EGRETS ADDITIONAL SPECIES

1 Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 1 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis


Name of Site: Serasa beach Date: 11-1-2008





2 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 1 Redshank T. totanus

HERONS & EGRETS 4 Marsh Sandpiper T. stagnatilis

15 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 1 Greenshank T. nebularia

8 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 13 Wood Sandpiper T. glareola

4 Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 30 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

3 Chinese (Swinhoe’s) Egret E. eulophotes 1 Long-toed Stint C. subminuta

30 Little Egret E. garzetta ADDITIONAL SPECIES

4 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 3 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

6 Great Egret E. alba 3 Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava

18 Grey Heron A. cinerea 1 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus

GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS 15 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

2 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus 2 White-bellied sea-eagle Haliaeetus Leucogaster

5 Unidentified terns 1 Osprey Pandion haliaetus



Name of Site: Mentiri Prawn Farm Date: 20-jan-08

Province/State/Prefecture: Muara Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Mentiri BRUNEI007



Waterfowl CountsHERONS & EGRETS 26 Marsh Sandpiper T. stagnatilis

10 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 20 Greenshank T. nebularia

73 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 131 Wood Sandpiper T. glareola

2 Chinese (Swinhoe’s) Egret E. eulophotes 96 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

257 Little Egret E. garzetta 172 Red-necked (Rufous-necked) Stint C. ruficollis

42 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 41 Long-toed Stint C. subminuta

40 Great Egret E. alba 82 Unidentified shorebirds

1 Grey Heron A. cinerea GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS

42 Unidentified herons and egrets 3 White-winged Black Tern C. leucopterus

RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS ADDITIONAL SPECIES

5 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus 1 Common kingfisher Alcedo Atthis

SHOREBIRDS- WADERS 21 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

26 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 5 White-bellied sea-eagle Haliaeetus Leucogaster

250 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 2 Osprey Pandion haliaetus

12 Grey Plover P. squatarola 2 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus

129 Little Ringed Plover C. dubius 3 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

27 Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus 1 Ruddy kingfisher Halcyon coromanda

20 Whimbrel N. phaeopus 8 Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava

205 Redshank T. totanus 1 White wagtail Motacilla alba


Name of Site: Brunei Bay Mudflats Date: 10-2-2008


Type: A - Aerial, F - On foot, B - By boat, M - Mix V-25%

edCoverage: , W-25-50%, X-50-75%, Y-75-99%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsHERONS & EGRETS 4 Greenshank T. nebularia

15 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 2 Wood Sandpiper T. glareola

1 Rufous Night Heron N. caledonicus 9 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

14 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 13 Grey-tailed (Grey-rumped) Tattler Heteroscelus brevipes

5 Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra 48 Unidentified shorebirds

4 Chinese (Swinhoe’s) Egret E. eulophotes GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS

68 Little Egret E. garzetta 14 Unidentified terns


555 Unidentified herons and egrets 2 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

STORKS 1 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus

1 Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 23 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

SHOREBIRDS- WADERS 1 Osprey Pandion haliaetus

51 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 8 White-bellied sea-eagle Haliaeetus Leucogaster

47 Grey Plover P. squatarola 2 Ruddy kingfisher Halcyon coromanda

51 Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus 1 Peregrine falcon Falco Peregrinus japonensis

25 Whimbrel N. phaeopus



Name of Site: Telisai Mudflats Date: 7-jan-08

Province/State/Prefecture: Tutong District Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Kampung Telisai 204311414




39 Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 6 Greenshank T. nebularia

2 Chinese Pond Heron A. bacchus 5 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

1 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 1 Unidentified shorebirds

17 Little Egret E. garzetta GULLS, TERNS & SKIMMERS

1 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 1 Unidentified terns


6 Grey Heron A. cinerea 7 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

6 Unidentified herons and egrets 1 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS 1 Common kingfisher Alcedo Atthis

1 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus 1 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus


Name of Site: Makam Diraja Date: 18-jan-08

Province/State/Prefecture: Muara District Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Kampung Ayer 204311416

Type: A - Aerial, F - On foot, B

- By boat, M - MixedCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50%, X-50-75%, Y-75-99%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsHERONS & EGRETS RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS

1 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis 20 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus

3 Chinese Pond Heron A. bacchus SHOREBIRDS- WADERS

1 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 37 Whimbrel N. phaeopus

28 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 2 Redshank T. totanus

139 Little Egret E. garzetta 10 Greenshank T. nebularia

24 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 26 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos


2 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 29 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

74 Unidentified herons and egrets 4 White-bellied sea-eagle Haliaeetus Leucogaster

1 Common kingfisher Alcedo Atthis


Name of Site: Makam di Luba Date: 10-jan-08

Province/State/Prefecture: Muara District Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Kampung Bunut 204311415





12 Striated (Little Green) Heron Butorides striatus 5 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

7 Little Egret E. garzetta 6 Unidentified shorebirds

1 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia ADDITIONAL SPECIES

1 Great Egret E. alba 1 Brahminy kite Haliastur indus

343 Unidentified herons and egrets 1 Common kingfisher Alcedo Atthis





Name of Site: Bekiau Buffalo Fields Date: 12-1-2008

Province/State/Prefecture: Tutong district Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Tutong 204311417

Type:F - On foot, B, X-50-75%

- By boat, M - Mixed, C - By carCoverage: V-25%, W-25-50% , Y-75-99%, Z-100% Yes No


6 Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster 60 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva

HERONS & EGRETS 14 Little Ringed Plover C. dubius

1 Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis 2 Kentish Plover C. alexandrinus

1 Cinnamon Bittern /. cinnamomeus 13 Greenshank T. nebularia


4 Little Egret E. garzetta 15 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

11 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 1 Long-toed Stint C. subminuta


3 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 5 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris

1 Grey Heron A. cinerea 5 Stork-billed kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis

STORKS 14 Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava

1 Lesser Adjutant Leptoptilos javanicus 1 Striated grassbird Megalurus palustris




Name of Site: Semaun prawn farm Date: 20-12-2007

Province/State/Prefecture: Belait district Site Code (only for official use):Nearest Large Town: Lumut 204311418

Type:F - On foot, B W-25-50%

- By boat, M - Mixed, C - By carCoverage: V-25%, , X-50-75%, Y-75-99%, Z-100% Yes No

Waterfowl CountsHERONS & EGRETS 32 Marsh Sandpiper T. stagnatilis

93 Little Egret E. garzetta 5 Greenshank T. nebularia

4 Intermediate Egret E. intermedia 20 Wood Sandpiper T. glareola

81 Great Egret E. alba 3 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos

SHOREBIRDS- WADERS 7 Long-toed Stint C. subminuta

13 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus RAILS, GALLINULES & COOTS

3 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva 3 White-breasted Waterhen A. phoenicurus

11 Little Ringed Plover C. dubius ADDITIONAL SPECIES

2 Redshank T. totanus 2 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris



APPENDIX 4.

Sungai Seria EstuarySpecies 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2002 2007 2008Oriental Darter 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3Yellow Bittern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 8Cinnamon Bittern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0Black-crowned Night Heron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16Chinese Pond Heron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 5Cattle Egret 0 0 0 0 5 2 0 0 0 16 78 82 30 3 2Little Green (striated) Heron 0 0 0 0 24 34 5 4 1 0 1 3 0 7 3Eastern Reef Egret 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 1(DP) 1 2 1Chinese Egret 0 0 0 0 5 15 2 1 1 3 1 0 0 1 2Little Egret 0 0 0 0 34 62 22 10 8 5 8 8 8 34 20Intermediate Egret 0 0 0 0 12 16 10 22 42 32 4 19 2 74 86Great White Egret 0 0 0 0 15 16 16 2 9 4 3 5 6 4Purple Heron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1Grey Heron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2Unidentified egrets - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1724 54Lesser Adjudant 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0Northern Pintail 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0White-Browed Crake 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 1 0 6White-breasted Waterhen 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 5 3 2 2 1 6Moorhen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 6 6 56 0 14Black-winged stilt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Oriental pratincole 0 1 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Pacific Golden Plover 216 216 178 186 208 129 149 2 17 8 91 73 0 35 43Grey Plover 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0Little-ringed Plover 56 55 20 32 35 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 27 1 4Kentish Plover 99 56 59 87 22 8 2 0 3 27 34 83 15 36Mongolian (lesser) Sand plover 45 49 46 83 43 34 22 12 3 128 46 92 26 5 4Greater Sand plover 29 15 9 23 9 0 7 11 6 40 4 34 0 3 6Curlew 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0Whimbrel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0Redshank 4 4 9 14 17 15 19 8 4 6 8 3 1 6 6Marsh Sandpiper 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0Greenshank 12 12 13 10 22 26 7 3 4 2 0 2 0 6 5Wood Sandpiper 18 30 17 26 27 11 3 0 3 0 9 1 1 28 15Common Sandpiper 23 24 15 14 25 14 9 1 4 6 8 2 2 26 37Grey-tailed tattler 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6Ruddy turnstone 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Common Snipe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0Red-necked stint 23 64 63 72 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0Long-toed Stint 77 55 51 24 5 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0Asiatic Dowitcher 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0Great knot 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Sanderling 2 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 16 0 0 25Curlew sandpiper 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Ruff & Reeve 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Unid. Snipe spp 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Plover spp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Large sandpiper spp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2Osprey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0White-bellied sea-eagle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

Number of species 14 16 17 13 18 18 17 12 21 16 20 21 15 29 31Number of birds 607 587 502 573 511 412 264 77 122 288 322 487 142 2061 5819

1986 D. Harvey 1991 unknown 1997 Victor Stanger1987 D. Harvey 1993 unknown 1998 Victor Stanger1988 D. Harvey 1994 Mary Seal Coon 2002 Byron Wright1989 J. Elkin 1995 Mary Seal Coon 2007 A.Bloem, D.Gunn1990 unknown 1996 Victor Stanger 2008 G.Durrance, A.Bloem

16

5

10

48

1310

3

32


Sungai Bera EstuarySpecies 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2007 2008Cattle Egret 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 45 12 0 0Little Green (striated) Heron 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2Eastern Reef Egret 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Little Egret 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 5 2 1 1 3Intermediate Egret 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 7 7 0 1 2Great White Egret 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4White-breasted Waterhen 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 0Pacific Golden Plover 21 48 59 12 7 1 5 1 3 126 6 4 0 0Little-ringed Plover 69 168 124 115 74 76 65 6 18 16 25 33 0 3Kentish Plover 24 45 27 47 18 7 6 0 0 11 6 2 0 10Mongolian (lesser) Sand plover 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0Greater Sand plover 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0Oriental plover 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0Redshank 1 0 1 2 2 0 1 0 2 3 3 2 0 2Marsh Sandpiper 1 3 1 4 0 1 0 2 0 2 1 2 0 0Greenshank 2 2 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Wood Sandpiper 29 99 45 51 32 11 17 2 7 11 6 7 0 0Common Sandpiper 8 13 12 9 5 2 1 1 3 6 5 4 0 3Swinhoe's Snipe 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Red-necked Stint 35 25 27 19 38 19 18 30 1 17 5 25 0 0Temminck's Stint 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Long-toed Stint 278 223 189 216 121 48 75 30 13 19 23 63 0 0Curlew sandpiper 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Ruff & Reeve 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Black-headed gull 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Unid. Snipe spp 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7

Number of species 14 14 12 11 11 11 10 12 8 13 12 12 5 11Number of birds 472 646 489 478 302 168 190 75 49 229 134 156 7 38

1986 D. Harvey 1991 unknown 1997 Victor Stanger1987 D. Harvey 1993 unknown 1998 Victor Stanger1988 D. Harvey 1994 Mary Seal Coon 2007 B.Gumilar, Kh.de Graaf1989 J. Elkin 1995 Mary Seal Coon 2008 A.Bloem, S.Hee, N.Abdullah1990 unknown 1996 Victor Stanger

J14 Former Disposal SiteSpecies 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2007 2008Oriental Darter 1 1 1 0 1 0 3 1 1 1Yellow Bittern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2Chinese Pond Heron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0Cattle Egret 0 0 2 0 0 7 0 1 0 0Little Green (striated) Heron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1Little Egret 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0Intermediate Egret 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1Great White Egret 1 0 2 1 1 1 2 1 0 0Purple Heron 2 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 0Wandering Whistling duck 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Garganey 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0White-Browed Crake 9 0 11 2 0 3 0 2 0 1White-breasted Waterhen 13 4 2 6 0 1 0 1 4 2Moorhen 7 4 0 0 0 9 2 0 0 0Black-winged Stilt 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Little-ringed Plover 6 2 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 0Green Sandpiper 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Wood Sandpiper 34 2 0 1 5 1 3 8 0 0Common Sandpiper 2 2 2 2 0 2 0 0 0 0Long-toed Stint 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Little Grebe 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Unidentified: Egret spp 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0Black-capped kingfisher 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Number of species 14 8 8 7 6 8 7 11 4 8Number of birds 106 18 23 15 18 26 13 20 7 10

1990 unknown 1995 Mary Seal Coon 1998 Victor Stanger1991 unknown 1996 Victor Stanger 2007 M.Hessels, G.Bobrow,S.Hee, A.Ball1993 unknown 1997 Victor Stanger 2008 S.Hee, A.Bloem1994 Mary Seal Coon


Grasslands Panaga - Seria Tutong Sewage TanksSpecies 1997 2002 2007 2008 Species 2002 2007 2008Schrenck's Bittern 0 0 1 0 Oriental Darter 6 13 1Malayan Night Heron 0 0 2 1 Black-crowned night-heron 0 0Chinese Pond Heron 0 0 1 1 Cattle Egret 4 141 25Cattle Egret 0 237 693 314 Little Green (striated) Heron 2 2Little Green (striated) Heron 0 0 2 1 Eastern Reef Egret 1 0Little Egret 0 0 27 12 Little Egret 15 45 22Intermediate Egret 0 6 75 33 Intermediate Egret 13 58 84Great White Egret 0 0 18 5 Great White Egret 103 89 75Purple Heron 0 0 1 0 Grey Heron 0 18 1Lesser Adjudant 0 0 0 2 White-breasted Waterhen 0 0White-breasted Waterhen 0 0 1 8 Black-winged Stilt 0 3Pacific Golden Plover 0 0 0 49 Pacific Golden Plover 2 0Little-ringed Plover 0 0 5 11 Little-ringed Plover 3 4Kentish Plover 180 0 0 0 Greenshank 0 2Mongolian (lesser) Sand plover 140 0 0 0 Wood Sandpiper 1 2Greater Sand plover 24 0 0 0 Common Sandpiper 7 8Wood Sandpiper 15 0 15 14 White-bellied sea-eagle 0 1Common Sandpiper 2 0 16 5 Osprey 0 1Sanderling 6 0 0 0 Grey-headed Fish-eagle 0 1Unid: Egret spp 0 0 1 0 Unidentified: Egret spp 0 0 2

Number of species 6 2 14 13 Number of species 11 4 14Number of birds 367 243 858 456 Number of birds 157 388 734

1997 Victor Stanger 2002 J.Charles, A.B.Biaw, P.Thambipillai2002 J.Charles, A.B.Biaw 2007 A.Bloem2007 J.Moore, N.Dols, Thom 2008 M.Hessels, D.Mendes, A.Bloem2008 J.Moore, D.Mendes, J.W. de Graaf

Serasa Spit Tasek MerimbunSpecies 2002 2007 2008 Species 1998 2007 2008Oriental Darter 0 0 2 Oriental Darter 8 1

Cattle Egret 5 2 15 Yellow Bittern 0 0

Little Green (striated) Heron 0 0 8 Black-crowned night-heron 1 0

Eastern Reef Egret 2 0 4 Little Green (striated) Heron 2 0

Chinese Egret 0 1 3 Little Egret 100 46 0

Little Egret 0 0 30 Great egret 0 0

Intermediate Egret 3 7 4 Purple Heron 4 0

Great White Egret 2 2 6 White-breasted Waterhen 0 0

Grey Heron 0 0 18 Wood Sandpiper 4 0

White-breasted Waterhen 0 1 0 Common Sandpiper 1 1Redshank 0 0 1 Whiskered tern 1 0

Marsh Sandpiper 0 0 4 Unidentified: Egret spp 0 0 9

Greenshank 0 0 1 Osprey 0 0Wood Sandpiper 0 0 13 Grey-headed Fish-eagle 0 0

Common Sandpiper 6 1 30 Number of species 8 3Long-toed Stint 0 0 1 Number of birds 121 48 1148

Whiskered tern 0 0 2Unidentified: Tern spp 0 0 5 2002 Victor StangerOsprey 0 0 1 2007 A.Bloem, Suze, MalekWhite-bellied sea-eagle 0 0 2 2008 S.Nyawa, S.Hee, M.Hessels, A.Bloem

Number of species 5 6 19Number of birds 18 14 150

2002 P.Thambipillai2007 P.Thambipillai, R.Bush

P.Thambipillai, N.King, D.Gibb, L.M.Lien2008 I.Poh Ai-Cheong, N.Abdullah, A.Bloem,

45300

81001016310

50

44

3

45

3

35

16

2

0

00

98

11

10


Brunei Bay Mentiri Prawn FarmSpecies 2002 2007 2008 2002 2007 2008Black-crowned Night Heron 0 2 15 Black-crowned night-heron 0 0Rufous Night Heron 0 0 1 Cattle Egret 3 163 73Little Green (striated) Heron 2 16 14 Little Green (striated) Heron 0 1 0Eastern Reef Egret 0 1 5 Eastern Reef Egret 0 0Chinese Egret 3 5 4 Little Egret 2 28 257Little Egret 3 88 68 Intermediate Egret 27 77 42Intermediate Egret 5 7 208 Great White Egret 0 32 4Great White Egret 0 45 0 Grey heron 0 2 1Lesser Adjudant 0 0 1 White-breasted Waterhen 0 0 5Pacific Golden Plover 2 0 51 Black-winged stilt 0 10 2Grey Plover 0 0 47 Pacific Golden Plover 0 0 250Little-ringed Plover 4 0 0 Grey plover 0 0Kentish Plover 0 0 51 Little-ringed Plover 0 0 129Whimbrel 0 7 25 Kentish Plover 0 0Greenshank 0 0 4 Whimbrel 0 0Wood Sandpiper 0 0 2 Redshank 0 0 205Common Sandpiper 0 8 9 Marsh Sandpiper 0 0Grey-tailed Tattler 0 0 13 Greenshank 0 0Whiskered tern 0 6 0 Wood Sandpiper 0 0 131Unid. Egret spp 0 43 555 Common Sandpiper 0 0Unid. Wader spp 0 2 31 Red-necked stint 0 0 172Unid. Plover spp 0 0 11 Long-toed Stint 0 0Unid. Large Sandpiper spp 0 0 1 White-winged black tern 0 0 3Unid. Small Sandpiper spp 0 0 5 Unid: Egret spp 0 0Unid. Tern spp 0 12 14 Unid. Large Sandpiper spp 0 0 2Osprey 0 0 1 Snipe spp 0 0 2White-bellied sea-eagle 0 0 8 Stints 0 0

Number of species 6 13 24 White-bellied sea-eagle 0 0 5Number of birds 19 242 1144 Osprey 0 0 2

2002 Joe Charles White Wagtail 0 0 1

2008 S.Nyawa, J.Moore, M.Hessels, A.Bloem Number of species 3 7Number of birds 32 313 1739

A.Bloem, N.Dols, Thom, Suzy, Malek2002 Pushpa Thambipillai2007 Joe Charles & BIOCOP

Luagan Lalak Muara BeachSpecies 2002 2007 2008 Species 2002 2007 2008Oriental Darter 1 1 4 Eastern Reef Egret 1 4 1Chinese Pond Heron 0 0 2 Unid. Frigatebirds 2

Cattle Egret 0 3 0 Number of species 2 1 2Intermediate Egret 0 2 1 Number of birds 3 4 1

Purple Heron 2 3 3 2002 P.ThambipillaiWhite-breasted Waterhen 0 1 0 2007 P.Thambipillai, R.BushUnidentified: Egret spp 0 1 0 2008 I.Poh Ai-Cheong, N.Abdullah, A.BloemOsprey 0 0 1Grey-headed Fish-eagle 0 0 1Striated Grassbird 0 0 1

Number of species 2 6 7Number of birds 3 11 13

2002 P.Thambipillai2007 A.Bloem2008 D.de Vries, A.Bloem

2007 J.Moore, M.Hessels, R.Bush,

2008 P.Thambipillai, J.Moore, M.Hessels, A.Bloem,

10

21

0

6

12

2720

2620

96

41

42

78

29


Wasan Rice Fields1987 1988 1990 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2002 2005 2007 2008

Oriental Darter 0 0 1 5 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0Yellow Bittern 0 0 5 4 5 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1Cinnamon Bittern 0 0 4 7 1 4 0 5 3 0 3 0 0 8Black bittern 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0Black-crowned night-heron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2Chinese Pond Heron 0 0 12 30 15 11 0 6 5 1 0 0 1 4Cattle Egret 0 0 11 156 98 100+ 90 21 0 0 8 2 12 166Little Green (striated) Heron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0Chinese Egret 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Little Egret 0 0 24 25 5 68 0 0 0 6 0 1 1Intermediate Egret 0 0 29 35 13 10 46 7 16 0 16 0 4 92Great White Egret 0 0 15 30 3 2 12 0 3 1 0 2 2Purple Heron 0 0 20 23 11 5 7 8 8 2 3 0 1 6Grey heron 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2Wandering Whistling duck 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Common teal 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Northern pintail 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Garganey 0 0 29 1 22 46 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3Northern shoveler 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Slaty-breasted rail 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

White-Browed Crake 0 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 1 9 0 0 0 0White-breasted Waterhen 0 0 25 21 13 6 8 4 4 5 5 0 1 5Watercock 0 0 4 17 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Moorhen 0 0 2 4 16 1 3 14 5 36 1 0 0 1Oriental pratincole 25 400 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Northern lapwing 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Pacific Golden Plover 100 100 20 10 7 62 11 15 10 0 0 1 0Long-billed Plover 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Common ringed plover 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0Little-ringed Plover 3 20 3 8 5 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 7Kentish Plover 3 20 2 2 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Mongolian plover 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2Redshank 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Marsh Sandpiper 1 1 6 22 6 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0Greenshank 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Green sandpiper 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wood Sandpiper 200 1000 100 90 200 120 24 25 100 3 0 16 0 309Common Sandpiper 20 50 7 8 3 6 8 2 10 1 0 0 2 2Pintail snipe 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4Common Snipe 0 0 6 12 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Swinhoe’s Snipe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0Red-necked stint 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1Long-toed Stint 20 100 8 14 71 6 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 4Ruff & Reeve 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Whiskered Tern 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0White-winged black tern 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Unid: Egret spp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 50 20 4 0 2 0 4 Snipe spp 4 10 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Plover spp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Small sandpiper spp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Wader spp 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3Marsh harrier 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Grey wagtail 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0

Number of species 11 13 28 25 20 18 14 14 14 12 8 8 9Number of birds 379 1712 348 535 499 452 241 162 188 76 40 30 27 1023

1987 D.A. Dishin 1994 Mary Seal Coon 2002 Pushpa Thambipillai1988 D.A.Dishin, C.Ozogm, C. F.Mann 1995 Mary Seal Coon 2005 Anthony Wong, Vincent Wong1990 unknown 1996 Victor Stanger 2007 Pushpa Thambipillai, Robert Bush1991 unknown 1997 Victor Stanger 2008 P.Thambipillai, J.Moore, M.Hessels, A.Bloem1993 unknown 1998 Victor Stanger

30

45

10

55

9

21

30

88

10

30


APPENDIX 5.

Prawn ponds at Simpang 200, Mentiri, with the Sewage Ponds on the W side, and Brunei Bay on E side.

Prawn ponds at Simpang 212, Mentiri. Brunei Bay is on the N and E side.


AWC – 2008 Brunei Darussalam

awc 2008 report brunei darussalam

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