Some left over observation from wetlands at the Johore coast, Malaysia and Sungei Buloh, Singapore. I saw quite a number of Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) at both locations.
The above is a Milky Stork from Johore, Malaysia.
The above is a Milky Stork hybrid with Painted Stork – note the pink in its plumage (tertials), and that the white upper wing coverts are not pure white.
The above is a juvenile Milky Stork from Singapore.
The above shows part of the Milk Stork flock at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Singapore.
The above is a close-up of an adult Milky Stork from Johore, Malaysia.
The above shows a pair of Milky Storks in flight in Johore, Malaysia.
An article by the National University of Singapore 2019 (http://www.science.nus.edu.sg/research-highlights/2527-genomic-contamination-threatens-endangered-milky-storks-in-singapore) states that “… global population numbers about 1,500 individuals in the wild. The region around Singapore and Johor, Malaysia may hold up to about 7-10% of the global wild population”. Sadly some of the Milky Stork are being hybridized with Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala); see:
Baveja P, Tang Q, Lee JGH, Rheindt FE. Impact of genomic leakage on the conservation of the endangered Milky Stork. Biological Conservation 2018 Vol: 229 Pages: 59-66.
Amar-Singh HSS (Dato’ Dr) – Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Location: Johore Costal Wetlands and Sungei Buloh Wetlands, Singapore
Habitat: Mangrove forest wetlands
Date: 28-29th October 2018
Equipment: Nikon D500 SLR with Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD, handheld
