This year the raptor watch event at Tanjung Tuan will be on 8th and 9 March 2025. Below is the highlight of the event.
Tanjung tuan is a important raptor migration site for east Asian–Australasian Flyway raptor migration site in Malaysia.
Every year from mid February to mid April , migration raptors migrating through Rupat island Sumatera Indonesia will fly back to their breeding ground at Siberia, China, Japan and other countries in the northern hemisphere through Tanjung Tuan which is the shortest route (about 38km) .
Raptor Watch Tanjung Tuan is held annually on the first weekend of March by Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) in Tanjung Tuan Melaka. Raptor Watch is a public event meant to raise awareness on the conservation of raptors and their habitats.
Click this link to read the study about Northbound Migration Count of Raptors at Tanjung Tuan, Peninsular Malaysia: Magnitude, Timing, and Flight Behavior.
Oriental Honey-buzzard (Pernis ptilorhyncus) is the most common migratory raptors that is crossing here. Oriental Honey buzzards that migrate from breeding areas in Japan to wintering areas in Southeast Asia fly over the East China Sea. This 700-km nonstop flight over water is possible because during autumn, winds over the sea blow in the same direction as the birds’ direction of flight (i.e. wind support) climate change affects wind conditions worldwide, the wind support over the East China Sea could be reduced.
From Tanjung Medang on the island of Pulau Rupat of north-western Sumatra to Tanjung Tuan is the shortest distance over the sea along the length of the Straits of Malacca (Zalles and Bildstein 2000). Weather conditions typically were hazy or cloudy with little wind in the morning until 10h00, then becoming clear but humid. On many days a 3–15 km/h sea breeze from the west or north-west developed at c.10h45. Occasionally, the wind direction and speed changed significantly in subsequent hours.
Wind is very important factor for bird migration .
The majority of Oriental Honey-buzzards made landfall during light to moderate (<15 km/h) winds. (reference)
Raptor Spring migration from Rupat island Sumatera Indonesia to Tanjung Tuan, Malaysia
The migration raptors fly across the Straits of Malacca from Rupat island Sumatra in Indonesia to Tanjung Tuan in Melaka at a distance of about 38km, happen yearly between mid February to mid April, the peak period to watch the migration raptor crossing the straits was in March.
Below is a photo showing a group of Oriental Honey Buzzard trying soaring-gliding techniques to minimize energy by flying low, flapping, gliding and soaring from Rupat island Sumatera through Malacca Strait to Tanjung Tuan Melaka .
The raptors migration through Malacca Strait that cross water surfaces where thermal currents are weak , It is quiet common to see Oriental Honey Buzzard flying not far from the water surfaces to save the energy.
Large raptors like Oriental Honey Buzzard mainly use flapping to flight which increases energy consumption and mortality risk.
Below is the photo that showing the Oriental Honey-buzzard flying and flapping their way from the Malacca strait to Tanjung Tuan light house . Some of them open their mouth quiet big probably to catch the air after the long flight.
When they near the light house. Some use the thermal to raise up near the light house.
Some Oriental Honey Buzzard choose to show off near us.
Some choose to stay low profile and fly further away from the paparazzi
Following is a you tube video detail about the Raptor migration at Tanjung Tuan by Mark
Thermaling
Raptors use the hot air for thermaling and soaring to save their energy in their migration .
Below is a some Oriental Honey Buzzard slope soar along Cape Rachado lighthouse.
Below Oriental Honey Buzzard is seen soaring along the mountain slope below the Cape Rachado lighthouse before rise up and join others Oriental Honey Buzzard thermalling group.
It require more effect for Oriental Honey-buzzard to fly from Rupat island to Tanjung Tuan which is about 38km because flying over the open sea can be dangerous for land birds.
Flapping flight is relatively costly for soaring birds such as raptors. To avoid costly flight, migrating raptors generally avoid flying over water.
Unlike seabirds, land birds are not able to rest or feed on water, and so sea crossings must be conducted as nonstop flights.
Some of the Oriental Honey-buzzard that just reaching Tanjung Tuan light house look quiet tired after the long flight as flapping is an energetically costly activity.
Some seem to gasp for air and probably scream that they are tired.
The Oriental Honey Buzzard after crossing the Malacca Strait thermaling and flock together.
Ornithologists believe flocking enables hawks to locate and use thermals more efficiently.
Thermals will assist the raptors in getting them back to their breeding grounds in far north
After they reach the light house area some seem to use the rising air thermals known as uplift to soar over the open sea.
While we are watching the Oriental Honey-buzzard . They are watching us also:
Some seem to cycle around the light house to find the best spot for the thermal.
Some seem to join others to start the thermal soaring.
If they do not have enough thermal they will need to fly hard by flapping.
If the Oriental honey buzzard get enough thermal they can drift like the below:
After they rising to the right spot they will break up and fly forward.
It is nice to see the kettle of raptor thermaling in the sky.
Moulting
Some of the Oriental Honey Buzzard is under moulting stage but it did not stop them for migration:
Most migration occurred during days when winds were from southwest and west. (Reference:https://doi.org/10.3356/JRR-13-41.1).
I find that Tanjung Tuan is the good place to observe the Oriental Honey Buzzard.
Oriental Honey Buzzard food consist mainly on larvae and honey of bees and wasps, but also lizards, frogs and other insects.
Oriental Honey Buzzard can help to clear the Hornet which is dislike by bee farmer . Following you tube link are from Taiwan .
Photo Gallery
There is a variation of plumage for Oriental honey buzzard that some time confuse me with other raptors. Following link from Taiwan Raptor research group explain the variety of morph for Crested Honey Buzzard : https://www.facebook.com/share/p/NvPA8Byqx3b4URjr/?mibextid=oFDknk
Adult male oriental honey buzzard
The adult male has a blue-grey head, prominent dark trailing edge to the wing, thick tail bands and relatively thick barring on the underwing.
Female oriental honey buzzard
The female’s head is brown. She is slightly larger and darker than the male. She has multiple relatively thin tailbands. Information from this link.
Juvenile oriental honey buzzard
Probably Juvenile female. Note the multiple, relatively thin, tailbands.
Note the yellow base to the bill, the dark eye and the relatively neat and fresh plumage. Information from this link .
Oriental Honey Buzzard record at raptorwatch Tanjung Tuan :
Counting record from the counting team:
For year 2025 the raptor count start from 3 March 2025 to 16 March 2025.
The first day count is as below;
The last day count as below:
Click here for the Tanjung Tuan raptor count record for 2018 to 2020.
Why raptor is important
Birds of prey provide many valuable environmental services. They help control populations of pest species such as mice, rats, and insects. They remove carrion from the environment, reducing the spread of disease. They also serve as key indicators of environmental contamination.
Raptor watch 