Taking time for the perfect shot

AVID photographer Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn spends hours photographing birds at Taman Eko Rimba Kota Damansara in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

“I learned of a pair of grey-headed fish eagles at the lakeside through Facebook posts.

“These past weeks, I’ve been at Jalan Merbah 10/1 watching the lake and forest fringe for the birds,” said the former Human Resources minister who took up birdwatching six years ago.

He said it had become a goal of his to capture a shot of the fierce-looking brown-and-white bird of prey with its wings spread and talons holding a fish above the lake’s surface.

Goal achieved – a shot of a grey-headed fish eagle with its fish catch. — Courtesy of Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn

“The lake attracts birds as there is an abundance of catfish,” he explained.

Fong was among some 15 birdwatchers who had their cameras trained on the lake area from about 7.30am over a recent weekend.

Having been a member of his school photography club, Fong’s birdwatching has taken him to Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak and Johor besides China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Russia and Japan.

“In Hokkaido, Japan, I spotted a sea eagle and red-crowned crane,” he said.

Penangite YS Fong was also at the lake with her husband PH Teoh hoping to get a shot of the eagles.

“We took up birdwatching in 2019.

“I am hoping to capture an iconic photo of the birds before I leave for home,” she said.

Another enthusiast, KF Kong, who started birdwatching with his wife Jessie in 2020, said the hobby had taken them to Taiping in Perak, Melaka, Kuala Pilah in Negri Sembilan and Wang Kelian in Perlis.

“We saw eagle owls in Wang Kelian, while in Kota Damansara, we have had the opportunity to see woodpeckers, broadbills, oriental dollar birds, flowerpeckers, kingfishers, plaintive cuckoo, black-naped oriole and the brahminy kite,” said KF.