Raptor Watch 2015
This birding festival held at the Tanjung Tuan Lighthouse in Melaka celebrates the return of the migratory birds of prey or better known as raptors from their journey back to their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere.
Raptor Watch Tanjung Tuan
As the autumn season approaches (September), they will make the perilous journey south from their original country into continental Southeast Asia and its associated archipelago through the East Asian Flyway (migratory routes taken by raptors).
From late January till March/April, they will once again make the same journey to their breeding grounds and March is one of the best times to spot these migratory birds.
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| Tanjung Tuan in Melaka for the Raptor Watch Event |
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| Crested Serpent-Eagle seen at Tanjung Tuan |
Tanjung Tuan or Cape Rachado History
Cape Rachado was actually named by the Portuguese which means Broken Cape and is an exclave of the state of Malacca, Malaysia, adjacent to the town of Port Dickson in Negeri Sembilan.
The most prominent landmark here is of course the Cape Rachado Lighthouse which faces the Strait of Malacca and now serving as the main venue for Raptor Watch.
After the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, the Portuguese built a lighthouse to guide its ships and Tanjung Tuan was chosen and the cape was named Cape Rachado by them.
Another historical fact is that the coastal area off the cape is the site of the naval Battle of Cape Rachado in 1606, between the Dutch VOC and Portuguese fleets.
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| An Osprey at Tanjung Tuan |
How to go to Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson
Tanjung Tuan is also known as Cape Rachado or the Blue Lagoon on the 10th mile from the Port Dickson town heading south.
Those driving here, you need to take the Port Dickson coastal road all the way pass Taman Anika and turn into Kampung Siginting towards Hutan Rekreasi Tanjung Tuan.
An easy landmark here is the PNG Ilham Resort just before the national park. For some state bordering reasons, the Tanjung Tuan Forest Reserve is located in Melaka while Kampung Siginting is in Negeri Sembilan.
Tanjung Tuan GPS Coordinates: 2.4000° N, 101.8667° E
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| A Japanese Sparrowhawk photographed at Raptor Watch |
Hotels around Tanjung Tuan
There are quite a number of hotels around here so for anyone driving, it would be much easier. There are choices of budget hotels and also 3-5 star hotels available here depending on your style. I have provided a radius of 5 kilometers for the list of hotels nearest to the Raptor Watch event which is;
• PNB Ilham Resort
• Casa Rachado Beach Resort
• Permaisuri Resort Port Dickson
• Thistle Port Dickson
• Klana Beach Resort Port Dickson
• Akar Beach Resort
•Ancasa Resort Port Dickson
• Primaland Resort Port Dickson
• Eagle Ranch Resort
Other Bird Watching Events in Malaysia
If you are interested in finding out more about other similar events in Malaysia, I have done an article for Bird Watching in Malaysia for those who want to know more.
The article also covers all the places for birding in Malaysia and details out the locations and other general information.
And for birders heading to Borneo Malaysia, you can check out this article on Bird Watching in Borneo as it covers all the popular birding spots located around here.
The RW birding event is organized by Malaysian Nature Society in partnership with the Malacca State Government, Negeri Sembilan State Government and Tourism Malaysia for Raptor Watch.
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