Short-term trends in migratory bird arrivals at Pantai Sabak, Kelantan, Malaysia, based on a baseline study from 2017 to 2024.

Pantai Sabak, on the northeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia, represents a potentially important coastal area along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). Despite its potential, data on migratory bird dynamics in this region remain limited. This study establishes an 8-year baseline (2017 - 2024) describing trends in arrival timing, abundance, and peak migratory activity for 20 non-resident bird species observed along a fixed 1.5 km shoreline transect. A significant delay in arrival was detected for Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx basalis) (+7.7 days/year, p = 0.0122), verified through photographic and morphological confirmation. Other species, including the Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus) and Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), showed non-significant but consistent directional changes in timing and abundance. Actitis hypoleucos increased from two individuals in 2017 to more than 700 in 2021, suggesting changing site use. The results highlight short-term variability in migratory phenology and emphasise the value of consistent, multi-year monitoring in underrepresented coastal regions. These findings form an essential baseline for future long-term studies and support the inclusion of sites like Pantai Sabak in regional flyway conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]