Searching for a miracle

 

After a phenomenal time in central Thailand followed immediately by the double mega twitches back in Penang, it was going to take a miracle for any excursion to overwhelm my emotions in the same manner for a long time to come. So, it was best not to have too much expectations as I made my way to the forests of Sungai Sedim in Kedah state. The fruiting trees are in season now and that was something that I should be able to look forward to.

Bumping into Hor Kee and his companions was a good sign as it was a clear indication that the timing was right for the fruiting trees. Shortly after, the first of the patrons arrived in the form of Cream-vented Bulbuls. Not exactly show-stopping material but hopefully, will serve as a prelude.  

Black-headed Bulbuls were prevalent this time round. The striking colouration and vocal nature of the birds made them rather conspicuous. Naturally, every visit they made to the fruits did not go unnoticed.

As for the Red-eyed Bulbuls, they are known patrons for as long as I can remember. I have been documenting birds feasting on fruiting trees in this locality for years and I am glad to say these occurrences still fascinate me till today.

Surprisingly, the Buff-vented Bulbuls did not patronize the fruiting trees as greedily as they used to in the past. A quick visit here and there inevitably did not offer many images for this blog post.

It is always a delight to come across the Finsch’s Bulbul. For years the forests in these parts have been one of its strongholds but it was not reflected by today’s poor show.

I used to rely on the striking plumage of the Grey-bellied Bulbul to add colours and splendour to my experiences at the fruiting trees but no such privilege on this sunny Saturday morning...

I am not sure if you have noticed but some of the the images in this post appeared to taken from an elevated point. And we have the adjacent two-storey dormitory to thank for that. Anyway, subtle would be how to I would describe the Spectacled Bulbul’s appearance. And every bit of vibrancy is concentrated around the eyes.

It was a no-show for a few bulbul species that have been regularly recorded in the past and on the whole, the level of bird activities was lower than usual. The inclusion of a moth photo should be able to give a picture of the today’s birding pace.

The adorable flowerpeckers were sorely missed as well. Only one species was recorded today and thankfully, it was the Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker which the male is a true gem of the forest.

A few juveniles were present as well and should be of the same species.

The Hume’s White-eyes are not uncommon at this locality but they seldom patronize fruiting trees. Their energetic visits today provided training for my photographic skills more than anything else.

If there was one species worthy of recognition today, it was the Greater Green Leadbird. A female parent bird and her offspring dropped by a few times throughout the morning. Here is the adult bird.

Although the young female is more than able to fend for herself, she was still eager to receive the occasional pampering. Who wouldn’t?

The male Greater Green Leafbird did not closely interacted with the two females and I cannot determine if they were indeed part of the same family. One thing that I can be certain of was his vibrant presence. A true stunner with remarkable vocals.

When feeding activities at the fruiting trees subsided, I decided to try my luck along the access road leading up to Gunung Bintang. It was a relief that during my absence, the lush habitat remained the same which is not always the case.

As for the birding, there is no denying it has deteriorated through years. Gone are the days when the calls of trogons, broadbills and babblers filled the vicinity. I suppose I was lucky to be able to find and photograph this Yellow-bellied Bulbul resting in the dim under storey of the forest during my exploration. I do not know if I am alone in this but with each passing year, birding just gets harder and harder where I frequently visit. This is especially true for forest birding sites like this.

The far-carrying territorial calls of the Agile Gibbons continue to be provide a sense of intrigue to this locality and that is most fortunate. Although it is not a bird, this graceful primate is elusive enough to hold me in awe whenever our paths crossed.

The availability of food is the reason behind its confiding behaviour today. Just like the birds earlier on, the temptation is so strong that natural instincts were suppressed. This is one of the closest I have ever been with an Agile Gibbon and this intimate encounter certainly made my day.

A tale of two twitches

 

Before my birding tour in central Thailand ended, it came to my attention that Yellow-breasted Buntings were also seen and photographed at the Bluethroat site back in Penang. To have two mega rarities literally together of which one is critically endangered and a global lifer for me was too good to be true surely. But the images surfacing in social media say otherwise. Well, my pending visit to the locality escalated from gradually to urgently. I had ample time at the airport when I waited for my flight back to Penang. Normal folks would be homesick and all that but I am a birder and we are a breed apart. As I sipped my over-priced coffee at one the cafes, there was only one mind on my mind – Yellow-breasted Buntings. A plan was formed before I boarded the plane. By the time I climbed onto bed, it was midnight. At the break of dawn, I found myself at the grasslands of Kubang Semang in mainland Penang for my first twitch in years. I have not had so much excitement in my birding life for a long time and it was invigorating to say the least.

It was a Monday and the chosen day was also part of the plan. A mega like the Bluethroat will have any place in Peninsular Malaysia crowded especially when the bird is stable and regular. Add another mega into the mix and you do the math. It was empty when James and I arrived at the site. Just as I was about to pat myself on the back, other like-minded ‘bird’ people started pouring in. And I guess a working Monday is not much of a hindrance after all. The male Bluethroat, as expected, did not take long to reveal his stunning presence. Having just experienced a similar encounter less than twenty-four hours ago, the usual thrill of a successful twitch was a little lacking.

All my years of birding has taught me quite a number of things and taking birds for granted is not one of them. I continued to shower the Bluethroat with attention while James and a few others who have spent enough time with the Bluethroat last week, were on the lookout for the Yellow-breasted Buntings.

An Oriental Reed-Warbler wandered into view and this common but at times elusive migrant, warranted some attention as well.

When anxiety set in, I set everything aside and focused all my attention in finding the main reason behind this rare weekday excursion. It was a hive of bird activities at this patch of grasslands. As fate would have it, I have the Baya Weavers to thank for this bustling atmosphere. And I do not mean it in a good way. The similarities between a female Baya Weaver and the buntings were undeniable. Inevitably, every movement by the former will have my bins locked onto them and there were about a dozen of them around.

The Munias can never to be mistaken for the buntings but their movement will occasionally distract me from my quest. The majority of these adorable birds were White-headed Munias. On any other day I would have invested some time and effort to document them but today is not the day.

The same can be said about the Black-headed Munias.

As the day grew hotter, fatigue and frustration heightened. I was distracted by the Baya Weavers so often that I can now recognise their jizz in an instance. And a lone bird foraging at a short distance do not strike me as one of them. Before I could switch to my camera, my lifer took off but I alerted the rest of its presence nevertheless. Soon after, a Yellow-breasted Bunting popped into view and there was no denying its identity now. However, there was no icing to the cake. I can blame it on my gear or even old age but it will not change the fact that this horrible image was all I have to show at the end of the encounter.

The outcome of the twitch was a bitter pill to swallow. I am well aware I could have just as easily missed the Yellow-breasted Bunting altogether. I refuse to believe that my experience with this species will be nothing more than a case of so close and yet so far. No, there has got to be more and I have to make sure of that. Four gruelling work days had to pass before a re-visit was possible. The resident Bronze-winged Jacana which used to be a rarity, was the first to greet me during my second attempt at the critically endangered Yellow-breasted Buntings.

The present status of this vagrant is a sad tale indeed. It used to be common where it naturally occurs but common does not mean invincible if share your home with humans. Rampant trapping and hunting have driven the Yellow-breasted Bunting to the brink of extinction. The world does not need another example like the Passenger Pigeon to show just how fragile the wellbeing of wildlife can be. And now, there are at least three individuals wintering in my neck of woods. It will be a shame if I do not give it my all to connect with this species before it is too late. Minutes turned to hours and still no signs of the celebrity birds despite the number of eyes looking for them. Naturally, I was not alone as it was the weekend after all.

Nothing is ever a sure thing when it comes to birding. It does not matter how skilled you are or how meticulous is your planning and strategies. If the bird does not want to be seen or photographed, there is nothing you can do about it. Fortunately, luck was on my side and a Yellow-breasted Bunting suddenly decided to alight in front of me. There is a God after all.

From the images posted on social media, one of the birds was an adult male and the other two were either first winter or female birds in different stages of moult. The individual that I was staring was not the adult male and that was the only thing I can be sure of at that time. Opinions from knowledgeable friends and resources online indicated that it was a female. Although not as striking as a male bird, she has more than enough captivation to leave a lasting impressive.

Best of all, she was obliging enough to allow all those present to obtain photographic memories of the encounter. And all the earlier ill feelings she and her kin caused, was forgiven.

Almost immediately after she retreated, a second bird was spotted. However, it could not live up to the first encounter due to the distance. The second bird also turned out to be a female but her underparts are more heavily streaked and lacking the colour intensity.

When she took flight, another individual followed and I can only assume was the first female. And that concluded my observation of the Yellow-breasted Buntings. I found my closure in the end and the world is a beautiful place once again.

Just in case you are wondering, the handsome male Bluethroat was still around and performing for a number of admirers since morning. However, it was the female Bluethroat that caught my eye today. It is common knowledge that the duller female was the shyer of the two at this location. Anyway, it was a record shot more than anything else but completed my observation of the rare Bluethroats as well.

A surprisingly confiding Yellow-bellied Prinia held me back from my making my journey home. Like what I mentioned earlier, nothing in birding should ever be taken for granted and even the commonest species deserve some attention especially if they are performing well like this.