30/12/2009: Bukit Wang Recreational Forest (Kedah)

Choo Eng and I decided to check out this northern forest reserve and as it is the first time for the both of us, we don't really know what to expect.

We arrived at the car park shortly after dawn and were greeted by a flock of Bushy-crested Hornbills flying out from their roost. One of the indications if a locality has any potential in terms of birding is that it still supports wild populations of hornbills. When we were about to leave the car park area, Choo Eng spotted an unfamiliar bird foraging on the road. Upon further scrutiny, it turned out to be a Taiga Flycather - a rare migrant to Malaysia with only a handful of confirmed records.

Although this is the third time in my life I have come across this flycather, I am equally as excited as I now have the opportunity to capture its images. The bird just forage around the car park area, paying much attention to what else but the rubbish dump. It was not particularly shy but due to the poor lighting conditions, the images were not that clear but good enough for identification.

Although it looks like the much commoner Asian Brown Flycather, it prefers to forage on the ground and the lower levels. It also possesses a habit of corking up its tail. You can say that it is one of those birds that when you see, you will know it.

The park itself was quite charming with all the bridges and huts...

Further in, the forest trail cuts through some pristine habitat...

Bird photography in the forest is not easy and in most cases, not many great images are obtained. It is no different here although we managed to record about 70 species during this day trip. The foliage and lighting conditions are major factors you have to face when photographing forest birds. Although this Hairy-backed Bulbul was rather confiding, the dim lighting and shadows somehow made the image lose some of its appeal.

The same goes for this Cream-vented Bulbul...

Hornbills are notoriously shy birds - especially to me. I have been trying to obtain good images of the Bushy-crested Hornbills for a long time but without success. I guess the only reason this female disregarded the attention I was giving her was because she was quite far away and almost half hidden. My patient wait for her to show more of herself was futile. Perhaps I should try praying or bribing...

But then there are moments of magic when everything just falls right in place. It is these moments that make hours of slugging it out in the hot and humid tropical rain forest worth the while. A stunning male Black-and-yellow Broadbill decided to provide the magic this time.

My wife is particularly fond of this species (and so am I) and she calls it the Cartoon Bird. It is quite a logical description for this jungle jewel. It does appear rather comical at times and the blue coloured bill looks so unreal. Thanks, buddy!

Yours truly having a tiring but rewarding time at this new playground...

Bat Hawks are one of the most enigmatic raptors around and every sighting is a bonus. A pair of these crepuscular hunters was seen resting on a tall tree just next to the access road. As the birds were quite high up, they don't see a couple of birders as threat and allowed us to capture as many shot as we wanted. Our maiden trip to this locality turned out much better than I had expected. I can foresee numerous trips to this new birding hot spot in future.

Try to keep it down, wil' ya? I'm tryin' to get some sleep here...

29/12/2009: Pulau Burung (Penang)

I decided to spend a couple of hours here hoping to get better images of the Pheasant-tailed Jacana but it was nowhere to be seen. It may be foraging in another area or has continued to migrate further south. I'm extremely glad that I had a chance to observe it and so are most of my fellow Penang birders. As my car was stationery for quite a while, the usually wary Purple Herons must have consider it as part of the environment and came rather close.

With the celebrity bird "missing", I gave the other residents, like the Common Moorhens, their due attention and admiration. This particular individual remain on the same spot while it preened...

Foraged...

And rested...Yes, life is certainly good here.

It may be just a landfill to most humans but to the birds and birders, this is paradise. A paradise that is filled with beauty and colours - thanks to birds like this ever-graceful Black-winged Stilt...

And the adorable Little Grebes...

A hunting Stork-billed Kingfisher wrapped things up for this short excursion.

23/12/2009: Kubang Semang (Penang)

Since I had already taken leave for the day, I decided to swing by this locality after collecting my Christmas "present" at Pulau Burung earlier on in the day. Imperial Eagles are huge raptors. It is quite amazing that its plumage allows it to blend so well into the surroundings that I didn't know it was there until my moving car was almost next to it. By the time I grabbed my camera, it was already flying away from me. I swear I can even feel the breeze caused by the flapping of its enormous wings. There was an Imperial Eagle on this field a minute ago - honest!

See...I told you so!

While I was still recovering from the awesome encounter with the Imperial Eagle, a Greater Spotted Eagle circled quite low overhead. Unlike the former, it gave a most memorable performance.

When a second eagle invaded its air space, the former went into a full out battle cry...

Raptors certainly ruled the day for this location because I came across another large eagle taking off from the ground level. This time, it was a White-bellied Sea-eagle.

I also enjoyed another great performance by this eagle as well. It circled majestically in the vicinity, giving me plenty of time to capture its image. I have experienced quite a few close encounters with this particular species but I, for one, is certainly not complaining. Not when the encounters leave me utterly breathless.

When compared to the large eagles, the Black-winged Kite is on the other end of the scale. What it lacks in size is made up with grace and beauty.

Raptors are not the only large birds that call the paddy fields home. A Purple Heron in flight is equally as impressive...

This Black Drongo...

And Spotted Dove made a great trip even better with their eagerness to be photographed.

As I was making my way out of the paddy fields, I came across a murder of crows (I always wanted to use that phrase) mobbing a raptor on one of the pylon signs. I quickly rushed to the bottom of the pylon and discovered that the raptor was a dark morph Changeable Hawk-eagle.

I can recall many years back when some House Crows were mobbing a resting Peregrine Falcon in the northern coastline of Penang Island. When the falcon could not take it anymore, it took off only to turn back and dive into the crows - causing the crows to flee for their lives in every direction. Now that is what I call a bird of prey! That is also the reason why the Peregrine Falcon became one of my all-time favourite birds. Anyway, the Changeable Hawk-eagle just ignored the crows and occasionally, glancing a look over its shoulder when the crows got too close. The eagle and the crows were still at it when I decided to call it day. And what a day it has been. Looks like I got to enjoy the magic of Christmas again this year.

23/12/2009: Pulau Burung (Penang)

I guess deep inside every birder there is a twitcher. Every birder loves to observe rare birds. In fact, it is certainly one of the main perks in birding. In most cases, a rare bird will usually be a lifer and it is double the ecstasy then. Well, the twitcher in me has been twitching ever since news broke out 4 days ago of Terrence' sighting of a Pheasant-tailed Jacana in good old Pulau Burung landfill. Although I have seen this species in neighbouring Thailand, I have yet record it here in Malaysia. A birder may have many life lists but the one dearest to his heart is his own country's life list. I was finally put out of my misery when I managed to take the day off and search for what I guess would be my last lifer for the year.

I was there at the location where it was last seen before the break of dawn. Shortly after my arrival, my lifer flew into view and landed on the water's edge. As the lighting was rather poor at the time, I could only managed to capture record shots.

Although I did manage to photograph it later in the morning, it did not come as close as the first encounter. Choo Eng and Peggy also showed up to observe this rather uncommon migrant but much to our dismay, it kept to the water's edge on the other side of the pond.

In flight, this species has a striking similarity to the Pond-heron due its white wings and brownish body. In fact, I also mistook it for one when it first flew to the pond.

While waiting for the jacana to give me a better view, I managed to capture a few other birds that were foraging in the area. There was a family of Black-winged Stilts that were rather confiding and showed little fear to my presence. Dad, mom and child...

This Pond-heron must have gotten used to my stationery vehicle because it gradually foraged almost next to me.

A detour to the adjacent mangroves produced a Pied Fantail was that extremely confiding. This immature bird continued to hawk for insects while I was photographing it from a near distance. It may well be the same individual that also gave me a good performance during my last trip.

I simply adore the colours of this Great Egret against the blue sky...

Blue seemed to be the colour of the day as this Common Sandpiper also posed against a blue background...

Striated Herons are not the easiest of birds to approach as they tend to be quite wary of human presence. Apparently, this fellow decided not to give in to conformity and allowed me to capture quite a few great portraits...against a blue background again.

A slightly flooded patch along the access road was quite the center of activity as there were quite a number of different species foraging together in perfect harmony. My vehicle again provided me the perfect hide to observe and photograph the birds. Once the birds got used to my car, they will come quite close like this Little Ringed Plover...

This White-breasted Waterhen didn't even give me a second glance...

A Yellow Wagtail on a mission came so close to my car that I had to position myself in a rather uncomfortable position in order to capture the hunt. I guess the caterpillar that was moving about near my car was simply too good to resist.

Pulau Burung is the best place to observe and photograph Blue-tailed Bee-eaters...I rest my case.

The Oriental Magpie-robin has been much reduced everywhere due to trapping for the bird trade. Being a famed songster has its price, which is pretty sad. Anyway, the population here is still healthy - for now.