19/03/2011: Sungai Sedim (Kedah)

The morning started out quite slow with only the usual species making brief appearances until I came across a pair of Whiskered Treeswifts dive-bombing and screaming at a pair of rather large birds that has wandered too close to them. My guess for this show of aggression is that the Treeswifts are probably nesting nearby. When the intruders finally revealed their true identity, they turned out to be Chestnut-breasted Malkohas. Following the movement Malkohas proved fruitful as I managed to capture a few records shots when one of them briefly rested on an exposed perch. Anyway, much to the relief of the Treeswifts, the foraging pair gradually made their way to the next tree and beyond.

The distinctive calls of the Green Broadbill made me come to a complete halt and when I managed to pick out two male Green Broadbills having a dispute along the canopy of the forest, I knew I was in for a treat. Feathers were certainly ruffled…

Unfortunately, I could not witness the conclusion to this confrontation because the pair moved flew deeper into the cover of the forest to settle their differences. I truly adored these small but striking forest jewels especially when they fly around the lush green foliage of their forest homes. They look just like little emeralds on wings and at times, their colouration as well as size, make you question yourself whether it was a figment of your imagination or was it the real thing that just flew in front of you.

The Rufous-winged Philentoma is not common anywhere but this locality happens to be one of its strongholds that I know of. I have encountered this species here on several occasions but always end up empty handed – until now. Although the lighting conditions were awful and the sun was not at my back, I’m pretty satisfied at how the image of this rather confiding male turned out in the end.

I have a rather poor collection of Flowerpeckers and their active nature and minute size are usually the main prohibiting factors for me to obtain better images. A Yellow-breasted Flowerpecker resting on an exposed perch in relatively good light should have produce good images but the results were not as good as I had hoped for.

A chestnut-capped bird with dark greyish upperparts foraging among the undergrowth at the edge of the access trail provided a suspenseful moment for me. Is this the day I will get my first ever Chestnut-capped Thrush? I immediately crouched down and patiently waited for my confirmation. All my senses heightened and strained. Unfortunately, it had to bob its tail and another record of the Chestnut-naped Forktail was now quite inevitable. And true enough a male bird gradually strolled out into the open and ended all doubts (and the excitement as well).

There were quite a number of Black-headed Bulbuls present here and I came across foraging birds throughout the morning. This is another common species that I have yet to obtain great images and after today’s effort, I think there is still room for improvements.