I
was a little uneasy as I drove past the archway that leads to the forest of
Sungai Sedim in Kedah with a couple of Australian guests, Barbara and Peter,
after the very slow start at this locality during my last visit. As the first
rays of the morning sun gradually found their way through the dense vegetation,
the forest came to life with the calls of birds and my faith in the birds at my
local patches, restored.
A
male Scarlet-rumped Trogon started the day off by perching on a branch long
enough for everyone to marvel at his striking plumage. His persistent calling
was the thing that betrayed his presence as he sat motionless at the canopy
level.
However,
the day did not only belong to the birds. A roosting Dayak Fruit Bat was a
rather interesting find and I tried my best to obtain a decent shot in this
challenging lighting condition.
The
fruiting tree that I discovered 2 weeks ago still had some fruits. And where
there are fruits, there will be birds. Although the variety is species present
was not as high as my previous trip, the fruiting still managed to provide a
memorable experience. Cream-vented Bulbuls are among the patrons on this
beautiful morning.
The
Buff-vented Bulbul also came for the fruits. Both species of bulbuls are
nondescript in appearance but their behaviour at the fruiting was anything but
dull.
The
high level of bird activity must have caught the attention of this presumably Japanese
Sparrowhawk. Due to the angle of the photo, Chaiyan the raptor man himself,
cannot be absolutely sure of the identity of this little raptor. Female and
young accipiters can be notoriously difficult to identify in the field but
their presence will always increase the level of excitement of any birding
excursion.
On
the way to our next destination, the paddy fields of Kubang Semang, I took a
little detour at the Kulim High-Tech Park for the roosting Barred Eagle-Owls.
It was a gamble that paid off well as we did manage to find one despite the
fact that I had nothing but a huge Rain Tree to show during my last two trips.
At
the paddy fields, we were greeted by the huge flocks of Grey-headed Lapwings
that are really getting very comfortable at their wintering ground this season.
The
adorable stints were present in good numbers as well. Unfortunately, most them
were a little too far for my gear except for this lone Long-toed Stint.
Smartly-dressed even in winter, this little peep certainly got our
attention.
Little
Ringed Plovers have a rather dull winter plumage and this one was trying very
hard to get a little attention as well...
The
migratory Eastern Yellow Wagtails were seen throughout the day. They are
constantly on the move and good shots are hard to come by. So, when one
casually strolled by our field of view, it was an opportunity not to be missed.
The
final destination of the day was the Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest. Again,
this site did not quite deliver during my last trip and it was a mediocre
affair for my guests. The resident pair of Mangrove Blue Flycatchers made sure
it will not happen again.
The
male was especially cooperative today and although you are almost guaranteed to
see him on every visit, he is still a handsome and charming bird. And to me, it
is a sin to ignore him when he is performing as well as this. That's a good boy...
Woodpeckers
are loud, colourful and full of character. In this little patch of swamp forest,
you stand a very good chance of seeing one in action. The Banded Woodpecker is
not uncommon here but its preference for the higher canopy levels makes it a
little difficult for photography. We came upon this male foraging at almost eye
level but he did not stay for long and quickly made his way to the safety of
the canopy level.
This
site is renowned for daytime sightings of owls and today, a roosting Brown
Boobook provided the perfect ending to a rewarding and memorable trip. Life is
certainly blissful when everything goes according to plan. May it be a guiding
a bird trip or taking a snooze with total peace of mind on your favourite
roosting tree.
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