While I was away in Japan, I have been keeping a close tab on one of
my local patches – the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam in mainland Penang. The
reason or should I say reasons for this keen interest is because both the Ruddy
Kingfishers and Blue-winged Pittas are back in the limelight at this little
patch of birding paradise. I have grown a little accustomed to starting off my
birding at 5 in the morning courtesy of the early daylight hours of my Japan
trip and it came as no surprise I reached Air Hitam Dalam way before the break
of dawn. Without the aid of the tropical sun, any attempts at capturing the two
birds beneath the forest canopy will be futile. So, I chilled and took the time
to enjoy the breaking of a new day for a change. Sometimes I do wonder it is
right to call my birding endeavours a hobby. The last I checked, hobbies are something
that you enjoy doing to help you relax and revitalize yourself. Well, I enjoy
my birding and it does more than just revitalize but I am not too sure about
the relax part. Relaxing is hardly the word I will use to describe birding. It
is usually hectic, frustrating and stressful especially when things do not go
your way. So birding is not a hobby to an old school birder like me. It is a
commitment. It is an obsession. It is a way of life.
Once it got bright enough, I began my missions for the day. The
Blue-winged Pittas were calling but they were not ready to show themselves yet.
Thus I ended staring at nothing but swamp vegetation for a considerable amount
of time.
I decided try my luck (and to get over the disappointment with the
pittas) along the elevated boardwalk. A pair of Olive-winged Bulbuls were the
first birds to greet me here…
I did not have to walk far
when I picked out the all-too-familiar calls of the Ruddy Kingfisher and it sounded
very close. I proceeded towards my target cautiously and there, perched right
out in the open, was the Red King of Air Hitam Dalam. The Ruddy Kingfisher is
back to reinforced his reign over these lands. Best of the all, it was very
confiding and I could not have asked for a better way to start off birding here
in Malaysia again after being away for almost 2 weeks.
The Ruddy Kingfisher seemed adamant of making that perch as its platform
to project his persistent territorial calls. I decided to let it be and turned
back where I came from. Just a few strides later I bumped into the complicated
pair of Mangrove/Tickell’s Blue Flycatchers and they were as confiding as
usual. They appeared drenched and probably did some skinny-dipping before our
encounter. I could not blame. I myself was struggling with the heat and
humidity as well. A very stark difference from the cold and dry Japanese
spring.
When I returned to the kingfisher spot later, I could only hear its
calls but it did not take me long to relocate it. Pretty hard to be
inconspicuous when you are red and your surroundings, green. The Red King had decided
by then to continue its territorial calls from a higher perch. Perhaps to help carry
its intentions further.
When the diagnostic calls of the Blue-winged Pittas started to echo
through the vicinity again, I immediately focused my attention on getting my
second target bird of the trip. With a little perseverance, a single bird did
finally come into view. Pittas are the one bird that I can never get tired of.
Their colours and personality are always a delight to observe. Although only
one decided to come out from hiding, it was still a great moment. It too was
relatively confiding as long as I did not cross into its comfort zone. And I made
myself comfortable on the ground as I knew it was going to be a long session.
The Blue-winged Pitta is now a regular to Air Hitam Dalam. It is a
nice addition to the site – there is no doubt about it. However the other pitta
of the swamp forest here, the Mangrove Pitta, has not shown itself for a few
years now. I am not entirely sure it is the Blue-winged Pittas’ doings but the
latter is the more adaptable and tougher of the two.
After my rewarding encounter with the pitta, I decided to explore
the open gravel road next to the river. There, I accidentally startled a
Greater Coucal. For a second there it was just as stunned as I was. Luckily, I
recovered quicker than the cuckoo and managed to squeeze a few shots before it
disappeared into the undergrowth.
Just when I thought I have seen everything there is to see here, Air
Hitam Dalam sprung a little surprise for me. I have not seen a wild boar here
before and this young one was coming down trail totally unaware that it is
being watched. When it finally caught my scent, its pace quickened considerably
and disappeared into the forest a few second later.
As I was making my way back to the car park, a Ruddy Kingfisher suddenly
flew across my path and flashing its tantalizing silver-blue rump along the
way. Naturally, I aborted my plans to call it a day and followed the trilling
calls of the red king back into the forested area of the elevated boardwalk.
The kingfisher stood out like a sore thumb among the swamp vegetation but
unfortunately, it was not the best location from which to photograph.
Then again, this is the natural habitat of this kingfisher after
all. And like my earlier encounter, it provided a prolonged view for me (and a
few other birders this time) ample time to admire and bask in the beauty of
this uncommon species. Long live the king…
8 comments:
What a great local patch! Stunning birds and images, thanks for sharing Wai Mun.
Thank you, John. It's certainly is.
I a amazed that you describe your birding as hectic, frustrating and stressful. You make it sound more like torture than pleasure. I have been birding since I was eight years old, I bird every single day, but in my wildest dreams I would never call my passion stressful. Birding is simply what I do. Some days are more rewarding than others, but the day I find it stressful is the day I will start to play checkers or something!
David, that statement was meant to inject a bit of humour into the post. Perhaps I should have written it in another way. Birding is also my main passion in life and even on the "slowest" days, it still provides food for my soul.
Birding is indeed a passion. It is bird photography that can be stressful sometimes. Great photos of the Ruddy Kingfisher and Blue0winged Pitta, by the way.
Yes, photography can be quite testing. Thank you, Bob.
Great pics as usual Choy. A few posts back you said you had modest camera equipment. Can you let us know what in fact you use. Tks in advance.
Thanks. I am using a Nikon D3200 body with a Sigma 150-500 lens.
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