There will always be
challenges when one is a bird guide by profession. I am fully aware of that and
sometimes, I think I would have given up had I been a lesser man. It takes a
considerable amount of effort to conduct memorable birding tours here in
northern Peninsula Malaysia and with each passing year it seems to get harder. What
is a guide to do when his client has seen over 5000 species of birds? Well, my
latest guest Sue has such a life list and all I could do was pray that the rarer
birds perform above expectations – pray real hard. If that was not challenging,
I had a shortage of time as she will be arriving in a cruise ship and that
takes away almost two hours of prime birding time in the morning. Lucky for me,
Sue and her partner Pam still appreciates the commoner species and lifers to
them are not the only thing in birding. The Mangrove Pitta of Sungai Batu in
Kedah state has been my saviour on countless occasions and it is no different
this time. A pitta is a pitta and close encounters like this will leave even
the most seasoned birders grasping for air.
The Puff-throated Babbler may
not possess the electrifying presence of the pitta but its melodious song and
inquisitive nature makes it a noteworthy species to encounter in the field.
Woodpeckers are known for
their striking appearances and the Banded Woodpecker certainly does live up to expectations.
A pair was seen sunning themselves at the edge of the mangroves. They were so
indulged with the activity that our intrusion was ignored. The Banded
Woodpecker is not an uncommon species and I am sure my guests have seen it
before. They took the time to enjoy the encounter and it came as no surprise
because I would have done the same.
The paddy fields of mainland
Penang were up next and one of the flooded patches yielded a number of waders.
Among the shades of brown was a Long-toed Stint almost in full breeding
plumage. This peep is one of the most attractive species that occurs in
freshwater habitats. The breeding colours only intensifies its appeal.
This is probably the best
time of the year to have all three species of Pond-Herons at a single location
– something somewhat unique to Penang state. Finding a Chinese Pond-Heron will
never be an issue as it is the commonest of them all.
The Javan Pond-Heron, on the
other hand, will require a little more effort. We came across this striking
individual hunting on a flooded patch. Using our car as a hide, we managed to
obtain good images of this uncommon migrant.
A plain looking Pond-Heron
immediately caught my attention. As soon as I had my bins on it, I could hardly
contain my excitement. It was my first Indian Pond-Heron in two seasons. Discovered
wintering in Malaysia only less than 20 years ago in a paddy field just like
this in Penang, my home state still remains to be the place in the country
where it is more regularly recorded.
The last destination for the
day was the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam. It was also my last chance to get
Sue a lifer for this trip. As fate would have it, the Mangrove Blue Flycatcher
would be a lifer for her. Initially, I thought it was a sure thing until I
failed to locate the resident pair at Sungai Batu. Then again there is no such
thing as a sure thing when it comes to birding. Today, the God’s are kind to me
and it did not take long for her to enjoy her one and only lifer. But for me,
the highlight from this location is a roosting Spotted Wood-Owl. Unlike
previous visits, it was not partially hidden by the vegetation. Owls like
pittas, have an aura of intrigue that captivates even if it is a common
species.
The checklist of birds recorded:
1. Sungai Batu
2. Permatang Pauh
3. Air Hitam Dalam
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