Hola...

I was contacted by Spanish couple because of their interest for a day of birding around Penang. I naturally obliged but their following email nearly knocked the wind out of me. The trip to Penang will be after their birding excursion in Sepilok – one of the most renowned sites in Malaysia. Penang and its surrounding areas is not what one considers to be the main birding circuit in Malaysia. What chance does it have against a birding paradise in an exotic land like Sabah state? At that time, it looked like I have my work truly cut out for me. For the past couple of years, I have a trump card that has awed my guests, regardless of experience level, without fail. Just like clockwork, the Mangrove Pitta hopped into full view not long after our arrival at the Sungai Batu mangroves. And to have a confiding pitta as one of your very first birds of the day is right up there among the best as far as birding goes.

The resident pair of Mangrove Blue-Flycatchers, having fulfilled their parental duties, are now almost back in their full splendour especially for the male.

The timing could not have been better as they brought even more colours and beauty to this swampy domain despite the female still not looking her very best.

However, it was not all smooth sailing. A few regular species were sorely missed today despite my best efforts. I can considered myself blessed as most of my guests so far are understanding people including this Spanish couple. A pair of Abbott’s Babbler was the only other species we managed to obtain at this locality. There are times when I feel bad for not being able to fully deliver and recently, it is happening more often than not. It is nothing that I have not foreseen. Destruction of habitats, pollution, poaching and trapping go unchecked. Do you think there will be no backlash for all these actions? I do not think so and neither does the Abbott's Babbler...

The Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest was the next location of the day. True to its name, the recreational area was packed with the weekend crowd. We left the human-infested areas with much haste and made our way to the isolated Gunung Bintang access trail. The trail offered mostly brief views today of the intriguing bird life found here and the 3-hour trek still captivated my guests. The only photo I have to show at the end was of a male Velvet-fronted Nuthatch indulging on some fruits in the canopy level. The nuthatch is an exquisite looking bird but it is as restless as kid who has had too much candy. He did remained still enough for a shot or two when he came across a bunch of fruits that tickled his fancy.

Apart from pittas, nightbirds are another group of birds that are highly sought after and revelled. And I knew exactly where to obtain the next highlight of the trip. It was back to the faithful empty piece of industrial land in Kulim Hi-Tech Park for the roosting Savanna Nightjars. Despite the knowledge of their preferred roosting spot, it still took some effort to locate this incredibly well-camouflaged birds.

All the squinting and straining of my visual receptors in the harsh midday sun was worth it as we recorded a total of three individuals. I could hardly contain my excitement let alone my foreign guests who needed the Savanna Nightjar for their ever-growing life list. Well, my birding circuit may not be in the same magnitude as the ones in Borneo but it can still hold its own well enough to evoke emotional pleasures. 

A little detour to the paddy fields of mainland Penang did not yield much although the White-throated Kingfishers were irresistible to my foreign guests – as usual. I usually do not stop for Yellow-vented Bulbuls but this particular individual alighted next to our stationary vehicle. It has been a long time since I last admire the subtle beauty of this common garden bird and partly also due the enthusiasm of my guests, it received my undivided attention.

The final destination of the day was the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam. I could not have asked for a better start to the visit as we were greeted by a family of foraging Common Flamebacks. No doubt it is a common species but the display of striking colouration and the vocal nature of the birds made it quite an overwhelming experience.

In fact, it was a good day for woodpeckers. In the morning we had brief views of the shy Maroon Woodpecker at Sungai Sedim. Here apart from the Common Flamebacks, we also had brief views of a male Streak-breasted Woodpecker. However, the best was a prolonged observation of a pair of Banded Woodpeckers. Despite the favourable duration, the dense foliage and lighting condition made it utterly frustrating for photography. The male came surprisingly close during the encounter but the photos I obtained could not truly reflect this memorable episode.

The sight and sound of an encounter with a woodpecker is perhaps one of the enthralling experiences of birding in the tropics. And today, my guests were truly mesmerized by this unique family of birds.

The resident Crested Serpent-Eagle was looking quite menacing as it gazed over its domain from a lofty perch.

A flock of huge birds glided in from the adjacent paddy fields and I knew immediately what they were. The Asian Openbills are now a regular sight here and these enigmatic storks were calling it a day as they prepared to roost for the night. The tall trees lining the river bank accommodated the storks and it would have been quite a sight if not for the distance.

Throughout the day, we have been encountering parent birds with young birds in toll. And not surprisingly, the last bird of the day was a young Olive-winged Bulbul out exploring with its parent. Judging from the parent bird’s constant supervision, it could well even be the youngster’s first day out in this big, wild world. And hopefully one day soon, it will repeat the actions of its parent and bring forth the next generation. It is always a blessing to end a day of birding with something that soothes the soul and this family of bulbuls bonding provided exactly that.