Some
Bulbuls are truly nondescript and none more so than the Buff-vented Bulbul. In
the neighbouring country of Thailand, there is also the Grey-eyed Bulbul and Olive
Bulbul which are all remarkably similar. And just to make things even more
enjoyable, there is a recent split by some authorities that those Olive Bulbuls
occurring in the southern parts of Thailand (and now, northern parts of
Peninsular Malaysia) are Baker’s Bulbuls. Initially, I thought birders here in Peninsular
Malaysia have been spared the agony of having to differentiate these bulbuls. However,
a humble little recreational forest in the northern tip proved otherwise.
During one of his forays up north, Hor Kee discovered Malaysia’s first Olive
Bulbul (let’s keep it at that) at the Bukit Ayer Recreational Park in the state
of Perlis and an invitation to join him for another trip there was too good to
pass.
It
has been a long time since I last ventured out into the field. And an even longer
time since I last twitched for a would-be lifer. However, the Olive Bulbul was
not as easy as I thought it would be. It took considerable effort and time. As the
minutes passed, the mission became more difficult because the weekend crowd
started pouring in. Adolescents on their noisy moped of a motorcycle turned a
blissful environment into utter chaos. We were forced to try our luck just
outside the boundaries of the park and there, we hit the jackpot. A lone Olive Bulbul
finally revealed itself and started foraging along the edge of the forest.
I
have to admit this lifer is not one of the more exciting ones that I have had. Subtle
differences distinguish it from the much commoner Buff-vented Bulbul. The
differences were so minor that my modest photography gear could hardly pick them
up. Overall, the Olive Bulbul is a darker bird with a shorter, thicker bill. Thankfully,
Hor Kee was better equipped and I could finally tick off this lifer back home
after his images were reviewed by Ayuwat and Wichyanan. It pays to make friends
with accomplished birders like these Thai blokes. For a mere storyteller like
me, their opinions truly mattered especially in times like these.
The
Olive Bulbul lingered in the vicinity long enough for me to have a really good
look and obtain several images. For that, I am most grateful and the 2.5 hours
drive from home was worth the effort.
Another
highlight from my maiden visit to the Bukit Ayer Recreational Park is from the
reptilian family. It is an exquisite looking creature and one that I do not
come across often. Resting low on a tree trunk was a Smooth-backed Gliding
Gecko that was confiding enough to provide a prolonged and intimate observation.
On
the way back to Penang, we made a couple of stops and these quick visits proved
rewarding as well. The forest of Bukit Wang of late has been a real hotspot
with several noteworthy species performing well. It was midday when we trekked
into this forest reserve located in the state of Kedah. At this hour, any species
that comes our way would be a bonus and one certainly did. It was no ordinary
species for the male Diard’s Trogon is one of the most striking bird species of
the Malaysian forest. And any encounter with this species is a memorable one.
The
dense vegetation in which the Diard’s Trogon finds its refuge can be a major
hindrance to photography...
Habitat
aside, there is one more factor that birders have to deal with constantly –
Murphy’s Law. When he finally alighted on an exposed perch nearby, he stared
straight into the camera revealing what is possibly his worst angle for
photography. Well, life goes on...
And
it certainly did. With much exhilaration as well. Our final destination was
another modest recreational park just like the first site and it was at Gunung
Keriang. This relatively unknown site became well known last year with the
discovery of a pair of rare Brown Fish-Owls. And the reason we took this little detour was because of this beautiful nocturnal hunter – naturally. Roosting owls
can be difficult to locate and it was no different this time. It took effort
and a little luck and we finally found a lone owl roosting on a distant tree.
This may be my third encounter with the Brown Fish-Owl in Malaysia but it still
felt like my first. I again found myself gasping for air in the presence of this rarity.
Despite
the distance, our presence did not go well with the owl and it shifted position.
Much to my surprise, it alighted on an open perch this time and the encounter got
a whole lot better. The constant wind uplifted the underbelly feathers of the
owl which reminded me of the iconic Marilyn Monroe upskirt scene. Naturally, the
sight left me gawking. And the Brown Fish-Owl wrapped things up for this
eventful day out in the field.
