Searching for a miracle

 

After a phenomenal time in central Thailand followed immediately by the double mega twitches back in Penang, it was going to take a miracle for any excursion to overwhelm my emotions in the same manner for a long time to come. So, it was best not to have too much expectations as I made my way to the forests of Sungai Sedim in Kedah state. The fruiting trees are in season now and that was something that I should be able to look forward to.

Bumping into Hor Kee and his companions was a good sign as it was a clear indication that the timing was right for the fruiting trees. Shortly after, the first of the patrons arrived in the form of Cream-vented Bulbuls. Not exactly show-stopping material but hopefully, will serve as a prelude.  

Black-headed Bulbuls were prevalent this time round. The striking colouration and vocal nature of the birds made them rather conspicuous. Naturally, every visit they made to the fruits did not go unnoticed.

As for the Red-eyed Bulbuls, they are known patrons for as long as I can remember. I have been documenting birds feasting on fruiting trees in this locality for years and I am glad to say these occurrences still fascinate me till today.

Surprisingly, the Buff-vented Bulbuls did not patronize the fruiting trees as greedily as they used to in the past. A quick visit here and there inevitably did not offer many images for this blog post.

It is always a delight to come across the Finsch’s Bulbul. For years the forests in these parts have been one of its strongholds but it was not reflected by today’s poor show.

I used to rely on the striking plumage of the Grey-bellied Bulbul to add colours and splendour to my experiences at the fruiting trees but no such privilege on this sunny Saturday morning...

I am not sure if you have noticed but some of the the images in this post appeared to taken from an elevated point. And we have the adjacent two-storey dormitory to thank for that. Anyway, subtle would be how to I would describe the Spectacled Bulbul’s appearance. And every bit of vibrancy is concentrated around the eyes.

It was a no-show for a few bulbul species that have been regularly recorded in the past and on the whole, the level of bird activities was lower than usual. The inclusion of a moth photo should be able to give a picture of the today’s birding pace.

The adorable flowerpeckers were sorely missed as well. Only one species was recorded today and thankfully, it was the Crimson-breasted Flowerpecker which the male is a true gem of the forest.

A few juveniles were present as well and should be of the same species.

The Hume’s White-eyes are not uncommon at this locality but they seldom patronize fruiting trees. Their energetic visits today provided training for my photographic skills more than anything else.

If there was one species worthy of recognition today, it was the Greater Green Leadbird. A female parent bird and her offspring dropped by a few times throughout the morning. Here is the adult bird.

Although the young female is more than able to fend for herself, she was still eager to receive the occasional pampering. Who wouldn’t?

The male Greater Green Leafbird did not closely interacted with the two females and I cannot determine if they were indeed part of the same family. One thing that I can be certain of was his vibrant presence. A true stunner with remarkable vocals.

When feeding activities at the fruiting trees subsided, I decided to try my luck along the access road leading up to Gunung Bintang. It was a relief that during my absence, the lush habitat remained the same which is not always the case.

As for the birding, there is no denying it has deteriorated through years. Gone are the days when the calls of trogons, broadbills and babblers filled the vicinity. I suppose I was lucky to be able to find and photograph this Yellow-bellied Bulbul resting in the dim under storey of the forest during my exploration. I do not know if I am alone in this but with each passing year, birding just gets harder and harder where I frequently visit. This is especially true for forest birding sites like this.

The far-carrying territorial calls of the Agile Gibbons continue to be provide a sense of intrigue to this locality and that is most fortunate. Although it is not a bird, this graceful primate is elusive enough to hold me in awe whenever our paths crossed.

The availability of food is the reason behind its confiding behaviour today. Just like the birds earlier on, the temptation is so strong that natural instincts were suppressed. This is one of the closest I have ever been with an Agile Gibbon and this intimate encounter certainly made my day.