Revisiting a former haunt

The birding community consists of people from all walks of life, shapes and sizes. I have been in this community long enough so I know. The bottom line is this hobby is for everyone with the love and passion for it. There is a risk of getting too obsessive with it but I guess there are worse things for you to get involved in. Anyway, my latest guest hails from the land down under. Apart from John’s gear, the striking tattoos covering both his arms attracted attention everywhere we went. But it does not matter if you are inked or clean, the passion for birding does. John is an avid birder and there is nothing more I can hope for in a guest. Our arrival at the Sungai Batu mangroves was timely – as expected. The Abbott’s Babblers were the first to greet us and that was also expected of this locality.

It is always a feel good moment when you catch sight of the Mangrove Blue Flycatcher first thing in the morning. And the handsome resident male was the prelude to the main event that is to come.

There is a good reason why the locals call the Malaysian Pied-Fantail as the insane bird. Its hyperactive nature and erratic movements can make it a difficult subject for photography. One was taking a breather in the undergrowth. Although it was an open perch, the lighting condition and the restlessness of this flycatcher made photography challenging.

Then without any indication, the Mangrove Pitta hopped into view from the gloomy depths of the swamp forest. That is when I knew just how passionate John was about birding. I may have lost count the number of times the Mangrove Pittas here have provided my foreign guests with their first pitta sighting in the wild but their reactions to the bird always warm the soul.

The White-breasted Waterhen is common and for a rail, is less secretive than most. However when seen well, it is an attractive bird and played a major role in welcoming John to birding around Penang.

Kingfishers, though not quite in the same league as pittas, are another family of birds that appeal tremendously to those who have not birded much in this region. One of the most impressive is undoubtedly the Stork-billed Kingfisher. Aptly named for the enormous red bill, this giant is a welcomed encounter to any birding excursion.

On the other end of the size spectrum is the Common Kingfisher. Not so aptly named, what this migratory species lacks in size is made up in beauty and radiance.

At our next destination, we found ourselves wandering within one of the last few remaining primary forest reserves in the state of Kedah. Bukit Wang is currently my preferred choice for forest birding here in northern Peninsular Malaysia. For the forest here is home to interesting species like the adorable Short-tailed Babbler.

Bulbuls are one of the most conspicuous family of birds that occur in the forest. However, a number of species are relatively plain-looking like the Buff-vented Bulbul. A pair was seen resting in gloomy understorey of the forest although it is predominantly a bird of the upper storey.

An exceptionally Cream-vented Bulbul had us under its spell despite its drab colouration. Birding is not always about beauty and rarities. Sometimes, the experience can be quite as rewarding.

When it comes to incredible birding experiences, encountering the mesmerizing Chestnut-necklaced Partridge should be up there among the best. Beautiful, rare and enigmatic; this game bird is the complete package. And it is indeed a privilege to be able to observe this species in one of my regular birding sites.

The spring migration has started and soon the day will come for the male Chinese Blue Flycatcher to undergo his journey back north. But for the time being, his brilliant colouration continues to shine through the forest undergrowth.

Joining the Chinese Blue Flycatcher will be the male Green-backed Flycatcher as he is also another uncommon migrant. Life has been good here for this two distinguished winter visitors and they look all set for the breeding season ahead.

A visit to the paddy fields of Permatang Pauh at this time of the year will produce all four species of egrets that frequent freshwater habitats. And the Intermediate Egret is the one that is usually needed by my guests and this lone individual certainly obliged.

The Paddyfield Pipit is the only species that is common in Peninsular Malaysia. But even common birds will sometimes get to hog the limelight especially when my birding companions are not from this part of the world.

If one spends enough time at the paddy fields, you are bound to notice persistent clicking calls from among the stalks of paddy. And if you are lucky enough, you might see a little bird known as the Zitting Cisticola performing aerial displays especially during the breeding season. Its miniature size is a big disadvantage for birders to enjoy good views. Inevitably, we had to be content with this distant shot as well.

Now, owls are one of those birds that are truly enchanting. Mysterious and intriguing, daytime encounters are something that I always anticipate and treasure. The resident Barred Eagle-Owl of Bukit DO was roosting at almost the exact spot from my previous visit. And just like the last time, some of the branches obstructed our view of this nocturnal predator.

One daytime encounter is usually sufficient to get your blood pumping. Imagine our excitement when we came across our second daytime sighting of a large owl. The resident Spotted Wood-Owl of Air Hitam Dalam was less cooperative as its chosen perch was mostly hidden from view. But the experience and the effort it took to locate this cracking species will be a memorable one for John.

Good birding spots around Penang are disappearing faster than new ones being discovered. A vast extend of reed beds in Batu Kawan recently became the centre of attention of local birders. Technically, this is not a new site for me as it was one of my regular haunts years ago but development in recent years is killing off the place. Anyway, a number of secretive water birds have been showing well enough for me to revisit this locality after such a long period time. And we were not to be disappointed. One of the attractions there are the beautiful but often secretive Ruddy-breasted Crakes. Two birds were present this evening but only one was confiding enough to be photographed.

It is not an uncommon species but good views are not that easy. I managed to obtain my best images of this species to date and the detour here before concluding the first day of tour with John paid off handsomely for the both off us. Foraging along the edge of the reeds, the crake provided tantalizing views. The lighting was not too bad and that allowed us to follow and capture the pace of the crake reasonably well. I will be making more trips to this locality in the near future and that is for sure.

It's raining rarities

I travelled all the way to the limestone hills of Gunung Keriang once again hoping for a more intimate encounter with the recently discovered Brown Fish-owls. I reached the locality way before day break and together with Hor Kee and Dr. Neoh, waited patiently for the celebrity birds to make an appearance while listening to the calls of other nocturnal birds of this recreational forest – the Barn Owl and Sunda Scops-Owl. Unfortunately, the Brown Fish-Owls reminded me how elusive they can be and offered only fleeting views as they made their way back to roost.

A pair of Streaked Wren-Babblers foraging confidingly at the foot of the limestone hill provided some birding excitement but it was little compensation for the disappointment with owls. This babbler is a resident of the montane forest throughout most of the country. However, a number of montane species are known to occur at sea level here in the north and this babbler is one of them. Dim lighting and the active nature of the babblers was a major hindrance for obtaining better images. But to observe these Streaked Wren-Babblers foraging among the undergrowth at such close proximity was good enough for this time.

As we were about to head to our next location, the tinkling notes of a Leaf-Warbler from the nearby bush was just to tempting to be ignored. While we were trying to ascertain the identity of the Sakhalin/Pale-legged Leaf-Warbler, an all-too-familiar call whispered through the undergrowth. I have had enough field experience with the Taiga Flycatcher of late that I would be able to recognise its rattling call anywhere. And there is one calling right in front of us. A stroke of good luck and a small gap in the vegetation enabled me to capture a record shot of this supposedly rare migrant but this is the second individual recorded this season.

It has been months since my last visit to the vast, sweeping landscape of Chuping. It is a unique habitat and the sceneries are often mesmerising like this image of a flock of Cattle Egret gliding low over a patch of aquatic mimosa plants before alighting to forage.

This birding hotspot is renowned for wintering raptors and it did not take us long to come across our first raptor. It was a beautiful female Pied Harrier and she has finishing up a meal next to the access road that cuts through this agricultural land. We observed her from a reasonable distance using our vehicle as a hide but we could not be sure what the prey was.

Whatever the unfortunately victim was, it was a hearty meal for the Pied Harrier. Her obvious extended crop was proof of that as she flew away.

A few other raptors were also recorded but most did not provide good photographic opportunities. This Osprey was seen hunting at a commercial fish pond and it may not be wise to risk incurring the wrath of the fish farmers. However this is not the first time I have seen the fish hawk here and I can only conclude the greater the risks, the greater the rewards.

A Common Buzzard was photographed here recently and although this scarce migrant is not new to me, it has been years since I last saw one. Unfortunately, all the buzzards recorded (there was a number of them I might add) were Oriental Honey-Buzzards and here is the image of the one that came the closest.

Birding along the vast grasslands could have been better and the one of the few birds that managed to find its way into my memory card was this tiny Zitting Cisticola proclaiming its territory from the top of a wooden stake.

We also came across a Brown Shrike making short work of a tiny frog it has just caught. An accomplished hunter with a feisty character, this predatory bird must be terrifying to all small vertebrates that share its wintering ground.

Posing for my camera when it was done feeding. That’s my boy...

However, the magic of Chuping should never be underestimated. A detour to one of the lakes provided the main highlight for this locality.

I twitched for Peninsular Malaysia’s fourth Tufted Duck back in 2013. Since then, there have been no other sightings. And now, we found ourselves ogling over a female paddling leisurely in the company of Little Grebes. That certainly injected excitement into the excursion.

It was a big lake and the lighting was harsh. There was almost no way to reduce the distance. A desperate and muddy attempt did get us slightly closer and we had to be grateful with what that was given and cherish the moment. After all, this girl is a rare record for Peninsular Malaysia and that is a whole lot to cherish.

And a sparrow steals the limelight...

During my last visit to the birding mecca of Chuping, the Plain-backed Sparrows performed admirably for me and my guest. I was hoping for a repeat performance on this trip and I was not to be disappointed. The perimeter fencing of the sugar mill was the stage and these exquisite sparrows were the stars. With the early morning sun casting a radiant glow on the sparrows, we took the time to bask in their beauty despite the constant urge to explore the adjacent grasslands for more feathered wonders.

To me, there is nothing plain about the back of a male Plain-backed Sparrow…

When we could finally pull ourselves away from the display of vibrancy and adorability, we found that we could not move an inch from where we have positioned our car. We were so indulged in the performance that we did not realize some sparrows had started to forage quite close on the other side of our car. The male that wandered closest to us naturally received our undivided attention.

The female with her drabber plumage may not be as flashy as her mate but it does has its perk. She blends so well with her surroundings that my gear found it hard to focus on her movements sometimes. And that makes her a less likely target for predators.

A male Red Collared-dove refused to let the sparrows have all the limelight and did his best to distract our attention. Another vibrant species, this dove can be found in great numbers here. Chuping is undoubtedly one of the best spots in Malaysia to observe and photograph these two northern specialities. It has been a rewarding trip so far and we have not have even wandered into the grasslands.

For the past few years, Chuping became the best place in Malaysia to enjoy the Bronze-winged Jacana – a sedentary waterbird that is rarely encountered until now. The presence of two chicks together with the parent birds makes it the first proven breeding record here in Malaysia. The jacanas, unfortunately, were foraging along the far side of the pond making it difficult to obtain good images. But both of us were relishing the encounter. For one of us, it was a global lifer. For the other, who has a soft spot for rare waterbirds, any encounter with a jacana here in Malaysia will be a memorable affair.

Some birds, like the coucals, are habitual sunbathers. Unlike the highly adaptable Greater Coucal, the Lesser Coucal is confined to lowland scrub and grassland habitats which makes Chuping an ideal sanctuary. This particular individual has happily enjoying the soothing rays of the sun next to the main road when it was interrupted by our peering. After a short stare, it came to the conclusion that the intruders were harmless and carried on with its morning routine.

Zitting Cisiticolas have always thrived in this locality and with the breeding season now in full swing, they are even more conspicuous as they perform their courtship displays to entice a mate. Bare stalks like this one provide the best photographic opportunities to capture this minute grassland warbler. 

As we were slowly combing the grasslands from the comforts of our vehicle, a male Pied Harrier floated into view and the level of excitement skyrocketed. This is one of the main targets of the trip for my guest and as a first-timer, the poise and allure of the male Pied Harrier is bound to leave you breathless. The buoyant flight and striking colouration of this raptor have the tendency to do that. I have been chasing harriers over these grasslands for years now and I am still awe by the presence of a male Pied Harrier.

A large area of ploughed field had my attention during my last visit and this time, I was hoping I could discover something rare and extraordinary for a change.

We ended empty handed in terms of rarities. The Oriental Pratincole may be a common bird here in the north but it is to me an extraordinary bird. More like a giant swallow than a wader, it is a common resident up north and the grasslands of Chuping is one of its strongholds. Like the Pied Harrier, it also possesses a graceful flight and one in breeding plumage is a sight to behold as well.

After a hearty lunch, we headed to the Bukit Wang Forest Reserve for the afternoon session. It is always a risk to enter the forest in the afternoon as it can sometimes be exceptionally quiet at this time of the day. But life is all about taking risks. And today, it paid off handsomely. The forest was alive with birds. Even I was overwhelmed…

As we only had a few hours to spare here before making our way home, we barely got out of the recreational areas and into the prime forest area due to the exceptionally good birding we were enjoying. Birdwave after birdwave stormed through the vicinity and to be honest, I did not except this. As the babblers and warblers teased us with flitting glimpses, an exceptional few did provide some decent photographic opportunities like this White-bellied Erpornis.

Flycatchers are known to return to the same perch after their mid-air sallies for insects and they do but not every single time. This Dark-sided Flycatcher probably was not a participant of the birdwave and remained at the same location for quite some time where it made a few sallies and returned to the same perch. And we were there ready to capture its images.

The highlight of the day, for me anyway, is a female Banded Kingfisher that was surprisingly tolerant to our intrusion into her domain. This species is not new to me and neither is it rare but like most forest denizens, it is usually shy and wary. When we first caught sight of her, she was calling from near the canopy level. And I thought that was going to be as good as it will get. Due to the birdy condition of this patch of forest today, we let her be after a while and diverted our attention to the other birds present.

We could hear both her and her mate calling in the vicinity throughout our visit. The male did not reveal himself to us but it does not really matter as the female Banded Kingfisher is just as stunning a bird. In fact, some even consider her to be the better looking of the two. We crossed path with the female again later and this time, she was resting on an even lower perch. We decided to push our luck and slowly crept slower. Much to our delight, she obliged. A confiding Banded Kingfisher (regardless of sex) on an exposed low perch could well be one of the most rewarding birding encounters that can take place in a Malaysian forest. Today has been an amazing day and this gorgeous girl with her sultry performance had a lot to do with it.