Foreseeing a lifer?

 

The general plan was to check out whatever remains of the peat swamp forest at Pondok Tanjung in northern Perak state. This locality used to be one my favourite forest sites but that was a long time ago before all the deforestation and road works crept in. I often tell myself there is no point holding on to the past because most of the time, what has been done towards Mother Nature cannot be undone in this lifetime nor the next. So instead of exploring this wilderness through a network of idyllic forest trails, it is now reduced to walking along the busy access road next to the forest.

There is another reason that could well be the true objective of the visit. Hor Kee recently recorded some different sounding Cream-vented Bulbuls with pale orangey irises at this location and we hope to further document these bulbuls. The Cream-eyed Bulbul is a species new to science that was discovered in Borneo a few years back. And Hor Kee, hoping to repeat the success he had with the Olive Bulbul (which was a new country record) by accumulating enough supporting evidence to show that the Cream-eyed Bulbul may not only be restricted to Borneo. A careful sweep of the area where the bulbuls were last recorded eventually produced the results we seek.

We also found a pair that was attending to a juvenile indicating that for now, these bulbuls still find sanctuary in the peat swamp forest of Pondok Tanjung.

I have recorded Cream-vented Bulbuls with darker iris before and going through my images, I found a few that I have taken at Sungai Sedim in the state of Kedah back in 2015 and 2010 respectively.

When it comes to birding, I like to keep things simple and trying to separate two almost identical brown bulbuls is anything but simple. Just to be clear, there is nothing conclusive in this post. These “Cream-vented” Bulbuls do call differently and have subtle physical differences from the typical. And for the time being, I will leave it at that.

A lone Buff-vented Bulbul momentarily distracted me from our objective a one point. It is undeniable all these brownish bulbuls look quite similar at a glance. Upon further scrutiny one can usually determine their identifications unlike some other family of birds like for example the dreaded leaf-warblers.

Once we were done with the bulbuls, we started to pay attention to the other species that were obviously present. In fact, we found ourselves surrounded by an array of bird calls since dawn and one family of birds stood out from the rest – the babblers. As we are all well aware, babblers usually offer nothing more than glimpses as they move about in the cover of the forest. Sometimes, we can be fortunate enough to experience a little more than that and a pair of Fluffy-backed Tit-Babblers mesmerized us with their charisma on this occasion. This species is known to be confiding at times and this is certainly one of those times.

The forest undergrowth may save you the agony of straining your neck looking upwards but your patience will be tested as you wait for photographic opportunities that may never come. I was almost outdone by this sneaky little Fluffy-backed Tit-Babbler but a gap among the vegetation caught the babbler off-guard and frustration instantly became exhilaration for me. Gotcha!

The haunting territorial call of the Sooty-capped Babbler has always been a prominent feature here. I do not get to see this skulker as often as I would like and on this beautiful Saturday morning, the prolonged visual encounter obtained was certainly one of the highlights of the trip.

The Sooty-capped Babbler is not that striking a bird but the obliging nature of this individual overwhelmed my senses. I frequently lament about the frustrations of forest birding but when everything comes together perfectly, it is utter bliss. And all those hours spent wandering aimlessly will make sense to you again.

Often obscured from view by the dense foliage of the canopy, the Green Iora is one of the many denizens that call the forest home. The soft but persistent song is usually the only indication of its presence and once learnt, you will find that the Green Iora is not that uncommon at all. The male is exceptionally striking and our good fortune today continued with cracking views of an individual that wandered much lower down than usual. The late morning sun was unforgivingly harsh but there was no undermining the beauty of this species especially from such a close proximity.

Unlike the Iora, the Rufous-tailed Tailorbirds were shy and uncooperative today. It is another attractive resident of this locality but prefers the lower levels of the forest rather than the canopy. A brief view enabled me to squeeze the shutter a few times but the distance and lighting conditions were just a little too much for my photographic gear.

As we were making our way out, a troop of Pig-tailed Macaques loitering about the roadside halted our journey. The monkeys here are accustomed to human handouts and have grown exceedingly bold as a result. The alpha male is seriously intimidating and this brute of an animal provided the perfect ending for our visit here.

Before calling it a day, we made one last stop at the ponds next to the landfill of Pulau Burung. As expected only the resident species and overwhelming stench were present. But one species of water fowl in particular had our full attention. It has been quite a while since I last recorded such a big number of Lesser Whistling-Ducks. This location is a known stronghold for them and all two hundred strong were relatively unperturbed by the sudden presence of two human observers.

Hindered by the glaring midday lighting, the confiding nature of some of ducks enjoying their siesta could not produce the type of images I was hoping for. Regardless, I am still delighted to be greeted by this small spectacle at a locality that has also lost much of its lustre in recent years.

Birding blues...

 

At first light, I found myself soaking in a spectacular sunrise and the overwhelming aroma of the biggest landfill in the state. With the restriction of interstate travel still very much in place, there are limited choices as to where Hor Kee and I could venture to and I guess Pulau Burung is as good a site as any here in Penang. Anyway, the Asian Koels dominated the dawn chorus this time as it is still breeding season for these parasitic cuckoos. Despite being for than a foot long, they have a remarkable ability to stay out of sight. Hence, an image of the sunrise...

We scanned the larvae-infested lakes hoping for any uncommon migrants but there were none to be found. As usual, the flocks of Lesser Whistling-Ducks filled the locality with their presence and whistling calls. Of late the weather has been sweltering but at this hour, the sun’s penetrating rays have yet to reach their full potency and provide the much desired golden hues for photography.

The Little Grebes were also in good numbers today. Beautiful and adorable, they will always have my attention whenever they wander within the comfort zone of my gear. The lakes surrounding the landfill here is probably the only remaining wetlands in the state that is still rich in bird life. And that is something I am most grateful.

For a species so elegant, the call of the Black-winged Stilt leaves much to be desired. Judging from the vocalizations today throughout the vicinity, the Stilts have found sanctuary here again and are thriving. After all these years, I still find it hard to resist their charm.

Crakes are usually difficult to see well – usually. This morning, we had at least 3 White-browed Crakes that frequently abandoned their skulking nature and provided good views. Despite fortune being in our favour, the Crakes are small and active birds. Following their movement was not easy and only a handful of the images turned out reasonable.

The Javan Pond-Heron is a regular migrant and every season (around this time of the year when it is identifiable), a number will be recorded especially from the northern states of the peninsular. This individual, stalking at the edge of the lake, was only in partial breeding plumage but with enough traces of its true identity.

A foraging male Olive-backed Sunbird momentarily diverted my attention from the water birds. A few of the trees next to the lake was in bloom and the nectar addict was having his sugar fix. The lighting was harsh and the hyperactive Sunbird hardly provided any photographic opportunities.

Red-wattled Lapwings are a regular feature here. These striking waders prefer the grassy river bank to forage and rest. As long as you stay in your vehicle, your presence is usually tolerated and all hell will not break loose.

A relatively confiding snipe shared the foraging ground of the Lapwings today. Although good views were obtained, it remained to be just another “Swintail” Snipe at the end due to the lack of evidence to proof otherwise.

The Greater Painted-Snipe is an intriguing species that I sorely lack field experiences. Its somewhat crepuscular and shy nature is the reason why. Today, however, we came across 3 individuals and 2 were in the open. Naturally, all were the duller males. To have a spectacular female in full view would have been phenomenal but things like that do not often take place in the real world. Anyway, one of males appeared to be absolutely relax in this untypical behaviour and the lighting condition was the only let down of this memorable encounter.

We left the Painted-Snipe to his morning siesta and heads towards the nearby state park of Bukit Panchor. Spring will see the Blue-throated Bee-eaters replacing the Blue-tailed Bee-eater here in Peninsular Malaysia. The former being a breeding visitor and the latter, a winter visitor. A few of these striking birds were seen hunting near the park entrance.

I cannot really recall my last visit to this locality and that would make it years. One thing about this location is that the habitat may be pristine enough but there are less birds here than you would normally expect. But it was not like this always. Once upon a time, the forest here was home to some truly incredible birds like the near-mythical Giant Pitta and you could also hear the far-carrying call of the amazing Great Argus on a regular basis. Once upon a time...

I do have to admit that the vegetation here is dense and it is not the easiest of sites to bird. We did come across some birds and a few bird waves but almost everything eluded my camera. A pair of Checker-throated Woodpeckers were foraging quite close to the access trail and provided a rare opportunity for me to actually put my camera to use. You know that I am scraping the bottom of the barrel when an image of this quality is included in my blog post.

A flock of White-bellied Erpornis exhibited little fear of our presence which is quite typical of the species. Being inquisitive and charming, it normally brightens up any forest excursion. And one even stayed still long enough for its image to be taken.

One of main highlights our visit here shares the sky with the birds but it is not a bird. A hut that was initially built to provide shelter for weary trekkers has been taken up by group of fruit bats (if any reader happens to know the exact species, please enlighten me). These winged mammals have a bad reputation which is totally uncalled for. I find these nocturnal creatures intriguing and like all other wildlife, deserves our respect and admiration.

On the way out of the park, a Stripe-throated Bulbul was exceptional vocal along the forest edge. By that time, it was blistering hot but it did not deter us from taking some time to appreciate this lovely bird before calling a day. The birding today may not have been exceptional but it is always good to be able to just get out into the field.

Getting twitchie over a sharpie

 

The former mining pools of Malim Nawar is probably the location for most, if not all of my pure twitching trips. And this time, it is for a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper – a rare migrant to our shores. It was a cold and gloomy morning. To make matters worse, it started to drizzle just as Hor Kee, Michael and I were about to complete our two hour drive from Penang. When we finally reached the spot, we found ourselves staring at a huge semi-dry fish pond. Our target is a relatively small peeps. This is certainly a muddied version of the needle in a haystack saying. And no matter how stunning the view may be, I do feel my spirit lifted. Only a particular little wader that breeds in the northern tundra will be able to do that.

There were other waders present like Wood Sandpipers and Long-toed Stints. As most waders in winter plumage look quite similar especially in a distance, their presence were distracting. A huge number of Black-winged Stilts were out foraging throughout the pond and the possibility of a Pied Stilt (a recent addition to the Malaysian checklist) did cross my mind but a quick scan at the stilts revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

Anxiety soared as our target remained elusive. Sharp-tailed Sandpipers usually do not linger long at a stopover during passage. This twitch was beginning to put our skills (and patience) to the test. Ever since a camera joined my birding arsenal, I do not carry a scope anymore. Luckily, Michael still does and it took some good old fashion birding to save the day. As soon as he had his scope up, he found the ‘Sharpie’ foraging leisurely at the edge of the exposed mud. And Malim Nawar once again provided a successful twitch for me.

Here is the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in comparison to the smaller Long-toed Stint. When seen together, the differences are obvious. However when seen alone and taking into consideration the possibility of hallucinating some some non-existing field marks, it is a different story altogether.

The lighting was less than desirable and the privileged guest was quite a distance from the access road. There was undoubtedly room for improvement with the images that I obtained. But I was elated. In light of all the hindrance caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, I was not even sure there could be any lifers for me any time soon. The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper was confiding enough I suppose and the prolonged observation made the experience a memorable one nevertheless.

With the lifer safely in the bag, I started to focus on the other waders present. One other certainly had my attention because it is usually shy by nature. The Greater Painted-Snipe is somewhat crepuscular and it is one of the few bird species in the world where the gender roles and even appearance is reversed. Anyway, this male was foraging quite comfortably right out in the open and that is something I do not see very often. I guess it would be pushing it to hope for the more striking female to make an appearance.

The Asian Openbills which have settled in well in the north are also finding this locality ideal. I managed to photograph one that was doing what it does best and that is to extract a meal out of a snail using its highly-specialized bill.

Another recent colonizer to Malaysia that is thriving here is the Little Cormorant. Although we did not get many photographic opportunities, this flying bird provided a sufficient souvenir for our trip.

One would think that after my trip to Cambodia I would not be so easily excited by the presence of an Oriental Darter. However, this sleek waterbird is rare here in Malaysia and one perched at a far distance still had my undivided attention.

No visit to this area would be complete without coming across the Grey Herons. Although, these majestic waterbirds are also found in my home state, I still find them intriguing. Birding, after all, is not always about rarities.

Grey-headed Swamphens (yes, another split) were given their due attention because we recorded the first Black-backed Swamphen in Malaysia quite recently. As with the stilt, there was no cause for celebrations. Only wishful thinking.

A feral Water Buffalo looking undeniably intimidating and it is not all bark and no bite for this occasionally ill-tempered animal. Thus, it has my respect which is rarely given to any semi-domestic animal.

It is alarming to find Javan Mynas outnumbering every other myna species here in Malim Nawar because the same thing could well take place back home in Penang. Not only are they displacing the locals but they are also attempting to ‘breed’ them out as several hybrids were seen. If this is not considered an invasion, I do not know what is.

As for the Zebra Doves, they went about their daily routine peacefully oblivious to the threat that the Javan Mynas now pose to a few of their fellow residents here.

I do not think I will ever get bored of the Stork-billed Kingfisher especially one as confiding as this individual. Just look at that bill...

Unbelievable as it may seem, the kingfisher was outdone by an unlikely species – a Crested Goshawk. In northern Peninsular Malaysia, this stunning raptor does not come by often enough for me and even when it does, it is exceedingly shy. This is the closest I have ever approached a Crested Goshawk and it was a moment worth savouring.

The only drawback was the awful lighting condition and there was not another single angle from which I could truly capture the beauty of the goshawk.

As our group was feeling luckier than usual, we decided to test our fortune at a slightly similar habitat closer to home for an equally rare peeps. The Pulau Burung landfill has been visited by the Pectoral Sandpiper before but luck can only take you so far. It would take nothing short of a miracle to bag these two rarities on the same day. A confiding Little Cormorant was the only consolation from our efforts of scanning the shallow ponds surrounding the landfill.

A tree full of Little Cormorants in the state of Penang is a sight that will still take some getting used to for me. The population has certainly flourished here and gone are the days when any cormorant is a rare occurrence.

Just like the Grey Heron, the Purple Heron still had what it takes to tickle my fancy. I guess being a big and beautiful water bird will make it easier to garner my affections.

It was a picture of serenity with this flock of Lesser Whistling-Ducks resting at the marshlands of this landfill. Their numbers are climbing again at this major stronghold and that is a good sign. The Lesser Whistling-Duck may be dull when compared to other ducks but it is still the only duck that can be regularly encountered in my neck of the woods.

Birds are not the only wildlife thriving in this environment. Reptiles like the Water Monitor Lizard has found sanctuary here as well. Some have grown to impressive lengths like this individual slithering about the river bank. This giant of a lizard wrapped things up for a great day out in the field as a successful twitch is one of the most exhilarating aspects of birding.