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.

Conditional freedom

When the Movement Control Order was finally lifted (conditionally that is) about three weeks ago, birders were able to go into the field again but forest reserves and parks remain close and that is most unfortunate. With the migratory season all but over now, forest sites are usually the preferred choice. The deadly COVID-19 pandemic affected the livelihood of countless humans around the world. I did not rush out to bird immediately after this conditional freedom was acquire. There were more dire matters to attend to and one of them is to make sure I do all I can to help the company that I work for fight through this difficult time. With eco-tourism in fact any kind of tourism in a complete standstill, there will certainly be no guided birding tours for me anytime in the near future. Birding is the love of my life but it would be not much of a life if I cannot provide for my loved ones.

It has been more than 70 days since my last birding excursion. With interstate travel still prohibited and the unavailability of forest sites, I found myself at my last birding locality before Malaysia came under partial lockdown. I arrived at the marshland of Batu Kawan just after dawn and sight of a few Asian Openbills preparing for the day ahead made me realize just how much I miss birding.

I could not help but to notice that the water level within the marsh has risen higher. I do not think it is tidal and that could be spell bad news. The smaller water birds, as expected, did not reveal themselves like my previous visits because of the lack of foraging patches. I have been kept away from birding long enough to appreciate whatever that has been given to me. It will be a long time before I will consider any birding excursion to be poor – a long time indeed. This juvenile Purple Heron is one of the tallest birds here and the water level could not prevent it from performing well for my first birding excursion in months.

Just like the Purple Heron, the Grey Heron is another towering presence at this location. This individual was taking a breather next to a stream and proved to be most confiding – much to my delight.

A cumbersome landing by a Watercock among the reeds caught my immediate attention. Apart from males in breeding plumage, it is hard to tell them apart. This individual, judged by its indistinct barring on its underside, should be a juvenile. Anyway, I could managed only a few record shots before it barged its way through the reeds and out of sight.

Even from a distance, I could make out a pair of Lesser Whistling Ducks flying above the vast marshland. Like their namesake, these duck emit a unique whistling call that cannot be mistaken for anything else here in Peninsular Malaysia. I half heartedly attempted to capture their images as the lighting condition was not exactly favourable at the time. In the end, my lack of self confidence was uncalled for as the image turned out quite decent.

For the remaining half of my trip to Batu Kawan, I decided to focus on land birds. There was a number of birds present but nothing out of the ordinary. During my ‘stay home’ period, I had ample opportunities to observe House Crows and Common Mynas going about their daily routines. I surprise even myself that I actually took the effort to capture this House Crow resting on a plastic pipe.

And a Common Myna doing exactly the thing a pipes down the access road...

You can always count on the Paddyfield Pipit to be obliging and today was no different. Perched so elegantly on its very own pedestal, there are no surprises as to why a photo of this common species is included in my post this time.

The Chestnut Munia remains to be the only munia species present in the vicinity and a flock was busy foraging among the long grass. However, they appear restless and easily agitated this morning and I rarely had any opportunities for a decent photograph.

Unlike my previous trip here, warblers did not contribute much this time. The male Common Tailorbird was the only one that greeted me on this beautiful day. Well, one warbler is better than none at all.

As I was leaving the location, the highlight of the day called out to from the scrublands. Long-tailed Shrikes used to occur and breed in Penang state. When I started birding, it was locally extinct from my home state. In recent years, it has been recorded again but only in mainland Penang. And today, a skittish individual became my first record of a Long-tailed Shrike in Penang.

My next location is another open country habitat. The conditional freedom left me with very little choice of birding locations. The migratory season would be the best time to visit the marshlands of the Pulau Burung landfill and with June just a few days to go, only resident species were present. A few White-breasted Waterhen were caught out in the open. Perhaps with the absence of anglers and other humans in the past months, the birds have grown bolder than usual.

It was nice to pick out a lone Intermediate Egret among the usual flocks of Cattle Egrets. Of all the resident egrets here at the landfill, I guess it is probably the rarest of them all.

A number of Lesser Whistling Ducks were present but not in their usual big numbers. The day has grown hot and perhaps they have taken refuge at another spot of the marshlands. The perimeter fence often hinders photographic efforts. The enthusiasm of the local authorities are usually short-lived and in this case, it is a good thing. Hardly any maintenance is done since the day they erected this horrid structure. Certain spots have collapsed or damaged and these gaps in the fencing provide a window of opportunity for some decent photography.

I can remember a time when I could easily obtain intimate encounters with Little Grebes (and several other species as well) here. I thought those days are long gone after the destruction of this birding paradise that took place a few years ago. But the Little Grebes today took me for a stroll down memory lane and performed exceptionally well. And for a while there it felt like I was back in the good old days. Back to the days when this place was in its prime.

A couple of Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo was recorded a few weeks earlier near the mangrove area. Hopeful and successful are two very different things.  For today, it is only the former for me as there were no signs of the Austral migrants. During my search, I found a Dollarbird hawking in the vicinity. The buoyant flight always appeals to me and with the good lighting bringing out the true colours of this roller, it was an enjoyable encounter. It would have been better if the perch the Dollarbird chose as a vantage point had better angles for a photograph.

I had another personal first record for Penang state today. It is safe to assume that it was a fruitful day out in the field after all. However, I have mixed feelings for this second species. All of us in the north knew that it was only a matter of time before the Javan Mynas made their way here from the south. For months, it has been regularly recorded in this region and I knew then there was no stopping the inevitable.

On one hand, I admire the bird for its ability to adapt and spread. On the other, I find the Javan Myna to be invasive and a threat to the existing populations of mynas especially the Jungle Myna. It had to cope with the likes of the Common and Crested Myna and now, it has the Javan Myna to deal with as well. Anyway, a small flock of Jungle Mynas happily allowed this lone Javan Myna to tag along and this comparison shot, though not a good one, shows the differences between the two species.

The final bird of the day was the majestic Crested Serpent-Eagle. Electrical poles are one of their favourite perches and coming across one on such an exposed perch is not unexpected. By that time the lighting was harsh but the eagle was just one pole away from my stationary vehicle and at this distance, the encounter took my breath away. Birds have always been my source of inspiration and solace. Right now, I could well be facing one of the biggest challenges in my life and this birding excursion certainly did wonders for my wearied soul.

The magic of Christmas?

Bukit Larut is not new to me. Back in my teenage years, this rustic hill resort located in the state of Perak was heaven sent. Wild and teeming with birds, every visit was pure ecstasy except when it rained (it is the wettest part of Malaysia after all). Nowadays, it is pale comparison. There is a noticeable drop in the bird population and I am not even going to mention about how they run the jeep shuttle service up the hill. Anyway together with my guests Nigel and Jimmy, we decided to give Bukit Larut a chance to proving itself worthy again as a birding hotspot. There is now a stakeout at the foot of the hill and the feathered patrons there were the main targets of this trip. As it was my first visit to this spot, I was equally as excited as the Oh brothers. I tried my best to conceal my emotions as I do have a reputation to keep.

It did not take long for the first bird to appear and it turned out to be the biggest and baddest one of them all. The Rufous-collared Kingfisher is a true gem of the forest that does not reveal its splendour all that often. This handsome male bird out in the open and at such close proximity, provided the excursion with an excellent start.

Set against the gloomy surroundings of the forest understorey, the bright colouration of the Rufous-collared Kingfisher was just incredible. I have my fair share of frustrating encounters with this kingfisher before and the performance of this individual, deserved my wholehearted appreciation.

And for once, the dense vegetation of the forest could not deny me the opportunity to admire and photograph this kingfisher to my heart’s content. Its size and robust nature gave it the edge over the other patrons and the king usually had the whole stakeout to himself.

Once the Rufous-collared Kingfisher was done, the other patrons started to appear. The next bird to grace the vicinity was another cracking species. The migratory Orange-headed Thrush is uncommon enough to make me feel giddy once again. I am now quite sure I will be making a few more trips here before the end of this migratory season.

The contrasting colouration of orange and grey makes it an attractive species indeed. In recent years, I have been privileged enough to come across the Orange-headed Thrush more frequently than ever before. And this individual is maintaining that trend and for that, I am most grateful.

Pittas are remarkable creatures. It does not matter if it is a common species. Every encounter with one of these terrestrial birds is an exhilarating one. In Malaysia, the Hooded Pitta breeds in northern Peninsular Malaysia but it occurs as a migrant throughout the country like this individual.

I do not have many intimate encounters with this pitta as I find the resident ones up north to be exceptionally shy. The only other time a Hooded Pitta had me trembling with excitement was at another stakeout in central Peninsular Malaysia. That may all change if strutting about in the open at this stakeout becomes an annual affair for this charming migrant.

Of all the birds present today, one managed to outdo the rest and earned itself bird of the day. Forested streams and rivers are home to a group of intriguing but shy birds known as forktails. Their plumages are strikingly marked and they have a habit of flicking their tails which just enhances their demeanour. The Chestnut-naped Forktail is not a rare bird and it even occurs in a few of my regular haunts. The reason for me to drive more than 100 kilometres to see this one is because I could finally ogle at its true beauty and capture the moment at close range.

Today, this male Chestnut-naped Forktail stayed the longest at the stakeout offering the three of us ample time to spend with this beautiful species. I simply adore the intricate patterns he sports on his upper breast and his lovable antics was irresistible. He alone would have made the drive here worthwhile and I am sure my guests agree.

I know that birding at a stakeout is not old school. The thrill and challenges of locating birds on your own is missing. But given the situation of the world today, birding is a far cry from the good old days. Back then, it was so much easier for birders to enjoy a rewarding excursion. With the drop in the numbers of birds and the constant destruction of birding sites, stakeouts are a much welcomed addition to my birding routine. And for difficult species like this Chestnut-naped Forktail, it is probably the only way to obtain excellent views and images.

At one time, the Chestnut-naped Forktail decided to forage on the ground in front of us and it was probably the best moment with this fascinating bird. The movement of the forktail somehow gives an impression of the bird being light footed and graceful. Not unlike a ballerina on stage and it was a truly captivating performance.

Being the smallest of the lot, the Green-backed Flycatcher could only sneak in between appearances of the bigger birds. It was a handsome male bird and this uncommon migrant played a small part to make our visit here so memorable.

A good excursion will usually build up a good appetite and we headed to a nearby food court location within the Taiping Lake Gardens as noon approaches. A public display of affections by a pair of Long-tailed Parakeets on top of one of the many Rain Trees in the gardens, had my undivided attention and lunch will just have to wait. Nigel who lives in Singapore do not share my enthusiasm as this species is common in the southern half of the peninsular. In fact, Taiping is probably the closest to home where I stand a good chance to encounter this native parakeet.

Another species that is absent from home but present here is the Oriental Pied Hornbill. Because of its small size and common nature, this hornbill is often taken for granted. It can be quite confiding at several localities throughout the country but I do not encounter it often enough to pass an opportunity as good as this. The usual stares from the other visitors to the gardens did not prevent me from enjoying the moment.

Love was certainly in the air because like the parakeets, the Oriental Pied Hornbills looks set for the coming breeding season. The Taiping Lake Gardens is known for its romantic setting and this pair of love birds fits in perfectly.

As we headed back north, I made a little detour to another former favourite birding site of mine – the marshlands surrounding the Pulau Burung landfill in mainland Penang. Like Bukit Larut, this site has seen better days and human intervention was one of the root causes for this locality’s downfall. As we drove alongside the perimeter fencing, a sense of nostalgia started to develop from within. During the good old days, there were no fencing and the marshlands was left literally to the care of Mother Nature. Naturally, birds and other wildlife thrived.

A flock of Lesser Whistling Ducks and other water fowl resting along the water’s edge almost brought me back to the glory days of this birding haven. Almost...

Little Grebes still managed to endure in the current environment. A pair was leisurely paddling along the lake and it was a picture of utter bliss.

But dangers lurk throughout the marshlands and the water birds here like these Lesser Whistling-Ducks have to be vigilant of predators like the Water Monitor Lizard.

This is one of the best sites to photograph the elegant Blue-tailed Bee-eater and it remains so till this day. Finally something to cheer about. We took our time with these common winter visitors before departing to the next location of the day and they were obliging indeed.

It has been awhile since I last paid homage to the urban owls of Bukit DO. As usual, one of the regular walkers of this suburban park pointed out the roosting owl upon our arrival. It was on a high perch and the lighting was not exactly on our side. However, it is always good to see the Barred Eagle-owl still calling this modest park home.

The paddy fields of mainland Penang was the next location of the day. Most of the fields had fresh paddy stalks and that made it difficult to locate the water birds that find sanctuary here. When we came across a recently planted patch, there was a flock of Grey-headed Lapwings present. Normally, these birds have low tolerance towards approaching birders. They were friendlier on this occasion and we managed to obtain some reasonably good images.

Only a few juveniles were among this flock and the pale colouration made it relatively distinct from the adults.

Apparently there is no getting over the Asian Openbill phenomenon and today’s excursion had a fair share of these unique storks. A small flock was foraging among the paddy stalks and the sea of green provided a nice backdrop for our photo session. One of the storks is starting to moult into breeding plumage but it remained further away throughout our observation.

The rest of the Asian Openbills present sported slightly different plumage coloration due to age and different stages of moult. Again, the storks tolerated our intrusion and was more confiding than the ones I used to encounter before the invasion.

This is my favourite image from our encounter with the Asian Openbills. Although almost half the storks were hidden by the paddy stalks, the scenic landscape and the bond between the two was absolutely captivating to my eyes. It has been a long time when I last enjoyed an outstanding excursion like this. But then again Christmas is almost here and everything tends to be more beautiful and sweet this time of the year.

A formidable Crested Serpent-Eagle overlooking its swampy domain at the Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest was a good encounter to wrap things up for the day. It may be a common raptor but when a predatory bird is as confiding as this, it should not be taken for granted.