A Manchurian for Christmas

 

It is common knowledge that our forests are under threat but the devastation does not end there. Wetland habitats suffer a similar fate. In my home state of Penang, I am running out of wetlands to visit. And for someone with a soft spot for water birds, it is utterly depressing. The marshlands at Batu Kawan would have been my saviour if it has not been slated for development in the near future. At the break dawn, my companions and I plodded along the soft laterite access road cutting through a construction site. It may not sound much like a birding trip but that is what one has to endure in order to reach the said wetlands. Sad but true...

I may not speak for everyone but the sight of a congregation of large water birds never ceases to amaze. Flock by flock of water birds arrive at this feeding ground from their roosts in the surrounding vicinity. For the record, this location probably has the highest density of Purple Herons and Grey Herons in Penang and the numbers are incredible. I opted to observe rather than photograph because that is where the true value lies and this image of a lone Grey Heron may not be able to fully convey the moment.

The advancement in digital cameras of late is undeniable but they do not come cheap. So, for the time being I still rely on pressing the shutter and pray for at least one frame to turn out decent. However, there is a limit to how much one can achieve through prayers especially for a flight shot in dim lighting like this taunting Cinnamon Bittern making its way to breakfast.

One has to be observant to pick out the small but adorable Long-toed Stint from all the blobs of mud, debris and vegetation present in the wetlands. The distance may have robbed me of some of the joy but the Long-toed Stints have their way to gain my affections.

A trio of drabber looking stints dashed across our field of view haphazardly and alighted on a distant sandbank. Our initial guess was spot on when they turned out to be Temminck’s Stints in the end. This species is an uncommon winter visitor to our land and more than capable to excite even the most seasoned birder.

My encounter with the rare Common Ringed Plover here last season left much to be desired. Naturally, all Little Ringed Plovers were scrutinized for a possible re-occurrence of the former but I could not attain the closure I seek.

The Black-winged Stilts graced the location in good numbers with their elegant presence. The new generation of birders and bird photographers may not be aware that this bird was once a rarity in Malaysia but I certainly do. Decades may have passed. Exhilaration may have been reduced. One of my all-time favourites, the bird remains.

They are conspicuous not only because of their contrasting colouration but vocal nature as well. More often than not, they drown out most other species that share their watery domain. This temporary sanctuary will host the Black-winged Stilts and the rest for at least one more season. I am no soothsayer but unless a miracle takes place, the demise of this locality is just a matter of time.

It is safe to say it is no longer unusual to record Little Cormorants in the northern half of the peninsular. A big flock resting together after a morning’s hunt is an impressive sight. One that I am still trying to get used to.

Garganeys, on the other hand, are unusual with sporadic winter records throughout the years. And to have four individuals together at a single spot close to home should be my early Christmas judging on how slow things have been for this year.

Apparently, the Lesser Whistling Ducks have had enough of the overwhelming stench and toxic at the marshland next to the Pulau Burung landfill and are now taking refuge here. I wish there was a way I could warn them not to get too comfortable because the good life they are now enjoying is not going to last.

There is a good reason behind the name of the Greater Painted-Snipe. The female bird (yes, female bird) is vibrantly coloured and stunning. There is also a reason why she seldom reveals her true beauty for evolution has made her particularly elusive.

Wetland habitats are not without their dangers. Raptors are always on the lookout for prey and today, a male Eastern Marsh Harrier was on the hunt. Harriers are generally uncommon at this location but this individual seemed to have decided on his wintering ground this season. His malicious presence will not be welcomed by other wildlife but it certainly added value to our excursion.

Executing a mid-flight scratch to get rid of an annoying itch…

The Zebra Dove is about bite-size for the Eastern Marsh Harrier and its tendency to perch in the open can be hazardous to its health.

The Long-tailed Shrike is predatory as well but on a smaller scale. This is one of the few places in Penang where this beautiful species resides and has been recorded regularly.

It is normally a shy bird despite occurring in scrub and open country habitats. Today, a pair was being more confiding than usual perhaps due to the approaching breeding season. Whatever the reason may be, I do not come across the Long-tailed Shrike often enough not be thrilled by their performance.

There was a significant change to the taxonomy of birds recently. More splits and renaming – as usual. Inevitably, I try my best to keep myself updated for Malaysian species. Among the changes, the Intermediate Egret is now called the Medium Egret which I cannot help but to chuckle when I first found out. I do not know how to put it but it just sounds odd. Will the Little Egret and Great Egret be renamed as to go with the flow?  Anyway here is the bird, with no regards that it is now probably the most joked-about bird wherever it occurs, looking all so poised at our second location of the day which is the Permatang Pauh paddy fields.

Searching for a little brown job in dense vegetation is not every one’s cup of tea. I will usually give it a pass but my companions convinced me otherwise. A lot of thought and strategy was put into the approach this time and we managed to persuade two Manchurian Reed-warblers to settle into a small clump of reeds. In fact, the smallest clump in the vicinity and just next to the access road. I could almost taste success when these globally vulnerable migrants put the human observers in their place and reminded them just how difficult reed-warblers can be if they choose to be.

When the vegetation finally gave way to a less obstructed view, it was the lighting’s turn to dampened our photographic efforts. Murphy's Law at work again.

However, birders can be exceedingly stubborn and determine especially with failure looming. An unexpected turn of luck eventually had the Manchurian Reed-warbler alighting on a relatively open perch with decent lighting. If this is not proof of the existence of a higher being, I do not know what is. As we were enjoying our moment of triumph, the reed-loving warblers gradually made their way out of sight but not out of memory. A fitting end to a rewarding outing and I am relieve there is no negative conclusion to this posting for a change. Perhaps, it is the magic of Christmas at work.

Speaking of which, MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!

A world record holder

 

The morning was bright and beautiful as I made my way across the Straits of Malacca. Initially, I just wanted to do some casual birding on the island but not a single locality came to mind. Utterly fatigued from the insane work load of my fulltime occupation, to make a long trip today was simply out of the question. The next best thing was to visit a local patch in mainland Penang and since choice is never a luxury there as well, I found myself wandering about the network of concrete boardwalks at Air Hitam Dalam again.

Perched conspicuously at the edge of the freshwater swamp forest was a Brown Shrike on the hunt. This common migrant can hardly be considered a sought-after species but the composition was so inviting and the bird, exceptionally obliging.  

I found the forest eerily quiet today. This birding haunt has lost much of its luster of late – just like most other sites I frequently visit. As my footsteps grew heavier, my thoughts started to drift until a vocalizing Ashy Tailorbird shattered the silence. It took some effort and patience before I found the bird and it turned out to be a handsome male. It is amazing that a small bird like the Ashy Tailorbird can cause such a ruckus. He certainly had the place all to himself this morning and that indirectly increased the decibel of his persistent territorial call.

The Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest is a small site and with absolutely no relevance at all, it is also home to the tiny but deadly Black-thighed Falconets. The top of this particular dead tree is not exactly ideal to capture the smallest bird of prey in the world due to its height but it is one of their favourite perches. And sure enough, I could just make out a single bird present with my naked eye upon my approach.

It was joined later by another of its kin and judging from the amount of public affection exhibited, they are most likely a breeding pair. Like all raptors, the larger bird is most likely the fairer sex. There is no denying the stunning beauty of Black-thighed Falconets and naturally, I found it hard to pull myself away from the lovebirds.

However, do not be fooled by the adorable appearance of the Black-thighed Falconet. It is an accomplished predator in its own right and this unfortunate dragonfly found that out a little too late.

At this site, a congregation of raptors leisurely soaring about can only be the wintering Black Kites. I quickly repositioned myself in order to have the lighting in my favour. About a dozen of these raptors were present today and a few of them circled exhilaratingly close overhead.

Sleek and elegant, the Black Kites floated and swerved their way to become one of the main highlights of this short trip. The sunny condition aided my photographic efforts. And the number of images shared here in this post will be able to accurately illustrate my feelings during the encounter.

One last photograph for good measure...

Unlike the winter visitors, there is only one resident pair of Brahminy Kites here and the rising temperature set them soaring about the vicinity as well. Although they are more vibrantly coloured, the Brahminy Kites did not provide much opportunity for this quality to be admired as they were skittish as usual.

Raptors are one of my favourite birds and I am sure I do not speak for myself. Their ferocity and majesty are often incomparable. When the piercing call of the Crested Serpent-Eagle filled the vicinity, I could hardly contain my excitement. The presence of so many raptors in such a short time can be overwhelming to say the least and I intently watched this eagle with a taste for cold-blooded prey conduct an aerial patrol of its domain.

Although it is not a bird of prey, the Asian Openbill casts a familiar silhouette in the sky during this time of day. This stork that can sometimes number up to a hundred strong, soars effortlessly on its immense wings and is quite a sight to behold.

Like the Asian Openbill, the Little Cormorant is also a recent colonizer to Peninsular Malaysia that is settling in well indeed. This lone bird, presumably taking a breather after raiding the commercial fish ponds, drew my gaze back to ground level. Big flocks are not commonly encountered in my home state and more often than not, it is particularly wary of human presence. Luckily, there was a lot of objects to help hide my human form as I stalked this skilled hunter.

Egrets of all shape and sizes also loiter around the ponds with the same intentions. Like the name implies, the Great Egret is by far the largest and undeniably regal.

The Little Egret may not be the smallest by it is still dwarfed by the presence of the Great Egret.

An adult Purple Heron tried its best to remain inconspicuous while resting at the edge of the fish farm but its plumage colouration was just too attractive not to take notice.

Decades of birding should have made me an observant man and yet, I did not realize there was an adult Grey Heron in the vicinity until it took flight set off no doubt by my intrusion. It alighted on a nearby tree and this lucky shot of the landing turned out better than I had anticipated.

Some movement among a patch of long grass turned out to be a pair of White-rumped Munias feeding on grass seeds. The availability of food made them reasonably confiding and I took the time to observe the feast. Munias are considered to pests by the agricultural industry but to me, they are just living things trying to survive in this hostile world.

Due to its abundant nature, the Pacific Swallow is usually ignored. That is a real shame because when seen in good light, this aerial specialist is strikingly beautiful and streamlined to perfection.

I have had enough share of leech bites to know when I have fallen victim again to this blood-sucking parasite. It may have been a long time since the last time but there was no mistaking the squishy feeling between my toes. As I was about to attend to this little inconvenience, the cheerful song of the Black-naped Oriole distracted me from the task at hand. The leech bite can wait but this stunning bird will not. Although it even occurs in residential areas, I find it difficult to obtain decent images. And here, along the line of tall riverine trees, it is not any easier.

I would have walked past this female Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher on the way to my parked car if not for her short burst of song. The forest undergrowth can sometimes be a challenging environment for photography and my modest gear could not capture her true beauty on this occasion. This species is not as prominent here as it used to be and that is disheartening. But her presence today meant that there is still hope and what better to end a birding excursion than on a positive note.

A tree full of flycatchers

 

The male Mugimaki Flycatcher is an exquisite creature. Though not especially rare, I could certainly do with some decent images of this stunning migrant. The Penang Botanic Gardens is a known wintering site and when news reached my ears of several individuals showing well at this popular recreational locality, there was only one course of action to be taken. I had no trouble finding the exact spot as there was a small crowd present upon my arrival. Penang Island is undeniably small and the occurrence of not only Mugimaki Flycatchers but the rarer Zappey’s Flycatcher as well will naturally draw in local birders and photographers like bees to honey.

It did not take long for the first Mugimaki Flycatcher to fly in from the adjacent forest. Soon there were at least five individuals but unfortunately, all females. Do forgive my lack of enthusiasm because the aesthetic appeal of the females is a far cry from the males. And that is the brutal truth. The reason for the congregation of these flycatchers is an active fruiting tree in the landscaped garden. Some flycatchers, despite their name, are omnivorous. And a fruiting tree can be as appealing as a swarm of insects.

As I patiently waited for the arrival of the male Mugimaki Flycatcher, a noticeably bigger flycatcher swooped in and it was the other current star bird of this location. The Zappey’s Flycatcher is rarer than the Mugimaki Flycatcher and this individual is an immature male. At the time of writing, the first record (pending confirmation from the Records Committee) of a Blue-and-white Flycatcher in Peninsular Malaysia was discovered in the state of Perlis. As only the adult male is distinguishable from the commoner Zappey’s Flycatcher, it is only right to leave the identification of this youngster that was also gorging on the fruits of this faithful tree as a Zappey’s/Blue-and-white Flycatcher.

An immature “Blue-and-white Zappey” is uncommon enough to raise the level of excitement for most who were present today. I thought to myself if only he was a mature bird and out of nowhere, an adult male Zappey’s Flycatcher appeared to the astonishment of everyone including yours truly.

I usually keep myself calm and composed when in the presence of other birders. I do have a reputation to maintain after all. But all that went out the window. The rich blue plumage of this stunning bird took my breath away. This may not be my first adult male Zappey’s Flycatcher but I do not think it is possible for one to ever get enough of this bird. I enjoyed gripping views as he foraged among the foliage. However, photography was challenging because he kept to the top most parts of the tree.

Just when I thought it could not get any better, he flitted down to the lower branches and momentarily rested on an exposed perch. Call it luck, fate or even divine intervention but it was just an incredible moment.

Soon after, only the Mugimaki Flycatchers remained and as well as this confiding Asian Brown Flycatcher. In the presence of more notable species, this common migrant could not garner much attention despite being the most obliging flycatcher in the vicinity.

It is often difficult to age birds accurately. Even sexing can be complicated at times. I consider it to be an art form and special set of skills are definitely required. I, however, do not possess such skills and I like to keep my birding simple. But it is not often one is surrounded by Mugimaki Flycatchers and I took the opportunity to attempt this tedious task. These individuals with brownish face and upperparts and lack any indications of a supercilium should be females.

One sported a deeper orange throat, more greyish face and upperparts and a faint supercilium should be a first winter male.

I may be going out on a limb here but I think this is also a young male...

Other than the flycatchers, a number of other bird species were also attracted to the fruits. Most did not provide good photographic opportunities. Either that or I was too preoccupied with the flycatchers. The Yellow-vented Bulbuls were present more or less throughout the duration of my visit.

Red-eyed Bulbuls were given exceptional attention not because of their status or anything like that. They forage rather cumbersomely much to the dislike of the delicate flycatchers. This will often put the latter to flight and hinder our photographic efforts.

Flocks of Crested Mynas patrol the garden grounds as they have been doing for the past decade or so. This species is the dominant myna here and from the look of things, will continue to reign for years to come.

Along the river bank, another regular species was going about its daily routine. In coastal habitats, the Striated Heron is prevalent and can occur in huge numbers. It also thrives in freshwater habitats but usually in smaller numbers.

As I made my way back to my parked car, I stopped by a flowering bush that is usually patronized by sunbirds. True enough, there was a pair of Olive-backed Sunbird. I was utterly surprised not having to blame Murphy’s Law on this occasion because the drabber female appeared to be more wary of my presence.

Her handsome mate, on the other hand, fed without the slightest hesitance. The subspecies that occurs here in the north sports an orangey collar which can be indistinct at times. And the iridescent blue throat, despite being in good light, will only reveal its true splendour in certain viewing angles.  

The Penang Botanic Gardens is one of the best sites to marvel at the radiance of the male Crimson Sunbird. One was lingering about a bamboo clump but the lighting condition was less than desirable. The vivid plumage colouration could not be captured completely by a manmade device. Through my eyes though, he was remarkable and certainly a worthy species to close chapter of my birding journal.

ps. In case you wondering, the male Mugimaki Flycatcher managed to give me the slip again – exactly like my last season’s attempt at the very same spot.