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.

The Bird Hide Part 1: Never say never

 

I never thought the day would come when I will spend an entire day sitting in a hide. I also never thought that I could exhaust both my memory card and camera battery during one single sitting. Never say never, I guess. I always carry spare cards with me but for the other problem, thankfully Nigel had one to spare. Just beyond the borders of Kaeng Krachan National Park, there is a hide owned by a man that goes by the name of Mr. Bird. His hide is called, none other than, The Bird Hide. A simple name but an apt one indeed. How else could I, a birder by nature, spend almost ten hours straight in a permanent hide. Lunch and drinks were delivered and the only time we actually took breaks were to answer the call of nature.

Like what I mentioned in one of my earlier post, there is also a watering hole here to entice feathered gems out of hiding. The weather condition plays a major role and it was another sweltering day which made it perfect. The flood gates opened when a flock of Greater Necklaced Laughingthrushes swarmed in like paratroopers. Beautiful and boisterous, this lifer immediately increased the level of exhilaration within the hide.

I am no stranger to the antics of Laughingthrushes as this family of birds also occur in Malaysia. Even back home, I have not grown tired of observing them. Now imagine a new species with tons of personalities. Enough said.

Before we could regained our composure, a flock of Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes decided to join in. I usually do some homework before I visit another country for birding and so, I am aware of the existence of two Necklaced Laughinghthrushes. However, it still took a while before I could comfortably differentiate the two species. And here are plainer-faced and shorter-billed Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes.

Behaviour-wise, I think both species are identical. What the Greaters do, the Lessers did it too. And the result is not unlike observing a fiesta. Initially I had my camera mounted on a tripod. That is the usual practice for hide photography. But I could not cope with the level of bird activity in front of my eyes. Once unrestrained, it evened the playing field and I slipped into a hidden world filled with awe and wonders.

I ended up shooting more the Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrushes. It was not because I had favouritism but simply because they were more photogenic.

Because of the unprecedented number of images obtained during our time in the hide, much thought was given as to how to blog about this divine experience. In the end, I decided to go with covering one species at a time. And made it into two parts instead of cramping all into one. Hence, you will notice that images of a single species will have different lighting conditions as they were taken throughout the day. The third species of Laughingthrush recorded, the White-crested Laughingthrush, makes a fine example of that.

At least three birds were present in the vicinity and they started appearing around midday. They were also one of the last birds we photograph before calling it a day.

However, their contrasting plumage colourations made it difficult to get the right exposure. These active birds’ preference for the forest floor did not make it any easier. What was easy though was being amused by all their garrulous chatters and quirky personalities.

At the Cafe De Camp Hide a few days back, I was intrigued by the captivating Racket-tailed Treepie. Here, I was overwhelmed.

Lighting is of utmost importance when it comes to capturing the true beauty of the Treepies. I could ogle at that greenish plumage and blue eyes all day long. Come to think of it, I actually did.

I reckon the Racket-tailed Treepies were one of the main reasons I exhausted my memory card. I just could not help myself and I think their visitation frequency outnumbered every other species present.

Everything at The Bird Hide seemed to be amplified and the Racket-tailed Treepies at times show up in flocks of up to three individuals. When they lined up on the same vine, it was simply adorable.

There will be birds in your birding life that will not cease to amaze and excite no matter how many times you have observe them before. The Common Green Magpie certainly lives up to this statement. On this hot and sunny day, it made several appearances and is one of the main highlights of the day.

I came across this species quite regularly during my birding in the mountains of my homeland. But they are a pale comparison to what we experienced here during our ten hours at this basic but effective gateway to an amazing world I rarely have been given the privilege to witness.

Big, bold and beautiful there is nothing not to love about this forest denizen. The vibrance of its plumage colourations border the surreal at times and we are more than happy to be in this dream-like state.

It would take something spectacular to distract my attention while I was shooting the Common Green Magpie at the watering hole. And a Large Scimitar Babbler will absolutely do. Unlike the former which it shares its habitat with back in Peninsular Malaysia, I have seen it only once in all my life and a few heard records. This photo captured the moment I realized that today may well be one of the best birding experiences ever. Hallelujah…

It was unfortunate the Large Scimitar Babbler only appeared during the hottest part of the day when the lighting is at its worst. However, it could be for this reason it decided to show up at all. After quenching its thirst, it hastily hopped back into the forest leaving only an encounter that is forever etched into memory.

A definite thumbs up for our day at The Bird Hide...

It is second nature to have my bins with me whenever I am out birding. However, the close proximities of the birds here rarely require the extra magnification for identification. But a little brown job skulking about the shadows of the undergrowth immediately put my bins to use. Eventually the juvenile Siberian Blue Robin left no doubts about its identity and it was back to photography (on a tripod) again.

A Taiga Flycatcher also frequented the vicinity but its distinct undertail made it rather recognizable.

The novelty of the Brown-cheeked Fulvetta has yet to expire and this dull-looking species still has my attention when it was present.

One species that is certainly not a little brown job was the Black-naped Monarch. The male sports a vivid blue plumage and his arrival brought additional colours and splendour to The Bird Hide.

His mate may not be his equal in terms of beauty but she still deserves some recognition.

I did not spend too much time on Bulbuls as most species are relatively familiar to me like the Black-crested Bulbul.

Inevitably, the Stripe-throated Bulbul received similar attention. It is just human nature at work. In the presence of so many amazing species and a number of them being new to me, the commoner species will be taken for granted.

The Blue-winged Leafbird may not be new to me but it will take a heart of stone to ignore the brilliant plumage and song of the male. We shared the hide with another group in the morning. When this species made an appearance, I understood every word they said despite not speaking their language. Their body language and sense of excitement said it all.

It is heartening to see the White-rumped Shama finding sanctuary within and around Kaeng Krachan National Park. Although, this male did show off his vocal talents, his aesthetic appeal was undeniable.

Unbelievably, a male Oriental Pied Hornbill decided to join in the fun and its sheer size sent most of the patrons scattering for safety. I am just grateful I have a zoom lens. Otherwise, I will only have head shots to show.

It is always a pleasure to obtain long and good views of the Asian Emerald Dove. Generally skittish by nature, it is often seen flying for cover more than anything else.

When it stepped into the sunlight, you can see how its name was derived. A true feathered jewel regardless of its common status.

Common but striking. That would be how I will describe a male Common Flameback. I am guessing it is as common here as it is in Peninsular Malaysia but opportunities to increase my field experience with this woodpecker is always welcomed. Especially close encounters like these.

The female lacks the flaming red crest of the male bird but she can still hold her own in terms of attraction.

A little degree of scrutiny is required to differentiate the larger but similar-looking Greater Flameback. I do not come across the species as often as the former and this prolonged encounter did not go unappreciated. I guess hoping for a male to come along was pushing it a little far.

The sleek and shiny form of a Bronze Drongo grace the vicinity for a short period of time. Too short if you asked me. After taking a sip, it retreated back into the forest and did not return again.

Honestly, I could not complain. It faired so much better than the Hair-crested Drongo. For the second consecutive hide experience, a Drongo species remained sceptical and kept its distance from the refreshments being offered. 

I have left out a fascinating group of birds that made our visit to The Bird Hide so phenomenal. In fact, they were the main targets for this birding location and it was a blessing that the poor show of the Drongo in the previous paragraph was an isolated incident. Stay tuned for the second part of this post.