Nothing like some old school birding

There is a part of me I rarely mention in my postings. Birding is my one true passion but it does not really put food on the table. My life in the often-overrated and insane world of advertising does. Most of the time, I run things from command central and do not get to see our finished products in the flesh all that often. Anyway, I picked up my latest guests from one of the latest hotels to spring up on the island and it so happened that my company was responsible for their signage works. Well, the hotel certainly has one of the trendiest lobbies I have seen here in my home state and I cannot help but to feel proud that we played a role in it.

With the fruiting tree at Bukit Wang still bringing in the birds, I decided to take another trip up north to the locality with my Australian guests. For the third time in recent weeks, I had to wade across the stream to get to the forested area. I expected the Dark-sided Flycatchers to be at their usual haunt and I was right. However, this one looked a bit different and it turned out to be a juvenile bringing the total now to three birds at this spot.

Juvenile birds usually cannot measure up to the beauty of the adult birds. But they sure are adorable and confiding as well. The youngsters went about its routine without any hesitance despite the presence of human birders.

Another drab little bird caught my attention as it scurried about the nearby understorey. Upon further scrutiny, it was a she and one confiding girl if I might add. The Dark-necked Tailorbird may be common throughout the country in suitable habitats but it is no easy bird to photograph.

The fruiting tree was disappointingly quiet upon our arrival. I find this particular fruiting tree a bit odd. The bird species recorded at the tree varies quite a bit the two times I have been here. And this morning, there were no birds at all until a pair of Buff-vented Bulbuls came along later in the morning.

The fruits were far from depleted and yet, it was about as cheerful as a cemetery here. A short while later, a pair of Cream-vented Bulbuls decided to pop in. Unfortunately, the one bulbul I wanted to reshoot never gave me that opportunity today and the Puff-backed Bulbul keeps its place securely in my priority list.

A skulking flycatcher in the forest understorey next to the fruiting tree turned out to be a female Chinese Blue-Flycatcher. When a second bird was heard calling, the encounter was taken to a whole new level. And my hunch was right. The second bird was indeed a male and he was a fine looking bird. When he finally alighted on an exposed perch, he had his back towards us which was his least appealing side.

Patiently we waited. I even said a silent prayer and on this rare occasion, the Almighty heard me. The male Chinese Blue Flycatcher turned around to reveal his true splendour. This was undoubtedly the highlight of the visit here for me. Even the absence of the male Pale Blue Flycatcher was no longer a thorn at my side.

Our next destination was the mangroves of Sungai Batu and the birds here gave my guests a very warm reception indeed. It did not take long for the male Mangrove Blue Flycatcher to show off his vivid colouration and captured our undivided attention.

The Forest Wagtails casually strolled into view and another strikingly marked feathered denizen gets a tick in my guest’s field guide. My guests this time were old school birders armed only with binoculars and field guide. While they were savouring the wagtail visually, I tried my best to capture at least one photo was that does not have a prominent motion blur anywhere on the bird.

I was delighted to see the Stripe-throated Bulbuls again and from the looks of it, this attractive bulbul will be regular feature in the trips to come. The face markings of the Stripe-throated Bulbuls reminded me of the villain Bane from the Batman movie but there is nothing sinister about them. In fact, they are the exact opposite.

With such an array of colours and splendour around, the non-descript Abbott’s Babblers were finding it tough to gain attention. Striking an unusual pose will usually do the trick though...

But when the star bird finally made an appearance, all eyes were on it. I may be somewhat immune to the charm and beauty of the Mangrove Pitta but to my guests, it was magical. My guest even describes the encounter later using that same word. That, ladies and gentlemen, are pittas in a nutshell. Magical creatures that will always evoke a sense of awe and admiration with such magnitude that very few other species can conjure.

The White-breasted Waterhen’s comical appearance is a welcomed sighting to any excursion. And to have one at such close proximity is an added bonus.

Scything through the skies above the adjacent paddy fields, the Dollarbird can still be an impressive sight despite being a common species. However, good lighting is required to capture its iridescent plumage and this image is not quite up to mark.

Our next stop was the industrial park in Kulim. Here, we hunted for roosting Savana Nightjars along the cemented embankment. I knew where the birds usually roost but that knowledge almost got me nowhere as I failed to locate a single bird on the way in. I had to dig deep on the way out. The harsh midday sun offered no comfort to my squinted eyes. Then among the long grass area, I noticed what appeared to be hope nestled among the vegetation. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as hope turned into reality and I began the tedious task of describing the location of the nightjar to my excited guests. To a couple of old school birders, a Savanna Nightjar partially hidden is still a mesmerizing encounter.

Next in line were the paddy fields of mainland Penang. I was feeling a little lucky having recorded my first Greater Spotted Eagle of the season just a few days ago and decided to scan the pylons for any signs of its majestic presence here as well. Sure enough, my second Greater Spotted Eagle of the season was resting on a distant pylon. Distance was a huge hindrance to my photographic efforts but I am just delighted to see this eagle back here for another winter.

There were a number of waders present at the fields today. Several patches were now in a state that was ideal foraging grounds for them. However, nothing out of the ordinary was recorded and the diminutive Long-toed Stint was as rare a wader as I could get.

I have not taken a shot of a Wood Sandpiper for quite some time but it is not a common species in Australia. Naturally, it received a share fair of love and affection from my guests. And I guess their excitement was contagious. Hence, this photo of a resting Wood Sandpiper will take an unexpected place in this post.

Common or not, an adult Purple Heron against a green backdrop is still a sight to behold. Being a sucker for big water birds, a photography opportunity like this will not be shunned.

At the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam, the male Violet Cuckoo proved elusive yet again. Some of the commoner species did provide brief encounters but the highlight for my guests here would be the adorable but deadly Black-thighed Falconet. Unfortunately, a pair of these tiny raptors that was perched on a dead tree did not stay long enough for a good view. But sometimes in life you are given second chances and this time, the falconets remained until all three of us were contented. The distance may be a little too far for shooting something the size of a sparrow. But the falconet is no sparrow and it provided a fitting end to another rewarding day of birding in the north.

Nightbirds steal the limelight

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival usually brings rain to the lands here and this year is no different. Daily thunderstorms in the evenings were a slight worry as I picked up my British guests from a boutique hotel in the heart of Georgetown City. The first destination of the day was the mangroves of Sungai Batu in Kedah state. The weather was surprisingly pleasant and I led the way into this swampy domain with rejuvenated confidence. A handsome male Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher was the first bird to greet us and being relatively new to birding in the tropics, the vivid colouration of the flycatcher certainly captured my guests’ attention.

My guest had their hearts set on seeing a pitta for this trip and this is one site where you stand a very good chance. The Mangrove Pitta was their first pitta in the wild and the performance by this locality’s celebrity bird certainly swept my guests off their feet. I remembered my first ever pitta sighting well and it was a Blue-winged Pitta in the middle of a rubber estate. It was a brief view for the younger me unlike what my guests were enjoying – a prolonged intimate encounter that will last a lifetime.

As the natural illumination increased so did the level of bird activity. The resident Abbott’s Babblers will usually be able to inject a dose of excitement to any visit with their charming and inquisitive nature. Something on the ground had this one on full alert. This is a posture one does not usually see this species adopting and it will make a nice addition to my rather comprehension collection of images.

Judging from the confiding nature of this Forest Wagtail, it is safe to assume that it is one of the individuals that wintered here last season. It is always a challenge to photograph this species due to its constant movements. But there is no denying the fact it is a striking species and I am elated of its return here.

The Blue-tailed Bee-eaters were also back for the winter and their graceful sallies after flying insects are always a welcomed sight. A few were seen resting and preening on a dead tree and this image shows the difference between an adult and an immature.

There were a flock of Red Collared-Doves on the same dead tree but our presence did not go down well with them. The flock took flight leaving only one male bird that took his sweet time to depart.

The best encounter from this visit to the mangroves was a lone Little Cormorant resting on a wooden stake overlooking a commercial fish pond. This species is starting to establish itself in the northern half of the peninsular and the number of sightings are increasing. This is by far the closest I have been to a Little Cormorant as I find it to be shy by nature here. I have a soft spot for water birds even more so for those I do not across all too often like the Little Cormorant. Even the less than ideal lighting cannot influence the exhilaration of the encounter.

The second destination of the day was the hilly forest of Sungai Sedim. The current spell of rain and wind left a trail of destruction along my favourite access trail of this recreational forest. The number of birds recorded was lower than usual and it was truly a let down when compared to first locality. This Ferruginous Flycatcher could have save the trip here if it was perched a little lower.

As we heading towards the next birding location, we made a little detour for the roosting Savanna Nightjars at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park. The remarkable camouflage of this nocturnal bird never cease to amaze my guests. Today, despite a careful search, only one was recorded. And for that I was most grateful.

A quick swing to the paddy fields did not yield anything out of the ordinary but it was nice to see the migratory Grey-headed Lapwings and Daurian Starlings back for the winter. There was a moment of suspense when we spotted a Barn Owl perched outside one of the nesting boxes provided by the farmers to entice these biological pest controllers to breed and multiple. Unfortunately, it hopped back into the nest box before we could obtain any better images.

The last destination of the day was the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam. Again, the birds were not showing well and I had to dig really deep to provide my guests with one memorable encounter. A third record of a night bird for the day and it was a roosting Spotted Wood-Owl. Nestled unobtrusively among the canopy of one of its favourite roosting trees, it managed to elude detection until the very last minute. Undoubtedly, it was a great way to end the visit to this local patch.

On the way out of the reserve, flocks of Asian Openbills were seen flying in from the adjacent paddy fields. These enigmatic storks flew quite low overhead and it did not take long for us to locate them. Hundreds of Asian Openbills resting on a patch of paddy field is an amazing sight. As I slowly drove towards them, the anticipation of the experience that was to come was overwhelming. However, life do not always go according to plan. A passer-by, no doubt amazed for the sight of storks, over zealously got out from his car in an attempt to capture the spectacle with his mobile phone. A flurry of wings and feathers later, we were left staring at an empty patch of paddy field. I was dumbfounded. A stream of nasty deeds to be executed on the passer-by flow through my thoughts. But no matter what, it will not undo what is done even if I castrated the guy. My guests managed to rack in one more lifer and appeared to quite content. The Asian Openbills were a great way to wrap things up for the day. Despite the slightly lower than usual number of birds being recorded, my guests were in high spirits as we made our home. But not before I gave the passer-by an evil eye when our paths crossed briefly.

Hola...

I was contacted by Spanish couple because of their interest for a day of birding around Penang. I naturally obliged but their following email nearly knocked the wind out of me. The trip to Penang will be after their birding excursion in Sepilok – one of the most renowned sites in Malaysia. Penang and its surrounding areas is not what one considers to be the main birding circuit in Malaysia. What chance does it have against a birding paradise in an exotic land like Sabah state? At that time, it looked like I have my work truly cut out for me. For the past couple of years, I have a trump card that has awed my guests, regardless of experience level, without fail. Just like clockwork, the Mangrove Pitta hopped into full view not long after our arrival at the Sungai Batu mangroves. And to have a confiding pitta as one of your very first birds of the day is right up there among the best as far as birding goes.

The resident pair of Mangrove Blue-Flycatchers, having fulfilled their parental duties, are now almost back in their full splendour especially for the male.

The timing could not have been better as they brought even more colours and beauty to this swampy domain despite the female still not looking her very best.

However, it was not all smooth sailing. A few regular species were sorely missed today despite my best efforts. I can considered myself blessed as most of my guests so far are understanding people including this Spanish couple. A pair of Abbott’s Babbler was the only other species we managed to obtain at this locality. There are times when I feel bad for not being able to fully deliver and recently, it is happening more often than not. It is nothing that I have not foreseen. Destruction of habitats, pollution, poaching and trapping go unchecked. Do you think there will be no backlash for all these actions? I do not think so and neither does the Abbott's Babbler...

The Sungai Sedim Recreational Forest was the next location of the day. True to its name, the recreational area was packed with the weekend crowd. We left the human-infested areas with much haste and made our way to the isolated Gunung Bintang access trail. The trail offered mostly brief views today of the intriguing bird life found here and the 3-hour trek still captivated my guests. The only photo I have to show at the end was of a male Velvet-fronted Nuthatch indulging on some fruits in the canopy level. The nuthatch is an exquisite looking bird but it is as restless as kid who has had too much candy. He did remained still enough for a shot or two when he came across a bunch of fruits that tickled his fancy.

Apart from pittas, nightbirds are another group of birds that are highly sought after and revelled. And I knew exactly where to obtain the next highlight of the trip. It was back to the faithful empty piece of industrial land in Kulim Hi-Tech Park for the roosting Savanna Nightjars. Despite the knowledge of their preferred roosting spot, it still took some effort to locate this incredibly well-camouflaged birds.

All the squinting and straining of my visual receptors in the harsh midday sun was worth it as we recorded a total of three individuals. I could hardly contain my excitement let alone my foreign guests who needed the Savanna Nightjar for their ever-growing life list. Well, my birding circuit may not be in the same magnitude as the ones in Borneo but it can still hold its own well enough to evoke emotional pleasures. 

A little detour to the paddy fields of mainland Penang did not yield much although the White-throated Kingfishers were irresistible to my foreign guests – as usual. I usually do not stop for Yellow-vented Bulbuls but this particular individual alighted next to our stationary vehicle. It has been a long time since I last admire the subtle beauty of this common garden bird and partly also due the enthusiasm of my guests, it received my undivided attention.

The final destination of the day was the swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam. I could not have asked for a better start to the visit as we were greeted by a family of foraging Common Flamebacks. No doubt it is a common species but the display of striking colouration and the vocal nature of the birds made it quite an overwhelming experience.

In fact, it was a good day for woodpeckers. In the morning we had brief views of the shy Maroon Woodpecker at Sungai Sedim. Here apart from the Common Flamebacks, we also had brief views of a male Streak-breasted Woodpecker. However, the best was a prolonged observation of a pair of Banded Woodpeckers. Despite the favourable duration, the dense foliage and lighting condition made it utterly frustrating for photography. The male came surprisingly close during the encounter but the photos I obtained could not truly reflect this memorable episode.

The sight and sound of an encounter with a woodpecker is perhaps one of the enthralling experiences of birding in the tropics. And today, my guests were truly mesmerized by this unique family of birds.

The resident Crested Serpent-Eagle was looking quite menacing as it gazed over its domain from a lofty perch.

A flock of huge birds glided in from the adjacent paddy fields and I knew immediately what they were. The Asian Openbills are now a regular sight here and these enigmatic storks were calling it a day as they prepared to roost for the night. The tall trees lining the river bank accommodated the storks and it would have been quite a sight if not for the distance.

Throughout the day, we have been encountering parent birds with young birds in toll. And not surprisingly, the last bird of the day was a young Olive-winged Bulbul out exploring with its parent. Judging from the parent bird’s constant supervision, it could well even be the youngster’s first day out in this big, wild world. And hopefully one day soon, it will repeat the actions of its parent and bring forth the next generation. It is always a blessing to end a day of birding with something that soothes the soul and this family of bulbuls bonding provided exactly that.