When life throws you curve balls

I found myself at the wild lands of Pedu Lake again and this time with a couple of Australian guests. Birding was relatively good today but photographic opportunities remained scarce. As we walked along the access road, we came across a number of forest species and some were brought into view by birdwaves which is a natural phenomenon in any birding excursion.

The biggest of the forest denizens today were the striking malkohas and the tiniest, would undoubtedly be the brilliant flowerpeckers. One of them was gracious enough to allow its image to be taken and it was a handsome male Orange-bellied Flowerpecker. It is one of the commoner species but with such vivid and intense colourations, this flowerpecker is never short of admirers.

Flocks of Green Ioras foraging along the canopy levels is a regular feature here in Pedu Lake. The birds’ lifestyle makes it rather difficult for birders to appreciate their true splendour. However on this occasion, something attracted a flock to venture lower than usual and provided a visual treat rarely enjoyed by birders. The male is a splendid creature and just like the previous species, are true jewels of the forest.

The Osprey was back at what seems to be its favourite perch that overlooks the scenic Pedu Lake. A stroke of good luck brought me closer to this elegant raptor than ever before. Life, however, threw me another curve ball and the Osprey was back lighted by the harsh midday sun.

One of the most recognizable bird calls of the forest here belong to an enigmatic species – the Red-bearded Bee-eater. The call consisting of a combination of croaks and resonant notes was the first thing to give away the bird’s presence – as usual. A tedious search among the dense foliage of the rainforest revealed a male bird resting on an open perch but the distance prevented me from capturing his true splendour.

As we were making our way out of Pedu Lake to head to our next destination, a confiding juvenile Changeable Hawk-Eagle hunting by the road was too exciting to forgo. This individual seemed more slender than usual. Perhaps life here is not all sunshine and rainbows after all. Anyways, it was a memorable performance by this common raptor.

Once we were done with the eagle, we returned to my vehicle only to find that the starter has died and I could ignite my vehicle. I have a history of automobile fails here at Pedu Lake and this is by far the worse. My birding usually takes me to wilder side of the country. And now, I am stuck with a couple of foreign guests along an isolated road in the middle of nowhere. I was thankful that my I could still call for help and my mates had my back again. In between Choo Eng and Hor Kee, we managed to send my guests back to the hotel safe and sound and my vehicle towed to the nearest town for repairs. I always do my best to ensure my guests get the best out of every excursion but I guess some curve balls can really put you to the test. So instead of enjoying the companionship of pittas and babblers at the mangroves of Sungai Batu with my guests, I was stuck at a car workshop in a small town for the rest of day.

Birding couple in the making?

I have been birding close to 30 years now and I know that this endeavour is not for everyone. But it is my one true passion in life and my better half knows that she has to accept that birding will always be a part of our lives together as a couple. My last birding trip to the state of Kedah was monumental and it is not because of the birds. I am most grateful that my wife is able to put up with a birding husband for all these years and when she wanted to join me and experience what birding is like, I was overwhelmed with joy. It is not certain if she will take up this peculiar hobby but she is taking the initiative. That is more than I could ask for. Together with my godfather and his friends, the Ch’ngs, we travelled to the interiors of Kedah. Here there are sweeping views like this overlooking Beris Lake that she can enjoy if the birding does not live up to her expectations.

I usually show my wife photos of the birds that I managed to capture after every excursion. One bird that caught her liking almost immediately was the Black-and-yellow Broadbill. It is no surprise as the broadbill is both colourful and cute. A combination very few could resist and I am elated I managed to show her one in the flesh when we walked along the access road of Pedu Lake.

Malkohas are not the easiest of birds to photograph. They tend to move about frequently and keep themselves partly hidden. The unique call of the Raffles’s Malkoha echoed through the vicinity and I tried my best to show my companions the smallest malkoha here in Malaysia. A few fleeting views later, a female rested momentarily among the dense foliage of the canopy and is all I have to show for the encounter.

This is a sight I would love to get used to…

Base on past experiences, I find the Osprey generally is a shy and wary raptor. From a distance, we had good views of one feasting on a freshly caught prey. The observation ended abruptly when a car drove past us and inevitably, the Osprey. As expected the fish hawk took flight with lunch securely in its powerful talons.

The mangroves of Sungai Batu was our next destination. Although not as picturesque as the previous location, it does has own charm. Anyway, this is Mangrove Pitta territory. Being scenic is not required. The pitta is another species that struck my wife’s fancy in the past. Mrs. Ch’ng is also experiencing her maiden birding excursion and the ladies are lucky to have a Mangrove Pitta on their first day out in the field.

Another favourite among my companions were the Mangrove Blue-Flycatchers and their striking colouration probably had a lot to do with it. The female was more obliging today and produced a wonderful performance.

The hypnotic sway of the Forest Wagtail left a lasting impression despite lacking vivid colours in its plumage. Casually strolling along the muddy terrain and occasionally very close by, it is no wonder it was such a hit.

Being natural skulkers, the Puff-throated Babblers remained undetected until the more vibrant species have retreated back into the swamp forest. The distinct patterns on these birds made it easier for me to describe them…

The Abbott’s Babbler, on the other hand, is about as plain as you can get. But this little brown job played a role as well to help complete a rewarding excursion. As for myself it was more about the company I was in and God willing, this will not be the last birding adventure that I will get to enjoy with the queen of my heart.

Here we go again...

The grassland at Chuping is constantly changing due to the agricultural activities of man. This year the birding area around the sugar mill have lost most of its appeal as the rubber tree saplings have now grown tremendously. Further up north, there are development plans in the works but for now, it is fruit farms and other less destructive crops. Here, the birds can still find refuge but to a lesser degree. I found myself back at this locality for the second successive Saturday to observe and admire its rich and spectacular bird life while it last. This Long-tailed Shrike greeted the new day with a series of territorial call whilst on an exposed perch. Now that is a certainly a splendid way to start off a birding excursion.

Chuping is now the only place in Malaysia where the rare and stunning Bronze-winged Jacana is regularly encounter. However, it is a shy bird and difficult to approach. Perseverance is a virtue in birding. After countless attempts for decent shot since its discovery here last season, I finally managed some reasonable images of this waterbird.

In the neighbouring pond, we caught sight of a Little Cormorant sunning itself after the morning hunt. I saw it on this very perch last week.  It is not so much its favourite perch but the only suitable one in the locality.

My companions for this trip, Victor and Sanjeevi, are rather new to this birding paradise. So, it was quite an experience for them.

Another species that was still frequenting the same spot as last week were the Red-throated Pipits. As usual, these birds are frustratingly difficult to observe and photograph. But when one decided to post so elegantly on some dried branches, it certainly did not go unnoticed. True that it may be slightly far away but this is a Red-throated Pipit and this is at most times as good as it will ever get.

A gathering of Black Drongos on one of the many isolated trees in the grassland caught our attention. Apparently this spot held a considerable amount of prey as the birds were frequently seen making short sallies from the tree and back. They even forgo their usual wariness of human approach and allowed us to enjoy the encounter from close range.

Raptors will always be one of the main highlights for any excursion to Chuping. This time, the Osprey provided the best photographic opportunity when it was seen soaring overhead. The harsh midday lighting hampered my photographic efforts. But there is no denying the grace and beauty of this elegant raptor that has made Chuping one of its regular wintering grounds here in Malaysia.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose (13/02/2016)

This is the final trip of my festive birding spree and it was to the forest of Pedu in Kedah state which has all the ingredients of a premium birding site. I had the companionship of Choo Eng this time and as usual, we left the comforts of home way before dawn in order to reach our destination at first light. The forest came alive as we were unpacking our gear. The dawn chorus itself was enough to get our adrenalin pumping because it consisted of some very interesting species including a Rufous-collared Kingfisher. Although he (yes, it was a striking male) was reasonably tame, I failed to obtain anything that resembled a bird photo due to the dim lighting. In fact, that was the story for the rest of the day. During our 6-hour excursion, we recorded almost 70 birds in which only a handful had photos to show. But my biggest disappointment was missing out on photographing a pair of Jerdon’s Bazas because I was simply too slow. When I finally had the rare raptors in focus, they had almost flown past the gap between the forest canopies. The Jerdon’s Baza was not unexpected but it was still a new record for this site. The forest here is indeed sanctuary for countless species – both common and rare. The views here are picturesque but somehow ‘reflections of leaves and inspiration’ do not evoke the same quantum of emotions...

We had a good haul of raptors on this trip. Unlike the bazas, I managed to shoot both the Rufous-bellied Eagle and Crested Goshawk. Unfortunately, they were miles away and I do not think sharing photos of a dot in the sky is going to do anything for this post. An Oriental Honey-buzzard almost slipped past my radar too but with the lighting condition being much better now, my gear was fast enough this time.

There is no way to improve this photo unless we took a boat out and positioned ourselves with the sun behind us. It is a little far fetched because after all, it is just an Osprey. From the look of things so far, chances are the Osprey will take flight by the time we get there anyways.

Shooting babblers in the forest is never easy and that is an understatement. These birds get a kick out of frustrating birders and bird photographers alike. Their preference for dense vegetation and their inability to stay still make them one of the most challenging birds to photograph. The Chestnut-winged Babbler is common at this locality. I hear them on almost every visit. This is the first time I managed to capture its image. Although it is far from perfect, I more than happy to add this species to my collection finally.

This was more of an act of desperation rather than a deliberate attempt to capture a Black Magpie in flight...

A huge tree that towered over most of the other trees was flowering and it was a big feeding station. Due to the distance, some of the birds were beyond recognition especially the dull coloured ones. The Blue-crowned Hanging-Parrot is one of the patrons of this tree. Identification was not much of any issue due their distinct shape and splendid colouration. But if I wanted to obtain better images of it, I will need to master the art of levitation. As for now, this image will just have to do.

The Van Hasselt’s Sunbird used to be common in Penang Island. Back then, I did not even own a camera but I have plenty of memories of this dazzling species. And memories are all that I have until today. I have not seen this species ever since I took up photography. I do not think it has become that uncommon. It is just fate and the alignment of my stars. Anyway, at least two pairs were feeding on the nectar of the flowering tree. These sunbirds are tiny birds and at that distance, all the splendour and details of the male birds are all but lost. A record shot is only the right thing to do. I just hope I do not have to another decade before I get to photograph this species again.

So far, I have not had too much luck with photography and naturally, I did not put much hope on a Black-bellied Malkoha that was resting at the canopy level. It was a little far to start with and the sun cast an awkward shadow on the bird.

I got distracted by another bird but I cannot recall which species. It could be age catching up or the fact that after I was done with the bird, the lone Black-bellied Malkoha had me under a spell by shifting to a position that was almost ideal for me to shoot. It was perched much lower down and in the sun. I am not sure if birds can read the minds of humans because this, the smallest of our malkohas, read mine like a book. It stayed long enough for me to capture a few shots before it took cover in the dense foliage of the forest.  And that minute of staying put was all that I could ever ask for.

The bubbly call of the Green Broadbill will betray its presence and for that, I am truly grateful. A silent bird is usually overlooked despite its striking plumage. Like the malkoha, the first image was nothing more than a record shot.

However, it did move to a better position and provided the perfect end to the trip. It was still a good one despite the shortage of good images but then, that is forest bird photography. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but the anticipation of what you may encounter will lure you back time and time again.

Harrier Central Part 2 (06/12/2015)

Ben and I entered the boundaries of the former sugarcane plantation of Chuping slightly before dawn on the scold day of our tour. The Savanna Nightjars were still patrolling their territories and their single-note calls pierced through the misty grasslands. At first light, we were scanning the ploughed fields as there was plenty of bird activity. Yesterday, the Red-throated Pipits managed to evade our every attempt to photograph them. Naturally, I kept an eye out for them today and we managed to capture one foraging in the golden light of morning. The distance hampered the quality of the photos but because this pipit is notoriously difficult to photograph, you will not hear a peep from me.

The small passerines might be early risers but this lone male Pied Harrier appeared a little sluggish as he rested among the ploughed fields. I told Ben that this is usually as good as it gets with this wary raptor and he should take a few more shots before we crept closer in our vehicle.

I could hardly believe it when the harrier was the least bothered by our approach and stayed put. This is the closest I have ever approach a resting harrier and it was a little too early in the morning to be hallucinating. Things are rarely perfect when birding. But a handsome male Pied Harrier absolutely at ease and posing beautifully in the rays of the early morning sun is about as close to perfection as I could imagine.

The harrier made me look bad by being so confiding and Ben is probably thinking "Shy...yeah, right". But he provided one of the best moments in my birding life. The rest of Chuping beckons but there was no way we could leave him without taking some time to sit back, relax and truly soak in the moment. And moments like these are forever.

There is no sure thing when it comes to birding. The birds are wild and free creatures. So, when you think you have them all figured it out, they do something unexpected. And unexpected can sometimes turn to unprecedented.

The Pied Harriers of Chuping were not quite done and a second male provided a breathtaking aerial performance. It is hard to imagine a creature so graceful and elegant to be a deadly bird of prey but that is what the harrier is.

Either it was my gear or my own doing; some of the photos did not turn out quite as well as I hoped for. I had to settle for another memorable experience that was only fully captured in my memory. 

Our next encounter with a harrier was this juvenile Pied Harrier quartering the grassland in search of food. Although, it usually does not prey on big birds like egrets but its presence made a flock of Cattle Egrets uneasy and the latter was constantly put to flight. It was another close encounter and today, Chuping was really living up to its reputation as a harrier haven.

Ben came here for the raptors and he certainly got what he wanted. A female Common Kestrel was seen standing among some dry grass and the level of excitement rose again.

Assuming that we will get a repeat performance of the male Pied Harrier earlier, our vehicle rolled ever so confidently towards the falcon but she was having none of it. She took flight before we could reach optimal distance and both falcon and her newly-caught prey, that we were totally not aware of, disappeared beyond the horizon.

The dark morph Booted Eagle kept its distance again and I was really getting numb towards its reaction of my presence year in year out. And the amount of swearing has also reduced tremendously.

However, I cannot say the day about the Bronze-winged Jacanas. This is the first season that we are seeing them here in Chuping and each sighting still made me tremble with excitement. When emotions are high, they can be hard to contain. I cannot help but feel a little frustrated every time the Jacanas turned tail and fly off to the far end of the pond at the slightest hint of our presence. For crying out loud...

The Short-toed Eagle was another distant encounter but due to its rare status, it was still worth getting out of our vehicle, brace the blistering heat, trod on muddy soil to capture a few record shots.

Sometimes, nature has a way of balancing things out. After a string of record shots, a lone male Eastern Marsh-Harrier hunting just above the tree line reinforced Chuping's position as the harrier haven of Malaysia and we were in for a treat.

The male Eastern Marsh Harrier may lack the striking colour contrast of the male Pied Harrier but he certainly does not lack the grace and aerial agility. In fact, I found his aerial ballet to be more mesmerising than the latter.

There are a number of raptor species that are more easily seen in Chuping than anywhere else in Malaysia. That is why it is prime raptor country. The Osprey regularly winters here and I have had numerous encounters with it in the past. But this time was a little different. The fish hawk was on the hunt...

Renowned for its death-defying dives for fish, we held our breath when the raptor circled the pond one last time and started to hover - no doubt zooming in on its next unfortunate prey. The dive was too fast for either of us to react and we also missed the final moments of the dive because we were positioned on higher ground and where the raptor procured its meal was blocked from view. With its prized catch secured within its deadly talons, the Osprey flew to the nearest pylon to enjoy the reward of its labour.

By mid-afternoon, we decided to have a change of scenery and drove our way back south to the paddy fields of Kubang Semang in mainland Penang. It is still open country habitat but here it is not the raptors that rock but the migratory waders. The flocks of Grey-headed Lapwings were at hand to greet any visiting birders - as usual.

While savouring the sights and sounds of the lapwings, I picked out a handful of Ruffs foraging in the vicinity. Even at a distance, the distinct body shape of these scarce waders is easily noticeable. The dim lighting and distance provided me no opportunities to obtain any improvement shots.

Evolved to blend perfectly into its surroundings, snipes are the masters of camouflage in the avian world. If we had not been stationery and looking through our binoculars, there is a very good chance this snipe would have gone unnoticed. Positive identification is another issue with snipes especially between the Pintail and Swinhoe's Snipe and I am certainly not going there. So, Swintail Snipe it is then...

Stints are very tiny waders. So small that they are almost invisible when standing still among mud. The Temminck's Stint is one of the dullest-looking but it also happens to be one of the rarest. A confiding individual resting on a patch on mud may not produce any vibrant photos but it got two grown men jostling for space to photograph this little brown job.

As evening approaches, the rain clouds found us again - just like yesterday. The sky darkened rapidly and we could smell the moist odour of rain in the far distance. A flock of Black-winged Stilts huddled closer together in anticipation of a cold and wet tropical night. Inevitably, we had to call it a day and next task on hand was getting Ben to the airport on time. But even the thunderstorm that unleashed shortly could not drown out the amazing time we had on this trip especially the aerial displays of the raptors at Chuping.