Call of the wild

 

EarthLodge is one of the most remote birding spots in Peninsular Malaysia. It is located along the Muda River deep in the wild interiors of Kedah state and certainly a haven for both wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts. It was a “working” holiday for me because I have been commissioned by the founder of the establishment, Hymeir, to guide a French couple. Although being a bird guide never feels like work to me. The only access is by boat; electricity is by a generator that runs for the first half of the night and there is not much use of your smart phones here except for capturing memories of the trip. That is all part of the charms of Earth Lodge. As we disembarked onto the muddy banks upon arrival, the sounds of the forest greeted us to our home for the next few days.

The accommodations are reasonably comfortable and I have no complains about the food provided either. My priorities have always simple and the deciding factor for every location I that visit lies in how good is the birding.

We had excursions by boat along the Muda River on a daily basis because that is the only way to obtain a few of the main targets that included the mighty Asian Elephant and during this time of the year, the migratory Plain-pouched Hornbills.

The tusker is the mascot of Earth Lodge and since we are dealing with wildlife here, nothing is guaranteed. And unfortunately, the closest we came to these giants of the forest were their tracks and dung.

Thankfully, we did not miss out on the Plain-pouched Hornbills. Although not really in the numbers we were hoping for but a traveling flock set against the lush landscape of the locality is quite breath-taking.

We recorded every species of hornbills that occur in Malaysia during our stay here except for the Bushy-crested Hornbill. Being the commonest species, it came as no surprise that the Oriental Pied-Hornbill was the only other hornbill that I managed to capture. Bird photography in Ulu Muda (the general area where Earth Lodge is located) is challenging. The dense vegetation, the skittish nature of most of the birds, the taxing humidity and in certain ways the distraction of the leeches are just some of the contributing factors.

In fact, the river cruises provided the best photographic opportunities of the trip despite the constant swaying of the small boats that were used. The Lesser Fish-Eagle is the most prominent raptor along the slow-flowing waters of the Muda River and was recorded during every cruise. Its preference for exposed perches overlooking the river eased efforts in locating this beautiful raptor.

Occasionally, we will come across individuals that are more confiding than usual and that is when the wilds of Ulu Muda truly come to life and flaunted their full glory.

Flocks of Brown-backed Needletails will normally patrol above the river in the evenings and they were a sight to behold. It is such a thrill to watch these huge swifts slice across the sky with such ease and velocity. With audible wingbeats for added dramatic effects, even the non-birders in our midst are left astound. My feeble photographic attempts to capture one of the fastest birds in the world inevitably left much to be desired.

The discovery of a pair of roosting Dusky Eagle-Owls was not only the highlight of the trip but one of the most significant chapters of my birding life. One of the birds was more exposed than the other and it naturally had our undivided attention. Our boatmen skillfully rowed us close to the flooded trees and the blazing yellow iris of this nocturnal predator had everyone spellbound. The Dusky Eagle-Owl is not new to me but this encounter, rocked my world...

When the owl took flight, I initially thought the show was over. However, the best was yet to come. It alighted on an exposed perch nearby and proceeded to sunbathe. And now we had one of the rarest and largest species of owls here in Malaysia right out in the open in broad daytime and appeared to be unperturbed by our intrusion into its domain. It was almost too good to be true.

Throughout my time at Earth Lodge, we recorded another three species of owls and frogmouths. Seven nocturnal birds in a single trip is something I rarely have the privilege to enjoy. However, none of the others came close to the episode with the Dusky Eagle-Owl as they were only heard. The tiny Reddish Scops-Owl called practically every night behind our lodges and my failure to locate the bird was a bitter pill to swallow. Anyway, no one said owling is ever easy. Unless the owl unexpectedly gives you a once in a lifetime experience like this obliging Dusky Eagle-Owl.

The evening cruises usually conclude after sunset. And twilight in the wilderness of Ulu Muda is mesmerizing and therapeutic. I can think of no better way to unwind after a long day of birding than to sit back in our little boats and soak in the ambience. We often seek solitude to escape the hectic modern-day world and here in the embrace of Mother Nature, I have found mine.

Birding along the forest trails here can be tough and frustrating typical of most lowland forests in Peninsular Malaysia. Ulu Muda is home to a huge variety of intriguing species including pittas, trogons, broadbills, woodpeckers and many others. Like their nocturnal counterparts, these birds were more often heard than seen but we faired relatively well. At the time of writing, the White-crowned Forktail was the latest addition (no. 330 to be exact) to the checklist of Earth Lodge but this striking stream dweller managed to evade my photographic efforts.

When it comes to photography, priority is always given to my guests. That and the challenging conditions here makes this image of a female Green Broadbill taken along the forest trails the only one worth sharing.

The compound of Earth Lodge is a treasure trove of birds. My French guests and I spent a considerable amount of time just observing the birds passing through or foraging in the vicinity. Since it is slightly more open, I had better luck with my photographic efforts. There are a number of birds that are regularly recorded here and the persistent vocalization of the Rufous-tailed Tailorbird is a common sound of the lodge. A little effort is usually required to see this little denizen and judging from this image, obtaining good photographs will require a whole lot more.

Surprisingly, bulbuls are not as common as I would have expected. Lone birds are occasionally recorded like this Red-eyed Bulbul resting in the canopy level.

The handsome male Blue-winged Leafbird will serenade the vicinity with his radiance and vocal abilities whenever he makes an appearance. He was also one of the few birds I encountered that was confiding enough for a close approach.

A stream flows along one side of the lodge forming a natural border. This riverine habitat shelters the alluring Black-and-red Broadbill but it seldom reveals its name’s sake. I had to wait until my last morning at Earth Lodge to obtain a decent image of it.

Birdwaves sometimes sweep through just above the rooftops of the lodges. This natural phenomenon is like no other but the frantic pace of most of the participants is beyond my photographic abilities. During one such wave, a young male Rufous-winged Philentoma must had struggled to keep up with the rest and took a breather on an exposed perch along the lower storey of the forest.

As expected, the presence of other wildlife helped complete the experience at Earth Lodge. While owling around the lodge, we could not help noticing the presence of bats as they made their way to and from their roosts which are under the roofs. Eventually, we found a small group roosting in the daytime and they turned out to be Forest Short-nosed Fruit Bats. In case you are wondering, identification of this flying mammal was confirmed by my guest who unlike yours truly has a much broader range of interest when it comes to wildlife. For him, there is certainly more to life than just birds.

Affectionately named Emma by Hymeir after the Latin name of the animal, the Forest Crested Lizard can be exceptionally confiding and we encountered it on several occasions. It tends to remain motionless for long periods of time and that made it an excellent subject for photography. It did abandon its preference for tree trunks at one time and the image turned out to be my favourite of this beautiful lizard.

A skink crawling about the dining-cum-assembly area had everyone’s attention during one of the days. It was unfamiliar to me as well and I joined in excitement. The cracks of a tree log provided just enough cover for this delicate lizard to briefly remain still for its image to be taken. The Yellow Striped Tree Skink is not only stunning but apparently, it is also relatively scarce.

There is nothing delicate about the Large Forest Gecko. As the name implies, it is a true behemoth as far as geckos go. We came across not one but two of these impressive lizards hunting on the outer wall of the lodges at night no doubt attracted by the insects drawn to the lights. A katydid would make a tasty snack for the gecko as this unwary individual is about to find out.

Insects, to me, are of another world altogether and there is no shame in admitting it. Identification can be a real nightmare even for some spectacular specimens like this caterpillar going about its daily routine next to the walkway of the lodge.

As a closing to a remarkable five days at Earth Lodge, here are snapshots of some plants (yes, you read it right) that somehow managed to momentarily divert my attention from the birds. A total of 122 species of birds were recorded from which almost half are heard only. So, it was not exactly a walk in the park. It took determination, patience and luck to glimpse into the secretive world of some of these species. Nevertheless it is one of the most exhilarating and memorable birding adventures I have had in a long time. Our daily checklists are in the links below and they will give you an idea of what can be expected. However, what the checklists cannot give is the magical essence of Earth Lodge. For that, you have to visit this amazing place and experience it for yourself.

Checklist of birds day #1

Checklist of birds day #2

Checklist of birds day #3

Checklist of birds day #4

Checklist of birds day #5

A mid life crisis?

A planned trip to the peat swamp forest of Pondok Tanjung in northern Perak with Hor Kee had to be put on hold because a swollen knee as a result of a Badminton game a few days back. I guess age is catching up on me. And to be in denial is just futile. Anyway, I opted to visit another swamp forest much closer to home and more relaxing. Birding is relatively easy around Penang and the Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest is no exception. But things were not looking all that good upon my arrival as I was greeted by rain despite the sunny conditions. I took shelter in one of the gazebos and started checking my messages and email. The loud calls of the White-chested Babbler suddenly echoed through the vicinity and the smartphone was kept back in my bag where it rightfully should be. The rain had almost trickled to a stop by then. I said a little prayer and waited. Some movements among the base of the Nipah Palms caught my eye and soon after, a White-chested Babbler hopped into view. In Irish mythology at the end of a rainbow is a pot of gold. In this case, my pot of gold is a little brown job with a big voice.

I took a stroll along the river trail but it was relatively quiet except for the raucous calls of the resident pair of Collared Kingfishers. A Changeable Hawk-Eagle on the hunt did not go unnoticed and as the raptor circled over the kingfishers, I managed to capture one of them keeping an eye on the formidable predator.

I have birded at this locality countless times throughout all these years and yet, it still has not cease to amaze. I have recorded the Blue-eared Kingfisher here before but nothing more than a glimpse as it darts through the vicinity. Along the elevated boardwalk that cuts though the swamp, the bright colouration of this small but stunning kingfisher stood out from the vegetation. In fact, it looked a little out of place but that is far from the truth. The kingfisher is in its element here. The small stream augmented by the rising tide was the perfect hunting ground. I got down all my knees despite the discomfort and crept closer. Exhilaration has almost taken over my senses. So much for a relaxing morning of birding at a local patch. I only hope that my intrusion will be tolerated.

It turned out to be a young male and he was unperturbed by my presence. For the second time in two months, species of birds that are normally shy and elusive here at Air Hitam Dalam displayed a degree of tameness that can only be the results of a greater power at work. Both the Chestnut-winged Cuckoo and this Blue-eared Kingfisher are beautiful and intriguing birds. I am truly blessed to be given the opportunities to enjoy such intimate encounters.

The lighting conditions was not exactly ideal but the magnitude of this encounter simply overshadowed all other factors including the discomfort that has started to develop in my knee joint.

When the kingfisher finally ventured deeper into the swamp, it was time to haul myself upright again and carry on. One of the reasons I decided to visit this locality was to try and spend more time with the Blue-winged Pitta that has been showing well of late. Unfortunately, it proved to be most difficult to even obtain a decent view of the pitta today. The other species that frequent the stake out of the pitta presented themselves as expected. Most noticeable were the ever inquisitive Abbott’s Babblers.

A few Olive-winged Bulbuls helped to pass the time as I waited for the Blue-winged Pitta. Bulbuls are nowhere close to pittas in terms of colours and charisma but that does not mean they will not have my attention – especially when things are slow.

You know things are really slow when I even have time for the Common Sun Skink...

The Mangrove Blue-Flycatchers provided much needed colours and beauty to the stake out. Today, the female was much more obliging than her mate. Although there is sexual dimorphism in this species, the female is just as stunning as the male.

Air Hitam Dalam is home to a number of woodpeckers and although three species was recorded today, only one provide some opportunities for its images to be taken – a female Common Flameback foraging next to the access road.

When one of the big trees here uprooted last year, the negative effect it had on the bird life was quite apparent. Along the outermost elevated boardwalk next to the river, I came across a sight I truly dread. Another big tree had fallen victim but I am not entirely sure of the cause. This birding location has seen better days and I hope this will not deteriorate the site any further.

A bird’s eye view of the closest piece of heaven to home – the Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest.

A stroke of good fortune revealed a pair of roosting Spotted Wood-Owls as the noon hour approaches. They strategically chose the highest and densest tree crown for their siesta. My effort to obtain decent images did not go well down with the owls. A lengthy stare from its lofty perch was enough to convince me to abandon all thoughts of an improvement shot. Anyway, this beautiful night predator wrapped things up for the day. On this rare occasion, I was actually looking forward to concluding the excursion and seek the comforts of home to recuperate my ailing anatomy.