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.

Back to square one

 

I reached the freshwater swamp forest of Air Hitam Dalam just in time to catch a blazing sunrise. However, the scenery could not keep me captivated for long because the dawn chorus was exceptional and most came from the dimly lighted undergrowth of the forest. For a small bird, the Ashy Tailorbird can be surprisingly loud. I am sure that this male was foraging but he was singing from the top of his lungs the whole time. The shooting condition was truly testing and the active nature of this little fellow did not help with my photographic attempts at all. But I am happy with the results of some of my images.

Competing with the tailorbirds this morning were the Abbott’s Babblers with their persistent whistling. Their cheerful song is a pleasant offering to my sense of sound and an individual that alighted on a slightly exposed perch provided the only photographic opportunity for the encounter.

The migratory Brown Shrike, on the other hand, preferred a well-lighted environment from which to hunt breakfast. This feisty winter visitor certainly took notice of my intrusion and its uneasiness put a stop to my intentions of trying to reduce the distance between us.

And when it comes to being skittish, very few open country birds can rival the Black-capped Kingfisher. Splendid in appearance but shy in nature, distant images like this one is what one will usually end up with at the end of it all. Anyway, fishing was good at that particular spot and the kingfisher returned to the same perch after several successful dives. I sat comfortably in a gazebo across the river and enjoyed the encounter despite unable to obtain any good images.

While the Black-capped Kingfisher was well on its way to concluding breakfast, this lone Pond-Heron was still resting above the swamp forest watching life go by. Hunger will soon kick it and it will join the rest of its kin in the adjacent paddy fields.

Flocks of Asian Openbills were making their way from their roost to their feeding areas and this is a regular sight for the location each morning. Two of these unique storks descended onto the muddy river bank to feed and since I was reasonably close by, they had my momentary attention.

A House Crow contemplating who to torment on this sunny Saturday morning as it perched on the top of the forest canopy.

Timid, medium-sized raptors are usually on the receiving end of the harassment and a Brahminy Kite certainly fits the bill.

My last visit here was back in October last year and the landscape appears to be teeming now. It could be just a case of absence making the heart grow fonder but the refreshing ambience was much welcomed nevertheless.

I noticed that certain sections of the boardwalk have undergone some refurbishment. Every effort taken to maintain this site deserves some acknowledgement and the black pillars do somewhat standout.

Not everyone shares my sentiment for the pillars and one of the locals still prefers the feel of unpainted concrete. Plaintive Squirrels continue to thrive here and a big number was seen as usual.

A rather confiding butterfly greeted me as I started to explore beyond the boundaries of this reserve. However, a nearby tree dead appeared to be a centre of bird activities and my interest was immediately diverted – naturally.

I soon realized that all the avian movements that caught my eye were the doings of a pair of Sunda Woodpeckers and this riverside dead tree seemed to have their undivided attention. I find these minute woodpeckers to be adorable and today, they performed much longer than I anticipated. Not that I am complaining.

They appeared to be enjoying the moment as much as I with constant breaks to rest and preen in between foraging.

The Sunda Woodpecker can be accommodating at times and this is certainly one of those times. The pair was slightly backlighted and there was no way to improve my position without wading into the river and brave God knows what that may be lurking beneath the murky water. Adorable can only take you so far in my book and the status of the Sunda Woodpecker could not warrant such a drastic course of action.

Barn Swallows occasionally swooped in for a rest on the same tree and their presence did not bother the foraging pair at all.

On another dead tree, a Lineated Barbet was proclaiming its territory vocally. The direction of the light may be much better but it was a taller tree. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the joy of wild bird photography. Most things are beyond your control and you just have to roll with the punches.

All was not lost when a bird suddenly alighted nearby and it turned out to be a female Common Flameback. Like the Sunda Woodpecker, it is a common species as well but that did not stop me from taking the time to admire her striking beauty.

The dead trees in this vicinity somehow seemed to be drawing in the birds and I lingered in the vicinity hoping for more. The next bird, glided in gracefully with its incredibly long tail trailing behind. I know very well that the Green-billed Malkoha is usually restless especially when out in the open. This tree was especially branchy and prevented unobstructed images to be obtained. But this stunner is always a mesmerizing bird to come across regardless of any conditions.

I was about to call it a day when I walked past the usual roosting tree of the resident Spotted Wood-Owls. Despite their enormous stature, the dense foliage can hide them well. Well enough to get the better of yours truly on a few occasions. Today, I could only locate one bird and the gaps in the vegetation were my only window to observe this nocturnal hunter. But every daytime encounter with an owl never ceases to amaze and thrill.

Just in case you are wondering, the title of this post has absolutely nothing to do with the birds nor birding on that day. At the time of writing, the Malaysian government declared partial lockdown again with about two months to go before it is one year since the coronavirus spread its way into our lives and every Malaysian had to endure a lockdown for the very first time. So, it is back to square one and I do not have the faintest idea when this order will be lifted again. Hopefully everyone does what they are supposed to do and we can once again live (and go birding) with unconditional freedom.

Enjoy the little things

I awoke to a Saturday morning that was simply too beautiful not to be out in the field. It has been a while since my last visit to Sungai Burung – a local patch located at the south-western corner of Penang Island. The scenic drive that cuts through the central hilly region to get to the site is now marred with the massive construction of an elevated highway. Luckily, the site itself remained pretty much the same as I last left it. In fact, I found the rural landscape to be more captivating than usual today. Or perhaps it is because I have been away for far too long.

The Black-naped Oriole is one of the most attractive birds that occurs within human settlements. I came across one resting on an electrical cable and it appeared to be in no particular hurry to start off the day and neither was I. Besides, I could use some colours in my life right now and the radiant plumage of the Black-naped Oriole will certainly do.

Feral species usually do not do it for me but Barbary Doves are still relatively uncommon here in Penang. Two pairs were seen perched suspiciously just outside a village house. The doves could well be free flying pets as they exhibited very little fear of my approach.

One pair had no intentions to conceal their feelings for each other. And I guess in no time, Barbary Doves will be a regular sight here but hopefully, not the entire island. We have more than enough Feral Pigeons flying about everywhere as it is.

An immature Blue-tailed Bee-eater was also making full use of the electrical cables. Unlike the doves, the youngster was using this man made structure to hunt for breakfast rather than procreation.

Along the access road next to the mangroves, the resident Collared Kingfishers were certainly out and about. Most have paired up for the breeding season and their raucous calls constantly broke the serenity of the surroundings.

There were fewer White-throated Kingfishers present which is expected of this location. In birding, it is sometimes about quality rather than quantity and this one White-throated Kingfisher provided the best photo out of all the kingfishers I came across today.

There was a big downpour the night before but it still does not explain why this Dollarbird is looking so miserable and wet. Not when other birds are looking prime and proper.

Despite having to endure human trappers, both the Zebra Dove and its bigger cousin the Spotted Dove are doing surprisingly well. While birding along the edge of the mangroves, I came across numerous individuals of both species. And one exceptionally tame Zebra Dove managed to convince me to stop for a photoshoot. While enjoying some sunshine on the rocky divider between the access trail and the mangroves, the little guy literally ignored my approaching vehicle. With the lighting condition ideal and the subject at eye level, it was almost too good (and easy) to be true.

The doves might be enjoying the good life here but they better not let down their guard too often. In this healthy ecosystem, predators lurk. The Crested Serpent-Eagle generally prefer a reptilian diet but who is to say if it suddenly acquires a taste for avian meat.

Brahminy Kites are aplenty today and the majority of them were juveniles. It is a scavenger by nature but will take life prey when the opportunity presents itself and small birds are certainly part of its diet.

The Purple Heron has little to fear from these raptors as it is simply too big for them to overpower. It enjoys its time in the sun with very little worries. At this location, the only species that poses any real threat to it would be humans. But not this human for he has nothing but admiration the heron’s stately presence.

At the nearby estuary, Striated Herons are abundant and it has been that way for as long as I could remember. Immature birds lack the lovely plumage colouration of the matured birds.

An adult Striated Heron is an attractive water bird that most birders and bird photographers often take for granted. But today, I was not on tour nor was I on any twitching mission. Today’s excursion was a relaxed outing to a local patch just to catch up with all the birding I was deprived of by the government’s partial lockdown order. And I intend to enjoy the little things like giving the Striated Heron the attention it truly deserves.

Even the Pacific Swallow managed to grab hold of my attention today and that does not happen often.

This is one of the few locations on the island where the Large-billed Crow can still be seen regularly. There is no doubt they are losing out to the marauding House Crows and that is a shame. I like the Large-billed Crow more or maybe I am just biased towards the House Crows for all the misdeeds they are capable of doing.

I kept a look out for Javan Mynas as they have been recorded from the island as well. However, there were not many mynas around today and those few Jungle Mynas that came my way did not produce any surprises.

As I was driving next to the river, I was surprise to see five Grey Herons at a single spot each perched on a different but adjacent tree. It appeared to be like a small heronry and in all of years of birding here in the Pearl of the Orient, this is my biggest count to date.

Another notable personal count for the island was a group of six Red-wattled Lapwings. Long before I could see them, I could hear their loud call as I approached the paddy fields. I have seen Red-wattled Lapwings at this site irregularly through the years but always lone birds. This species is doing so well throughout the peninsular nowadays and there is really no reason for them not to thrive here as well.

A few all too familiar silhouettes glided across the sky before alighted on a flooded patch of the paddy fields. It was not unexpected but to finally know I share my island home with Asian Openbills was definitely the highlight of the trip. I do not think this is the first confirmed sighting from Penang Island but it does not really matter. These unique storks have settled in well just across the narrow straits that separate the island from the mainland. It was just a matter of time before a few decide to opt for an island life. Unlike the invasive Javan Mynas, these storks certainly have my welcome.