Christmas came a little late

For the second consecutive month, a noteworthy species has been recorded showing well in Penang Island. Both these birds were discovered by godfather’s friend, Mr. Chn’g whom we helped start his conversion into a birder. The first bird was the resplendent male Van Hasselt’s Sunbird and for the second, he really outdid himself. It was the scarce migratory Chinese Egret which only a handful has been seen in the state for the past 30 years or so. The sunbird, with its spectacular colouration, naturally had crowds of birders paying homage to. A Chinese Egret in winter plumage do not possess such appeal but for a waterbird lover like yours truly (and a few others), the presence of this globally vulnerable egret is just as exciting.

It did not take long for me to find myself scanning the coastline off Karpal Singh Drive for the Chinese Egret only to fail on my first attempt. Dave, who was there as well, reassuringly stated that I should try in the morning despite the less favourable lighting conditions because the egret performed well for him earlier that day. Not exactly the start I hoped for to kick off my birding for the year 2019. Luckily, the location was only a 5 minutes’ ride from my home and I was back the next morning. As soon as I stepped on the rocky shoreline I could see a lone egret foraging and there it was, a Chinese Egret looking absolutely at home in this bleak landscape of mud and surf. It was rather confiding and I soon got myself into a good position to observe and photograph this beautiful egret. In fact, this is the closest I have ever been to a Chinese Egret and the pounding of my heart was the only thing I could hear at that time.

There was literally no cover for me on this beach. My human form was in full view of the egret and I had to improvise. I used my windbreaker to cover my head and upper body and crouched down uncomfortably among rocks lined with spiky barnacles. I could also feel the tide rising towards my ankles but none of that mattered. I could not be entirely sure if my plan worked or the egret was just tolerant to human presence. It gradually made its way ever closer to me and the encounter now was beyond words.

It is not easy to photograph white birds especially in harsh lighting conditions like this. I did the best I could as the Chinese Egret performed well as predicted. All my previous encounters with this species do not even come close to this. I was totally lost in the moment. This seaside drive is popular with anglers, joggers, walkers and all kinds of humans. No doubt I was drawing the usual stares with my antics but this is a Chinese Egret we are talking about and they can stare all they want.

The privileged visitor had a taste for the local prawns and it seemed quite apt in obtaining this succulent meal.

Egrets are often ignored in the field because most of the species that occur in Malaysia are common – even abundant. The two least encountered species would be the Chinese Egret and the Pacific Reef-Egret. And to see the two of them together like this is a true blessing.

The harsh lighting also made it difficult to obtain good images of this dark morph Pacific Reef-Egret. Being the second rarest egret, I was naturally eager to increase my digital collection of this attractive egret. Unlike the Chinese Egret, it is a resident that occurs throughout the year.

Both species look remarkably alike especially if it is the white morph Pacific Reef-Egret. Although Dave has confirmed the identity of the Chinese Egret, it was still a good opportunity to study the differences between the two species. I have made a few photo montages of the two species. It would have been better if the Pacific Reef-Egret was a white morph bird but I guess beggars can’t be choosers. And the differences, apart from colour, are subtle. For me, the most discerning would be the length of the tarsus and that would be difficult if the bird is seen alone.

I should be happy with the encounter and all the images I managed to obtain of the Chinese Egret. They are definitely my best to date. But the lighting was overwhelming at that time of the day and inevitably, I was back at this popular esplanade in the evening hoping to capture the egret in better light.

Like the previous evening, the egret was no where to be found. A lone Little Egret provided very little compensation despite performing well.

However, it was not a total waste of time. The resident Pacific Reef-Egrets were around and the better lighting conditions revealed the true beauty of this coastal waterbird. Against the rocky outcrops, the dark morph birds blend in quite well.

I focused all my attention on the Pacific Reef-Egrets because I do not have as many images of it as I should – especially not in this beautiful light. The plumage colouration is a lovely combination of blue and grey and could not help but to fall in love with these gorgeous creatures.

Living up to its name, the Reef-Egrets spend most of their time among rocks and reef. Compared to the Chinese Egret, I find that they take a more active approach when in pursue of prey and that makes them a better subject for photography. The lighting was bright enough to capture the movements of the latter most of the time and I was utterly grateful for that. One of egrets sports an all-dark bill and that made it a lot easier to distinguish the two of them.

This is my best and most intimate experience with the species to date. Just like the Chinese Egret, they exhibited very little fear of humans and came quite close to my position at times. They were so obliging that at one point, I almost forgot the main reason I am here for. Almost...

It was the same story the next evening as well. The disappointment was getting unbearable. I found out later that the Chinese Egret was foraging at another corner in the evenings and not in such close proximity. Dave even discovered a second Chinese Egret at that ‘evening’ location. I then took time to appreciate the other commoner species that I totally neglected during my past few visits. When it comes to common species, the Striated Heron will be one of the first few that comes to mind. Occurring in good numbers throughout the entire length of the island, it is the easiest heron to encounter. A true success story and again, it all boils down to its ability to adapt well to living alongside Man.

In coastal areas, the common White-throated Kingfisher no longer reigns but the equally abundant Collared Kingfisher does. A pair was present at the locality during every visit that I made. Their vocal nature and bright colouration make them rather conspicuous. There is a particular dead tree where they often use as both a resting and vantage perch. I found the pair here rather unperturbed by the presence of humans. I guess they have grown accustomed due to the popularity of this location as a recreational area. The Chinese Egret may have a thing for prawns but for the Collared Kingfishers, crabs are certainly on their menu.

Penang Island probably has the highest density of White-bellied Sea-Eagles in Malaysia and these majestic raptors can be seen regularly soaring effortless along coastal areas. I am blessed that I get to enjoy this impressive sight from my balcony as well. Anyway, a lone eagle was circling above the esplanade during one of my visits there and it certainly had my attention. I did not realise it at the time I took the shots but the eagle actually had something small in its massive talons and I am guessing it is a snack before retiring for the day.

On my fourth attempt to capture the Chinese Egret in the evening, I half-heartedly scanned the horizon for my target. I could make out two white egrets at a distance. The one closest to me was a Little Egret. The second bird was structurally difference and upon further scrutiny, had me running down the walkway like an Olympian sprinter. Once I regained my composure, I steadied myself and proceed to capture the images I have been longing for. Now, my experience with the Chinese Egret of Karpal Singh Drive is complete. And it is an uplifting experience indeed.

Gradually, the Chinese Egret wandered to the shore edge to forage and the still, blue waters certainly improved my image. The soft evening light cast a soothing hue on the celebrity guest and I made myself comfortable at a reasonable distance in anticipation of more photographic opportunities in this lovely condition. However as we all know, we are constantly tested in life. To my horror, the Chinese Egret suddenly took flight and disappeared from sight. The culprit was a fellow human with the intention to cast his net near the egret. A dozen nasty thoughts of what I can do this human with his nets crossed my mind. When logic and sense finally prevailed, I let it go. There is no way he could have known that I had waited four evenings for this moment. I do not even think he knows there is a frigging bird there in the first place. It is a public area after all and he has every right to be there as I do.

Christmas came a little late for me this time but better late than never. A Christmas angel decided to winter here along this modest coastline so close to home and provided me with one of the highlights of my birding life. The Chinese Egret is now in danger of becoming extinct and it is a shame for such an angelic creature to be suffering such a fate. I feel thrilled to be given the opportunity to enjoy such an intimate encounter with it. Dave proclaimed that this could be the bird of the year after his initial encounter. And he could be right. Here is one last image of the Chinese Egret to help prove mine (and Dave’s) point of view. Welcome, Year 2019!

The Penang Birder is 10 years old

My final birding excursion for the year was with a British guest currently based in the United Arab Emirates who is an accomplished birder and has a fair number of Southeast Asian birds under his belt. It was unfortunate I could only provide a half day tour due to the timing of his visit here to Penang. However, I was determined to make it a birding morning to be remembered. We started off at the forest of Sungai Sedim in Kedah state - the closest good site to home for forest birding. Initially, things were a little slow and a pair of Finsch’s Bulbuls were the only notable species recorded.

Then came the birdwaves midway through the visit and the forest came alive with bird calls and activities. Since Andrew is a birder as well, we scanned and scrutinized these mixed flocks with much enthusiasm. We were surrounded by warblers, babblers, bulbuls and flycatchers. Drongos are usually the head honchos for birdwaves and it is no different here. From these feeding frenzies, I even managed to capture a few images which is something that does not take place often due to the frantic movements of the birds.

Brown Fulvettas are regularly recorded in the forest here. Their musical whistle often serenade the locality from the dense foliage of the middle storey. True to its name, the bird’s physical appearance lacks any true splendour but there is always beauty in simplicity. Typical of tree babblers, the Brown Fulvettas moves about quite rapidly. One individual took a breather during the birdwave and provided this photographic opportunity.

The Spotted Fantail is the least encountered fantail species in Malaysia and the forest of Sungai Sedim is one of its strongholds. Its tendency to forage along the highest canopies and not to mention restless nature, make it a difficult species to photograph. On this occasion, it was on a high perch nevertheless but it stayed put for a significantly long time which was very unlike the species. Or any other species during a birdwave.

It is unusual for a migratory flycatcher to sing at its wintering grounds but the male Chinese Blue Flycatcher is an exception. As it would have been a lifer for Andrew, I tried my best to locate a male that was singing his heart out from the lower levels of the forest. My pleas fell on deaf ears and we hesitantly left the flycatcher to his singing in peace. But the Gods were kind today. A second male was heard later in the morning and unlike his comrade, he was not hesitant to show off his vivid colours. It was not a close encounter but because of the earlier disappointment, it was a much appreciated one.

There is one target that I needed to achieve for this trip. Luckily, it was not a tall order which is why we ended up at a modest residential park within the suburbs of Bukit Mertajam in mainland Penang. The Barred Eagle-Owl has somehow eluded Andrew so far but his hunt for this striking night bird came to an end today. Perched beautifully on its favourite roosting tree, one half of the resident pair of Bukit DO provided the bird of the day for my guest. It has been a while since I last saw a Barred Eagle-Owl and this encounter was a timely reminder of what an incredible bird this is.

Just when I thought that would be all for the day, all hell broke loose on the adjacent tree. A family of Black-naped Orioles was mobbing something and upon further scrutiny, I found the other half of this locally famous owl couple. Initially, I thought the orioles were mobbing the owl as the latter was in a full alert posture. But this pair of Barred Eagle-Owls has been roosting here for years and during all that time some uneasy truce must surely have been struck between the owls and the rest of the feathered residents. The reason for the commotion soon revealed itself in the form of a Green-billed Malkoha. Although it is non-parasitic, it is still a cuckoo. Thus, the unwanted attention from the orioles. The high drama, literally, was one heck of a way to wrap things up for this short trip and the year. I am certainly looking to another year filled with reflections of wings and inspiration.

The Penang Birder blog completes its 10-year presence online and it is one of my most treasured endeavours. All the comments and compliments I received through the years helped fuel me to carry on blogging especially in times when the words were not flowing out as freely as they should. And for that, I am most thankful. It is good to know that people actually take the time to read my blog and even better, enjoy the write ups. I do not know what the future holds as our environment continues to plummet likewise the bird population. And I am no spring chicken either. However, I always believe we should enjoy whatever it is while it lasts and for now, I do cherish birding and sharing the memorable experiences through my blog.

Year end delights - Part 2

The Muda Resort situated just outside the forest of Pedu Lake in Kedah state was our accommodation of choice for the night. I woke to my alarm an hour before dawn and I was about to conclude my simple breakfast when an all-too-familiar call filled the predawn sky. The call belonged to the Great Eared-Nightjar and it sounded really close. After rounding up my Singaporean guests, we watched in awe as a pair of these impressive night birds floated around just above our chalet. It was too dark for photography but for Seng Beng, his passion for sound recording kept him busy. For the two us, we soaked in the sight and it was surreal. I cannot find the words to describe the experience but these Great Eared-Nightjars provided one of the best moments in birding for me this year. The day was certainly off to a good start.

As soon as it got bright enough, we were back at the access road of Pedu Lake where we had an eventful outing just last night. The weather was again favourable but the true blessing was the level of bird activity and it was exceptionally high. A Black-bellied Malkoha glided into view and got the ball rolling. Despite their large size, malkohas can be difficult to photograph as they tend to scurry about hidden among the vegetation.

With a little patience and luck, eventually we were presented with a handful of opportunities to capture this lovely cuckoo in full view.

The Raffles’s Malkoha should be the commonest malkoha in the country but that does not make it any less appealing. Sexes are dimorphic and today, the female was much more obliging than the male. And lucky for us, she is just as striking as the male.

She came surprisingly close to our position on one occasion. Unfortunately, the dense foliage obscured parts of her beautiful plumage. It was frustrating but to be in such close proximity with an attractive female certainly set our hearts aflutter.

The male, told by his almost completely rufous plumage, revealed himself briefly before disappearing into the lush landscape where he remained for the rest of our visit here.

The Red-crowned Barbet may not be all that common throughout the country but here, it is one of the most conspicuous barbets. Good views are hard to come by and although this individual was resting and preening slightly lower than usual, it made sure that the chosen perch will not give too much of itself away to the eager birders present. I guess it was Mother Nature’s way of keeping us birders in check with reality.

A Crested Goshawk flew past overhead with such velocity neither birds (that form its prey) nor birders (that form its fan base) could react accordingly fast enough. I managed to press the shutter a few times before the raptor vanished and luckily, one shot came out relatively well given the circumstances.

The long grass area failed to deliver any White-bellied Munias as I had hoped for but a pair of vocal Rufescent Prinias provided some compensation.

A flutter of wings flying across the road turned out to be a male Scarlet-rumped Trogon and it would be a sin not to acknowledge his splendid colouration just because he can be more easily encountered than the others of his kind.

We had a surprisingly sumptuous lunch at a local eatery before proceeding to the next destination. I could not help but to be drawn to one of the pet cats found there. Birding trips naturally is all about the birds but sometimes, little things here and there do help to make it complete.

The sun was scorching down from the heavens above today and mid afternoon was probably the best time to wander around the paddy fields from the comforts of our vehicle. Initially, only the usual congregations of egrets were present today. However towards the end of the fields, we came across flocks of Grey-headed Lapwings. It has been about 10 years since this species was last recorded in Singapore and a few confiding individuals certainly had the attention of my guests. This locality is one of the main wintering grounds for this lapwing in Malaysia and despite my numerous encounters with it, this locally common migrant still has my attention especially well-behaved ones like these.

Our final destination for the tour was my local patch of Air Hitam Dalam. The birding scene here has trickled back to normal now that all the exciting passage migrants have continued their journey down south. Some of the migrants will stay for the entire winter and this Square-tailed Drongo-Cuckoo looked quite at home here in this freshwater swamp forest. Resting unobtrusively along the forest edge, it could have been overlooked if not for my vigilance at this particular area of the reserve.  

The Asian Koels are starting to make their presence felt with their characteristic territorial calls as the breeding season drawing near.  More often heard than seen, we were lucky today to have a female in full view as she gorged on a low fruiting tree.

The skies above this little piece of birding haven is usually not void of bird life. As evening approaches, the migratory Black Kites will start to return to their roosting site across the river. Often enough, they will provide an aerial display of elegance and agility before retiring for the day. With the light hitting the raptors from a favourable direction and my subjects in a showboating mood, my photographic attempts were well rewarded.

It has been a rewarding two days of birding here in northern Peninsular Malaysia. The weather was ideal, the birds were up and about and the companionship thoroughly enjoyable – all the right ingredients for a memorable birding adventure. As the three of us gazed at the Black Kites twist and twirl in the brilliant blue sky overlooking the Perai River, the feeling of contentment was undeniable. I could not have asked for a better way to conclude this trip.