Flower-related turf war

Consecutive days of storm washed away any plans for birding this weekend. However, a visit to somewhere within the island of Penang was still viable. The Relau Metropolitan Park is a green area that I have not visited before. This park is located next to a residential area and as expected, it was not raining upon my arrival. I bet if I was at some far off birding hotspot, I will mostly probably be talking shelter from the rain. Murphy would have made sure of that.

This site happens to be one of Hor Kee’s local patches and according to him, the bed of Heliconias near the main building of the park is a good bet for foraging sunbirds. Although the Plain-throated Sunbird is one of the commoner species, I do not have as many photographs of it as I would like. Well, that certainly changed after today. A male bird seemed to have proclaimed this bed of flowers his and defend it vigorously from other nectar-loving species.

Although he was confiding, sudden erratic movements occasionally derailed my photographic efforts. Like all public parks, there will be the weekend crowd. Although it is not as bad as some other prominent parks, my gear and behaviour attracted the usual stares and questions. But I stood my ground. The resplendent plumage of the male, especially his upperparts, is worth the irritation.

He feeds in intervals. When not indulging he alights on the same nearby perch to rest, preen and keep a look out for intruders.

I was surprised when he went after a female that invaded his turf. However, shortly after I saw her savouring the sweet nectar right in the open. It looked like our boy realized his mistake and he has a soft spot after all.

The female was even more confiding and she soon had the undivided attention of not one but two males following her every move.

With the male Plain-throated Sunbird being so utterly aggressive, there is very little hope of any other species visiting the Heliconias. Since it is my first visit and all, I was eager to explore the remaining areas. Unfortunately, I did not have much opportunity to photograph except for a male Common Tailorbird that occasionally took a breather before commencing on his morning hunt for sustenance.

Near the far end of the park, I came upon a watch tower. Much to my delight, the surrounding trees were fruiting. So I was presented with a rare opportunity to observe and shoot an active fruiting tree at eye level. And of all places, it is at a modest residential park in my own island home of Penang. My faith in the island for providing exceptional birding experiences has been somewhat questionable of late.

Thoughts of guilt were running through my head as I climbed the steps up the tower. But those thoughts vanished when I caught sight of a handsome male Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.

He is one of the early arrivals as the migratory season will only peak in about a month’s time. It was a good encounter for a visit to a site so close to home. Could have been even better if he had been slightly more confiding.

The presence of a plainer flycatcher among the fruiting trees pulled me away from the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher. No, the elevation of the tower has not clouded my senses. With last season’s episode of the rare Narcissus Flycatcher still lingering at the back of my mind, the drab one was fully scrutinized for unexpected surprises. However, it turned out to be only a female Yellow-rumped Flycatcher and a camera-shy one as well judging from this one single photo that I managed to take.

I made myself comfortable at the tower and waited for what else that might drop in for a feed. Being surrounded by fruiting trees also has its drawback especially when one is alone. I had to constantly move around to make nothing slips pass my radar. Frustration started to set in when most of the patrons chose to feast among the furthest trees and often partially obstructed from view. You know, I would never had thought the Yellow-vented Bulbul would be so shy here...

The Black-naped Orioles made frequent brief visits to the loftiest branches. Enough said...

I was given only one chance to the photograph the Pink-necked Pigeon. It was after the flock has gorged themselves whilst completely hidden from view and a female bird alighted on an exposed perch before flying off with the rest of the flock.

Although there were hardly any notable species present, some the commoner did provide moments of delights during my time at this elevated stakeout. The Olive-winged Bulbul may be the second commonest bulbul on the island but it was still nice of it to provide some photographic opportunities.

The resplendent beauty of the Asian Glossy Starling is often difficult to capture accurately and lighting plays a major role here. Well today, I had ample time to attempt as quite a number of them were present at the fruiting trees.

Some of the starlings I captured appeared duller than the rest. But it was no fault of mine nor my equipment. They were subadults that have had to obtain the adult’s true splendour.

The tower provided me with a means to photograph the foraging starlings at eye level. With a little patience and luck, some of the images almost did these common but stunning birds justice. There is no denying the advancement in photographic equipment but I still feel that nothing beats first hand experience. The moment you lay eyes on the bird. The emotions that run through your soul. The conditions that you had to endure or savour. No photograph, no matter how remarkable, can ever capture those.

The forecasted storm finally started to show itself as the noon hour approached. I managed a few more shots of the starlings before the fruiting trees no longer show any signs of life. The vicinity grew dark and silent except for the distanced rumbling of thunder. It was then that I descended back down to Earth. Inevitably, I was caught by the downpour but am glad I decided to make this visit and enjoyed a few hours of unexpectedly rewarding birding.

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.

Good vibes...

Sometimes, you can immediately tell if a person is on the same page as you and getting along well will not be an issue. Well, my latest guests was a couple from Singapore and I felt nothing but good vibes from them. The mangroves of Sungai Batu was the first location of the day. The weather was not promising but the slight drizzle could not dampened their spirit. As we geared up to get the tour going, the drizzle came to a complete halt. When my guests revealed that they had a similar preference as yours truly (that is to handhold their photography gear), my initial gut feeling about this birding couple was right on. It was still gloomy when an Abbott’s Babbler came into view and this inquisitive little bird got the ball rolling.

The resident Puff-throated Babbler strutted about the muddy terrain as it went about its daily routine. The beautiful plumage, the amazing song and lovable character makes the Puff-throated Babbler one the most interesting birds to be encountered here.

A flash of brilliant colours caught our immediate attention and I knew exactly what it was. The bleak environment only enhanced the exquisiteness of the Mangrove Pitta. The sun may be shrouded by rain clouds but the vibrancy of this terrestrial beauty illuminates the surrounding just as well.

This is a sight I can never get bored of – a Pitta absolutely confiding and at ease in your presence. My guests mentioned that experiences are a big part of what they seek in birding excursions and if this performance is not one, I do not know what is.

I cannot help but to be slightly tickled by the gait of the White-breasted Waterhen. It is the most commonly encountered rail due to its decision to live a life less elusive than others of its kind. Having said that, it is still a rail and good views like these should not go unappreciated.

Some birds cut very distinct silhouettes even from a distance. The Green-billed Malkoha, the biggest of all in Malaysia, is one such bird. However, there was a slight hesitant me for to call it out this morning as this individual had a shorter looking tail. When we got closer, the doubt about the bird’s identity vanished and we were left with good views of a Green-billed Malkoha enjoying a breather in a short tree.

Our next destination of the day was the hilly forest of Sungai Sedim in Kedah state. The forest is truly an enchanted place. Not only does it house some of the most fascinating animals, it hides them from sight as well. A Grey-chested Jungle-Flycatcher was a first record for me at this site. It is understandable to overlook a small passerine but something as big as a Buffy Fish-Owl can also remained undetected until it decides to silently swoop across your path. It was a young bird and I can only assume there is a population of these nocturnal hunters here.

On the other hand, there are some diminutive forest bird that are quite conspicuous despite their size. Flowerpeckers are recorded regularly along the forested trails of Sungai Sedim. This time, it was a young Orange-bellied Flowerpecker that caught out attention. Lacking the vivid colouration of the adults did not deter the youngster from showing off to my foreign guests.

Spiderhunters are also well represented here and we managed to record three different species. The Grey-breasted Spiderhunter was the only one that provided a decent photographic opportunity when it rested briefly within its sanctuary up in the forest canopy.

It is quite safe to assume everyone knows what a woodpecker does best and the sound of a drumming woodpecker can ignite the spark to any birding excursion. A search among the middle storey of the forest revealed a female Buff-necked Woodpecker. It was testing conditions for photography and this was my feeble attempt to capture the striking plumage of this woodpecker.

It is wise to stop at any fruiting or you could risk missing out on a memorable birding affair. Unfortunately, only one species came for the fruits. But this one species was no ordinary forest bird. It was a Checker-throated Woodpecker and although the distance was not ideal for photography, this woodpecker was still a stunning subject.

On route to our last location of the day, we made a little detour in the hopes of capturing an intriguing nocturnal species that roosts within an empty plot of an industrial park. The Savanna Nightjars of Kulim Hi-Tech Park have provided numerous encounters that left quite an impression on my foreign guests. The plumage of these birds blend perfectly with their surroundings and if not for my encounters with them in the past, their presence can easily go undetected. Against the textures and colours of this concrete embankment, they are almost invisible.

A second bird was spotted not too far away and the detour was paying off handsomely. Unlike the first bird that looked remarkably like a stone, we could almost make out the shape of the bird as we approached it. Nightjars, like owls, are amazing representatives of the avian family tree and this episode with the Savanna Nightjars will go down as one of the highlights of the trip.

We took a leisurely pace to cover the elevated boardwalk of Air Hitam Dalam – our final destination of the day. The bird activity was nowhere near a good day at this local patch of mine. A young Crested Serpent-Eagle perched unobtrusively in the canopy level hoping to evade the humans intruding into its swampy domain. 

It was my guest that spotted the resting raptor and the sighting jolted the trip back to life...

This birding hotspot is a stronghold for the Mangrove Blue-Flycatcher. A handsome male was perched under pleasant lighting conditions and if you can turn away from such a beautiful sight, then you do not deserve to call yourself a birder.

The adult and immature Greater Racket-tailed Drongo was still loitering near the rear car park just like in my last visit here. The youngster looked relatively the same and was as confiding as ever.

The adult, however, lost a tail racket but that did not stop it from parading itself in front of a trio of birders. To capture the true splendour of its resplendent plumage can at times be difficult but not today. This common but impressive species wrapped things up for the day and it has been quite a day indeed. I guess good companionship also contributes to the outcome of a birding excursion at the end of the day.