New Year Blues...(01/01/2016)

The dawn of a new year was fast approaching. I have cramped myself uncomfortably among the nooks of a coastal rocky outcrop to hide my human form as best as I could. Beyond the outcrop, mudflats as far as the eye could see. However, I am here in this bleak environment along the north-western coastline of mainland Penang on my own free will. Somewhere out there is a first record for Malaysia and I have been looking forward to this for the past few days. At first light, I ushered in the first day of the year in the company of 10,000 waders and it is a true privilege to be able to witness such a breathtaking sight in my home state of Penang. And just in case anyone from the local authourities is reading this, if this is not an Important Bird Area (IBA) worth conserving, I swear to God I do not know what is.

However, the spectacle of such a high concentration of these fascinating birds could not hold my attention for long. Soon, I was scanning the surroundings for gulls and my heart skipped a beat when I found the first flock at the edge of the tide. Hor Kee found Malaysia's first Slender-billed Gull a few days ago and that is the sole reason for my visit here. After a couple of hours, Brown-headed Gulls were all that I had. The Slender-billed Gull is not that easy to distinguish from the commoner Brown-headed Gull to begin with. But I have scrutinised the gulls present today well enough to admit that the new year is not off to a very good start.

The descending tide did not provide comfort as well and the waders foraged further and further away from the shoreline. With about an hour's birding remaining in my New Year Day celebration schedule, I decided to make a bee line to my favourite local patch at Air Hitam Dalam. I could certainly use a little spiritual replenishment from this birding hotspot. My New Year morning birding excursions are usually a time to relax and reflect on life but not this time. It was just a whole lot of eye straining, anxiety and swearing. However, a Crow-billed Drongo on an exposed perch in good light set things right again. It may not be able to completely erase the earlier disappointment with the gull but it was an exciting encounter nevertheless. I wondered how even a 'black' bird like this drongo is able to stimulate my senses. And I could not find any good answers except for the fact that I love birds. Being able to observe and photograph these wonders of nature has always been my true passion in life. The birding world here is not quite the same as it was when I first started but so long as there are havens like Air Hitam Dalam and the birds continue to inspire and amaze, I will always be able to find my sanctuary.

A big flock of Ashy Minivets were seen combing the canopy levels for insects and other forms of prey but they were moving at such a vigorous pace making photography very challenging. The dense vegetation that the Minivets seemed favourable of was another setback. 

Perched unobtrusively at the mid-canopy level, this Indian Cuckoo would have gone unnoticed had I have been less vigilant. Cuckoos usually betray their own presence with their persistent calls and the same applies to this species. However, the ones found at this locality are winter visitors and tend to be silent throughout their stay at this tropical retreat.

I have a keen interest in all kinds of wildlife and although on a lesser scale for butterflies, a confiding one will usually get my attention especially when I am taking a breather in between birding. It is not as brilliantly-coloured as some of the other species but it does make a nice addition to my database of insect photographs. It is always good to broaden one's horizon, right?

The lone female Tickell's Blue Flycatcher of Air Hitam Dalam was her usual confiding self as she rested among the undergrowth. The dim lighting (and my photographic gear) may have robbed her of some of her vibrancy but she is still as captivating as ever.

Her companion, a handsome male Mangrove Blue Flycatcher (it's complicated), posed ever so invitingly on a better-lit section of the undergrowth. These flycatchers have played a significant role in my birding tours throughout the year and it is only right that I let them wrapped up this short excursion this time. Dipping out on the Slender-billed Gull was a bitter pill to swallow but luckily, it lost its grip on me by the time I reached home. And I was able to be good company to my better half for the second half of my New Year Day celebration schedule. 

One last trip for the year (27/12/2015)

The journey from the Royal Bintang Hotel where I picked up Matthew, my latest guest who hails from the land down under, to Air Hitam Dalam did not take as long as I anticipated. Upon arrival, it was still dark but the birding hotspot was far from dead. Large-tailed Nightjars were establishing their territories one last time before seeking refuge from the light of day and Mangrove Blue Flycatchers signal the arrival of a brand new day with their repertoire of sweet whistles. The atmosphere provided the perfect built-up for the birding to come and we waited in anticipation for the break of dawn.

One of the first birds to greet us was a pair of Olive-winged Bulbuls. Occasionally, this bulbul can be rather confiding and this is certainly of those occasions. One of them was calling persistently and I can only assume it is the male establishing his territory. With the breeding season around the corner, it comes as no surprise when throughout this visit we encountered more birds pairing up.

There are quite a number of successful species here at Air Hitam Dalam like the Mangrove Blue Flycatchers. They are truly thriving in whatever is left of this swamp forest and have perfectly adapted to the lifestyle here. The pair that holds the territory at the rear car park area is the one that is most frequently encountered and photographed. And today, as expected, they provided another memorable performance for my guest to enjoy.

The resident pair of Brown Boobooks roosting next to each was the highlight of the trip. No matter how many times I have encountered them before, they still do it for me. Daytime sighting of owls is always exciting to me and photographing two in a single frame, no matter how common the species is, is a treasured experience.

The characteristic calls of the Collared Kingfisher drew our attention to the canopy where we saw a pair also preparing for the coming breeding season. Love is certainly in the air...

There are no woodpeckers in Australia and I really wanted to show one to Matthew. The star woodpecker of the locality, the Streak-breasted Woodpecker, did a fly-by which was too brief to ignite any sense of awe and excitement. The Banded Woodpecker, on the other hand, made sure that my guest goes home with a memorable encounter of an Asian woodpecker.

The male Banded Woodpecker is a beautiful representative of the forest here and his decision to be so confiding today amazes me as well. This close encounter is a great way to wrap things for this time. In fact, it is a great way to end the year as well. 2015 has been an amazing year and I am truly blessed to be able to experience all the excitement, beauty and fascination the birds provided. I also want to wish each and every one a Happy New Year.

A partridge on a pear tree

All partridges are elusive, shy and have the uncanny ability to hide well especially from birders. The Chestnut-necklaced Partridge is one of the rarest species that occur here in Peninsular Malaysia. You are more likely to see Santa in his open sleigh cruising in the skies above. However, unexpected things do happen in birding and encountering a Chestnut-necklaced Partridge so close to the edge of a forest is certainly one of them. The call of this elusive game bird was the first sign of its presence during one of our birding excursions and at such close distance, it was deafening.

The partridge was on no pear tree but we were so adamant in obtaining better images that leeches, ticks, snakes and God knows what else momentarily do not exist on our forest floor. We tried to remain as silent and still as possible while praying for a better view but that was easier said than done. And to make matters worse, I was quivering with excitement. But Christmas came early this year and the partridge tolerated our presence and gradually showed us more of its true beauty. This is one of the best and most exciting resident lifers we ever had. Terrestrial forest birds are notoriously difficult to observe in the wild. It takes as much luck as it takes field craft to see one well. And today, we were probably the luckiest birders in the world.

The partridge foraged, preened, rested and was totally at ease during our observation. The soft chuckling notes it made while foraging melted my heart away. If I was not seated on the forest floor, my knees would have given way. Things got even more interesting when it started establishing its territory again with those prolonged bursts of loud and wavering calls. I found out from my wife the morning after I was whistling the partridge’s call, which is now embedded deep in my subconscious mind as well, in my sleep. Now, that is what I call a lasting impression.

By the way, we did end up with multiple leech and tick wounds after the encounter. But what are a few bites for a lifer that I am willing to risk a limb to get. We hauled ourselves out of the forest muddy, bloody and sweaty but with a wide grin and a distinct bounce in our stride. This encounter with the partridge was simply electrifying. Being so close to it evoked some feelings that I had not felt for a very long time. It was certainly an experience that is up there among the best. 

Christmas cheers

Chandru is an avid birder from India who is currently based in Singapore. He has a soft spot for raptors and proposing a birding itinerary for him was easy. The two of us were scanning the grasslands of Chuping, realm of the raptors, at first light.

I have been neglecting the Black-shouldered Kite that is fairly numerous here because it is also numerous throughout country. It was my guest's enthusiasm that reminded me what a beautiful and elegant raptor it truly is.

It took the raptors slightly longer than usual today to show up and excite and entertain with their grace, agility and beauty. Well, better late than never and it was the Pied Harriers that got the ball rolling. A juvenile and a female were seen quartering the grasslands together. However, only the female floated close to our position and provided ample photographic opportunities.

The male, being the most sought after, appeared the last - naturally. Hunting low over a field of Kenaf (thanks, Hor Kee for the identity of the crop) in bloom, his striking plumage and graceful flight set against a meadow-like background was a breathtaking sight indeed.

He provided yet another performance that will forever to crave into my memory regardless of the result of my photographic attempts to capture the moment. The performance deserved a standing ovation which I would have given had I been alone. I just could not risk making my guest think that maybe I have been out in the field for too long.

On the adjacent field, a female Common Kestrel was just finishing up a meal on the ground level. Exactly like the last trip, the girl was in no mood for any close up encounters and this was the best image I could obtain.

The Short-toed Eagle is known to hover as it hunts for food. I have yet to witness that behaviour until today. At that distance, there was no point for me to even hope that the images will turn out good.

When it did come closer, the hunt was over and the snake eagle was on normal flight mode again.

In between all the jaw-dropping performances by the raptors, a confiding female Brown Shrike managed to distract our attention for a brief moment.

It would have also been a sin to ignore this Zitting Cisticola that alighted on wooden stake right in front of us. Although it is common at this locality, good views of it are certainly not. 

Chuping had one last surprise in store for us before we proceeded to the next birding location of the day. It is, after all, the week before Christmas. A pale medium-sized raptor was seen perched on a rubber tree sapling and as we were making our way out of the maze of access trails that cut through the grasslands. To my dismay, it took flight as soon as I had my camera on it. My pleas gradually turned to swears as the mystery raptor was adamant on getting as far away as possible in a straight line before disappearing behind a row of tall trees. I was devastated. A quick review on my LCD screen offered no help to the identity of the bird. Perhaps it was my emotional state at the time but my mind drew a blank. Later back home, Dave is quite sure it was a juvenile Oriental Honey Buzzard. And once again, this highly variable buzzard got the better of me.

It was afternoon when we entered the virgin jungle of Bukit Wang in Kedah. Home to numerous exquisite forest dwellers, this birding site has all the potential of making a birding excursion truly memorable. Apart from a pair of Black-and-yellow Broadbill that offered teasing glimpses, nothing much was about. Nothing that is except for a soaring Jerdon's Baza!

Kindly let me elaborate the reason behind the usage of the exclamation mark in my last sentence. The Jerdon's Baza is a small but striking raptor that is rarely recorded in Peninsular Malaysia. This is my second ever sighting and although it was miles away and under the harsh afternoon sun, this encounter alone was worth the journey to this locality.

Our third and final destination for the day was the paddy fields at Kubang Semang in mainland Penang where enjoyed the wonderful companionship of the flocks of Black-winged Stilts and not forgetting a handful of Ruffs and plenty of Grey-headed Lapwings. The day may have come to an end but I still have another morning excursion with Chandru the next day and I decided it would be time to introduce him to my feathered friends at Air Hitam Dalam in mainland Penang.

The Crested Serpent-eagle is a regular at this birding hotspot and my guest made his intention clear about this raptor when I informed him about it. A good and clear shot and his day will be done. Mission accomplished...

The Abbott's Babblers kept us from exploring other parts of the forest by being so confiding and obliging.

It is frustrating to photograph malkohas as they are always on the move and slightly hidden by the vegetation. You require luck more than anything else to obtain good shots of the Green-billed Malkoha. An obstructed, bad-lighted image is all you get sometimes.

There is one species that is remarkably easy to photograph at this locality and it is none other than the Mangrove Blue Flycatcher like this male resting among the undergrowth. He probably felt he was not doing the best he could and hopped up onto an open perch which was at eye level. That's a good boy...

This female Tickell's Blue Flycatcher has been frolicking with male Mangrove Blue Flycatchers for a few years. I am not sure if it is because of personal preference or the absence of male Tickell's Blue Flycatchers at this site. Even her own identity is in question as she does not fully fit the bill for a Tickell's Blue Flycatcher. But whatever it is, she is just as confiding as her companion. This complicated girl wraps things up for another memorable birding weekend. I would also like to take to this opportunity to wish all those celebrating a Merry Christmas.