Avian Sighting June2025 - Long-billed Spiderhunter

Its been awhile to see this rarity spiderhunter. I shot it in Fraser Hill 

 

Babbler (18/23) - Grey-breasted Babbler Lifer 2025 (578/688)

Opportunity  came in July 2025  when news arrived by Johor birders that a family of Grey breasted babbler (post nesting) were regularly sighted in Panti at one of the many trails there. You definitely need a local birder to guide you to seek this rarity babbler. As far as I have been birding  for 20 years I only know Panti Johor as one site to see this bird in Península abate East Malaysia sighting like at Sabah Poring. 

ID - It is a small to medium-sized bird of  12-15cm. It has Gray-breasted plumage as its name with distinct white throat and underparts. Bill is Slightly curved and slender, suitable for insectivorous diet. Eye color is Dark eyes, often appearing bold whote lore and black face. – Wing and tail: Shorter wings and a relatively long tail, which is often held downward. Typically found in pairs or small groups, often foraging in leaf litter or low shrubs in  dense undergrowth in humid forests or secondary growth areas. It produces a series of soft, melodious notes; listen for its distinctive vocalization.

Photo courtesy of AT

This gray-breasted babbler species stays in the middle storey of virgin lowland forest especially swampy and flooded terrain. In peninsula Malaysia it is found in central Pahang which I always try to search is in Krau Lancang but so far no such sighting. 

Photo courtesy of ML

 
 Like many other babblers they respond to your bird call  but this bird was a bit skittish in our encounter as there too many distraction from other birders also seeking the bird. It is known to mimic the calls of other bird species, which can sometimes confuse predators!
 We got just a window of 20 second or so to shoot in the early morning lighting. My Fuji XT4 failed me as it was not focussing well enough in the low like condition. There were a family of 3 birds we saw during this  post nesting period in July. It's  mimic unique hopping manner and perch on vertical stump branches like forest Wren babbler showcasing their agility and adaptability. 

Avian sighting May 2025 - Cupwing (Pygmy Wrenbabbler)

 Cupwing is not rare bird to see in Frasers Hill but a difficult bird to shoot at its port. It will take its turn to come out to feed on the mealworm offered by birders. It will flutter its wings and will be hopping everywhere before retreating back into the bushes. I need to be shooting at 1/60s if it is in the shades to really freeze its motion. Some more the window to shoot often is in seconds.................... 

Avian sighting in the month May 2025 - Lesser Shortwing

The shortwing couple are very active  at the FH Gate junction  towards Mager Road. I guess mating and breeding season is here. This a first sighting for me here . Use to see it at UluKali Genting highland but now the port is sadly been prohibited. In Frasers  there are several port to see this bird  The Paddock parking as one and the other is Glen corner and Hermant's

Its cousin White-browed Shortwing (Himalayan) can be seen in Kinabalu Park The only difference is the more broader prominent white brow and the male belly is darker compared to the Lesser

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Avian Sighting March 2025 - Malayan Rail Babbler

In the month of March 2025 I joined AT to shoot the rare and shy MRB in Hulu Langat. The bird have been visiting the port regularly for the past month though it may skip the port if there is too much human activity or the presence of aggresive bird or predator. We were told that it did not showed up the day before. So we were optimistic  to hear its call early in the morning and we patiently wait for it to come out to the open log port.

We rendezvous at  the foothill before driving uphill to the port at 6.30am. The laterite road  is manageable during dry weather but it can be horrendous muddy and slippery otherwise. So it is not advisable  if you are driving a sedan car. By the time we reached the place it was already full of birders and the place was still in dim lighting. We were lucky to squeeze into 2  more spots at the far edge but nearer to the tree trunk. 

The MRB showed up as early as 7.30am in low light condition and then another 2 times during the morning session as we adjourned from the port after 12.30pm.

Besides the star bird  we managed to shoot the female Siberian blue Robin, Black capped Babbler, Yellow naped Fc and Short-tailed. fortunately there were no squirrels other than the cameo Bell's Dragon Lizard. Canopy birds were also present like the Asian Paradise, Malkoha 

 

Bird sighting March 2025 - Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler & Black-browed Reed warbler

Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler

I was travelling to Ipoh last weekend and I detoured to Chui Chak for some bird watching. The first bird to see was this migrant bird It was still around which may overstay or take residence in Malaysia.

 At the same spot along the main track into Chui Chak padi field I also got some good open shots of the Black-browed.  Though they are not lifers I happy to get some better photos in the open abate the glaring lighting..............

Black-browed Reed warbler

In Chui Chak the replanting of Rice Padi has just completed and the farmers are spraying pesticide I spend just 3 hours there as the weatherwas rather sunny and hot.

Avian sighting June 2024 - Barred Eagle Owl

Barred Eagle Owl is a common sighting in suburb  parkland and pocket garden in cities in Malaysia. This juvenile bird was seen in my housing estate garden park in the early evening near my house in Ayer Panas.  At that time while I was in my porch I notice there were rowdy  bird harrassing calls in neighbor fruit trees. I suspected there must be bird of prey around so I venture out to look for it. Then I saw a bird bird flew across my house to a huge Raintree with smaller birds chasing it. Later managed to sight it perch on a horizontal branch.  

Juvenile birds are more approachable and this bird is the same and it came down to a lower branch about 25 feet from us. Luckily my curious neighbor was there to help me to hold the torch light to flash from offset position so as not to get "red eyes" photos. After shooting for 10- 15 minutes we left it there ...................