Mountain Peacock-pheasant
The opportunity came in the guidance of Dr Chan and Sharon. As a courtesy I asked him if I can join him eventhough I was first on site with the same intention to see the MPP. He was reluctance of sort but I am not taking it hands down so I insist my desire to be there whether they like it or not. Sharon was ok though. In the end both of us walk off as friends as we exchange calling cards.
The wee morning in Bukit Tinggi experience a drizzle which sort of muffled our present and clicking of our camera. The gregarious pheasants are very sensitive to human presence and will scoot away if they felt threatened. So no multiple shots, flash and remember to put the camera into silent mode shooting if your camera has one. A hide is a necessity. As for me I stayed behind their hide using my poncho and lie low using the surrounding. It work! We got a good window of 15-20 minutes to snap away but only a handful of shots were sharp enuf for posting as I was shooting at speed of 1/30 ISO1600 in the low light condition.
It is currently only known to be found in central Peninsular Malaysia, although there is growing evidence of its presence in extreme southern Thailand. So it is endemic to Malaysia and can be found in the Main Range from the Cameron Highlands south to the Genting Highlands, in the Larut Range to the north-west, and on eastern outlying peaks Gunung Tahan and Gunung Benom. There are recent records from at least 12 localities, at two of which it has been described as common. Total numbers are likely to be small, owing to its highly restricted range and general relative scarcity within it. At present, the population is believed to be declining slowly.
The opportunity came in the guidance of Dr Chan and Sharon. As a courtesy I asked him if I can join him eventhough I was first on site with the same intention to see the MPP. He was reluctance of sort but I am not taking it hands down so I insist my desire to be there whether they like it or not. Sharon was ok though. In the end both of us walk off as friends as we exchange calling cards.
The wee morning in Bukit Tinggi experience a drizzle which sort of muffled our present and clicking of our camera. The gregarious pheasants are very sensitive to human presence and will scoot away if they felt threatened. So no multiple shots, flash and remember to put the camera into silent mode shooting if your camera has one. A hide is a necessity. As for me I stayed behind their hide using my poncho and lie low using the surrounding. It work! We got a good window of 15-20 minutes to snap away but only a handful of shots were sharp enuf for posting as I was shooting at speed of 1/30 ISO1600 in the low light condition.
It is currently only known to be found in central Peninsular Malaysia, although there is growing evidence of its presence in extreme southern Thailand. So it is endemic to Malaysia and can be found in the Main Range from the Cameron Highlands south to the Genting Highlands, in the Larut Range to the north-west, and on eastern outlying peaks Gunung Tahan and Gunung Benom. There are recent records from at least 12 localities, at two of which it has been described as common. Total numbers are likely to be small, owing to its highly restricted range and general relative scarcity within it. At present, the population is believed to be declining slowly.
Mountain Peacock-pheasant, also known as Rothschild's Peacock-pheasant or Mirror Pheasant is a medium-sized ground bird. It can grow up to 65cm long, greyish brown pheasant with small ocelli and long graduated tail feathers. Both sexes are similar. The male has metallic blue ocelli on upperparts, green ocelli on tail of twenty feathers and two spurs on legs. Female has black ocelli on upperparts, unspurred legs and tail of eighteen feathers. The female is smaller and duller than male.
The diet consists mainly of berries, beetles, worms, ants and all sort of critters and crawlies they find on the ground.
It is sedentary in lower and upper montane evergreen forest, including elfin forest, from c.820 m to at least 1,600 m, and was once found at 1,800 m. It is usually found in steep areas or along ridges with exposed corestones, some bamboo and climbing palms. It is less vocal than other members of the genus, and is hence less easily detectable.
Revisited the place November 2015 Managed to show the male (picture below) this time at close quarters.
No comments:
Post a Comment