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MikeBirder - Malaysian Birds

Hi

Welcome to my Malaysian Birding Blog. I migrated to blogspot.com as my blog at multiply.com closed shop in 2012. I wish to showcase all Malaysian birds that I have photographed whether here or overseas. My countdown of lifers started in 2005. Coming to Oct 2022 my countdown of lifers photograph has reached
559/688 species of birds of Malaysia in photos.

My shooting gear was a EF400mm f4 DO lens and Canon 7D body which to me is the ideal setup for mobility and bird chasing at that time. Eventhen the weight over my shoulder is more that 5.5 kg. As of June 2016 I have also acquired a Fuji XF 100-400mm OIS lens to complement my travelling cum birding trip overseas. My Fuji X-T2 went kaput recently and I upgraded to the X-T5 in 2023 ; the weight over my shoulder is much lighter now by 30%. In December 2018 I acquired the Nikon Coolpix P1000 as supplementary camera for distance shooting of 3000mm.
Fuji have finally made available their new XF 200-600mm lens which I yet to decide to spend another RM10,000. As for Fuji body I will stop with X-T5 36megapixel ..........

I am a weekend birder. Do feel free to drop me a line at mikebirding@gmail.com and I see whether you can tag along in my outings. My usual day trip is just an hour ride away to Hulu Langat, Lancang, Kemensah, Krau, Awana, Hulu Kali, Gombak Ole Road, Fraser's Hill , Bukit Tinggi and KSNP & Coastal Sg Janggut Jeram side of the coast . Overnite trip to Merapoh & Cameron, Air Hitam and further north to Kuala Sidim is a seldom affair but for lifer we travel. Panti in Johor is another good birding site that I yet to go. Then there are the Borneo birds of Sabah and Sarawak of Malaysia which I seriously much go to chalk up more lifers. This I did in 2018 to Sepilok Sandakan and Kinabalu Park. Next Danum and LahatDatu.......

WARNING Birding is an addiction once you started its hard to stop. The wifey and children are now birding widow and orphan.

ALL PHOTOS IN THIS BLOG ARE COPYRIGHT OF MIKEBIRDER. KINDLY SEEK PERMISSION FROM THE OWNER IF YOU want to use them for commercial purposes.

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Tuesday 9 July 2013

PITTA 1/7 - Mangrove Pitta


 
Its been awhile for me to get new lifer I am glad to chalked up this resident Pitta of Malaysia last weekend. Courtesy of my birding buddy JT. With the breeding season over the Mangrove Pitta in Port Klang are still active.

Measuring 180–210 mm (7.1–8.3 in) in length, the Mangrove Pitta has a black head with a buff-coloured crown, white chin and buff underparts. The shoulders and mantle are greenish and the vent is reddish. Juveniles have similar patterned plumage but are duller. It resembles the Blue-winged Pitta but can be distinguished by its much heavier bill.
 
They need strong beaks like the stork billled KF in the mangrove river flats to grab and dig for crustachean, mollusks and terrestrial insects. They seldom go beyond mangrove and coastal mudflats.

Its call, transcribed as wieuw-wieuw has been noted to be "more slurred" than the Blue-winged Pitta.

The Mangrove Pitta is native to the Southeast Asian countries of: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and southern Thai peninsula. Its natural habitat is specialised and restriction to subtropical or tropical mangrove forests and Nipah palm stands. It is threatened by habitat loss. In Malaysia; coastal mangrove forests are suffering severe pressure through clearance for fuelwood, charcoal production and construction materials, for the development of fish and shrimp ponds. Worse is alienation of forest reserve for housing development and opening of cultivation land is fast depleting the Mangrove forest of Port Klang. Very sad indeed if this continue.

Pittas are noted for being difficult to study and spot in the wild. However Mangrove Pitta is one of the easier ones to see in their natural habitat as it do sits high up in mangrove trees and calls. It is territorial in nature and will responds to call if another bird approaches their domain. It tends to be vocal while brooding but quiet at other times. Nesting is usually in May to June during the wet season here.




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