Avian Sighting 9/100 - Dusky Broadbill

This is the first time I am sighting  this Broadbill at close quarters of 25 ft. This adult Dusky was chasing after a flying hopper  close by where I was standing. Later it turn around and faces me and suddenly swopped over me and snared the green hopper with its broad bill ......get it. I even managed to video the feeding but alas blocked by a twig. Will post it once converted.

It was in a group of 5 birds. It stayed for quite a bit of time. The others were at the higher canopy. Amongst its species the dusky is less seen because they tends to stay at higher canopy and have a wide range.  For the record this is my first encounter in Bukit Rengit Pahang.

Avian Sighting 8/100 August 2015 - Blue-eared Kingfisher

 This is my sharpest shot of this resident  of Kemensah  side of Klang Valley so far. Most of the time its soft because of poor lighting and no close up opportunity. I usually do not have the patience to sit and wait unlike other bird photog.  I was lucky  to able to approach this adult upto 20 feet . This shot was taken in bright overcast sky. Speed 1/180 f5.6 ISO 500 with mirror up live-view focus  on my ole EOS7D. Even then with "bib-bob" head movement  makes it more difficult to get sharp pictures.




The juvenile (cheek rufous-picture 2&3 below) is still tagging along its parent (4 weeks already). I encounter both of them flying up and down the stream along IsiRimba and on  several time perched over the fishing pond which the adult occasionally dive in to catch guppies which it then fly into the darker undergrowth to feed. I did not see the
Adult  feeding the juvenile and I think it is now
observing whether its underling can fend for itself.

The wet looks of the adult after going into the pond

Avian Field Report 13/100 August 2015 - Sungai Congkak

On a beautiful Sunday I was contemplating whether  to dropped by Sg Congkak or Gunung Nuang. Sg Perdik is not a happening place as the army regularly carry out training and manoeuvre at that stretch. So took the nearest locale with the hope of seeing Great Slaty or Great Iora . Reaching the place at pass 8am nobody else were there. Later they trickle in one and two at a time until there are about a dozen of us in camaderie Some came for the OD Kf; some for the RC Kf some to check out the Indian cuckoo fledgling. Many trees are fruiting bringing a myriads of bulbuls and white eyes.  I also finally meet with Foo the "start-up"  and Henry the president. Nice fella this 2..............















A hybrid female  jungle fowl with 3 chicks were feeding at the carpark area. It probably belongs to  orang asli there I suppose.

Purple naped sunbird were competiting for the fruits with the other birds.

The post nesting of the Indian Cuckoo by the B&Y broadbill was over as the fledgling has left the roost. A missed chance.



The Lesser Cuckooshrike is a resident here and it a sure see bird in Sg Congkak. The male was not seen or too discreet to be sighted. they were also feeding on grubs amongst the bulbuls.

The Large Woodshrike  is my first encounter here in Sg Congkak. The ones seen in the highland of Awana are more greyish than brown of the lowland?

The Grey-bellied Bulbul usually keeps to the middle canopy of about 20-25 ft and I seldom see them coming down to eye level........

The Rufous KF were very obliging and easy shooting here in Sg Congkak. Thanks to the guys that baited the pair with fish fries.

The Rufous collared KF however was a no show that weekend.


























The Checker-throated Woodie kept it distance eying us So you got to shot from afar Any time you move closer they will just change location or fly into the forest.





A party of chattery Rufous  Fronted Babblers were sighted along the road  trail.

Surprisingly they did not response to my playback. Maybe there are juveniles amongst them and the parent are avoiding half a dozen bird photogs.  Grey headed Babblers were also sighted by the others but I was not so interested

 

 

A family of  Yellow-eared Spiderhunter  were also in full force. I counted 4 of them. 

A single  Yellow-bellied Warbler came close to me near the stream and stayed for awhile giving me some good photo opportunity inspite of the low light condition.

The Black Magpie was the last bird I see there which just pop up above my head. Got a few shots before it hopped on the branch and then flew off.

Avian Field Report 12/100 July 2015- Awana Genting

 

End of July  I was alone birding in Awana  side of the world circa 680m ASL. With no real target bird but to distress away from the bustling busy life and just to enjoy the cool air of the highland.  Apart from bird, the trees are flouting flowers and butterflies are aplenty.

 

The rarity catch today  is the White hooded Babbler which can also can be sighted in Bukit Frasers  Gap side. just look out for bamboo outcrops which they forage. Time 9-10am.

There are many juveniles flying about -past post nesting but  minus the parent. First was the Red-bearded Bee eater.

Then the juvenile Little Pied Flycatcher  showed up. It was a bit curious to see me coming as close as 15 ft. What to do I am new to it.

 

The Lesser Yellow-naped and its juvenile stayed too faraway for a good shot. In Malaysia this woodpecker prefers the submontane forest upto 1,000m ASL.

The Blue -winged Minla is a common sight here. Today they were a bit shy and kept their distance in the upper canopy.

I have never come across so many White-eyes.  More than a dozen Everett's White-eyes foraging party came close looking for fruiting berries. They can get noisy when they are frenzy foraging in a bird wave.



On the way out a pair of Helmeted Hornbills flew in off the ravine giving a 3 minutes window to compose and position my shot but still it was a bit too faraway for a good shot. See my previous posting.

Avian Sighting 7/100 July 2015 - Helmeted Hornbill

Helmeted Hornbill is a rarity for me. This is my  only second time that I chance on this majestic bird. This time a bit nearer but still about 50 meters away. Heavily crop. There is a resident pair near Awana Genting. It a breeding pair.  Hope to see a nesting soon.  Helmeted have the longest tail amongst its species equalling its body length!

   Suddenly the pair took flight and flew across the track and I have take the shots at my camera setting which I already set at 1.5+ compensation against the harsh light. Luckily the auto setting got it at 1/1000s which freezes the bird in flight while panning during that one chance.