I was back in Alor Setar to attend a wedding dinner with the family. It was the long weekend of 1st May weekend. The highway was already pack with cars when we hit Rawang at about 11.30 am on Saturday. As usual we exited Behrang to take the trunk road to avoid the stop go traffic on th NSE which is very fustrasting and accident prone.
Later we have street food at Sg Petani Clock Tower Foodcourt at about 6.30pm. We are surprise the price of food is still reasonable compared to Ipoh ie The Lobak RM9.00 for 5 varieties, Laksa RM3.50 KueyTeow Theng RM3.00 HoChean RM7.00 and Sugarcane RM1.50 and Har Mee RM3.20. We reach Alor Setar almost to 8.30pm and immediately hit the sack after a nice bath.
The next morning woke up at 6.00am and ready to go. Reaching AHD Educational Forest at 7.45am. There were a few Penang birders already in action. Dr Neoh and son were the first I see there. Then met Birder Ooi and Lee waiting for the Ruddy at the end of boardwalk adjoining the. backside carpark. Later reaching the carpark I met a threesome lead by James Neoh luring the Blue-winged. I must say the the Penang kias are a friendly lot. They are eager to part their experience and view to me a fellow birder.
Here are some of the many residents of AHD Educational Forest that you can see here. If you are lucking you may see the Spotted Wood Owl or my elusive Great-eared Nighjar roosting in the day here.
At the open bund track you can find waterbirds and raptors hanging around like the Braminy,
Black Kite and Crested Serpent.
Theres is a resident pair of Common Flame WP
The Bluey Mangrove and Tickell's Flycatchers are easy catch here and are approachable and confiding.
At the carpark area there are plenty of opportunity to shot the Abbott's and Mangrove Fc in the open. At about 10.30 am the lovely Blue-winged Pitta show up but still not confident to come to the ground to feed as we waited. I got my shot and left James and his gang; to hunt for Ruddy when its call was alerted by James that its here..................
Ooi was saying the Ruddy has a favorite perch where he set up his gear as we waited. Dr Neoh came by and spotted the Streak-breasted and there I have my first lifer of the day. The Woodie just perch there for awhile looking at us as we snap away. After the Woodie left we waited as the clock ticks away to 12 noon and my tummy is aching for food.
Not long after that the loud kek-kek- kek call was heard and everyone was looking high and low for the Ruddy but I cannot see it possibly behind some undergrowth. Apparently this bird stays quite low and seldom go high in the canopy.
The Neohs prefers to walk about than staying put in a spot especially with smoking birders is a health hazard hehehe. Their contention is that the birds tends to fly around the place which I also of the same view. In a way its keeps the heart beating and the strolling helps people like me who seldom work out.
A candid shot of a juvenile macaque with a coconut shell as if waiting for alms. I must say there is many marauding macaques here just like in Kuala Selangor Nature Park and they may be quite intimating when they show their fangs. Careful if you have food with you as they can pounce on your food if you are not vigilant.
In the month of May is the peak of mating & nesting period. A pair of mating Fantail was sighted On top a dead tree a Common Myna is already feeding its offspring in a hollow stump. The Abbot's Babbler were also nesting as the parents collected mealworms been offered back to its nestling.
Meanwhile at the main entrance open ground many of the trees are bearing fruits which lure many bulbuls and Barbet - Lineated and Golden-throated as well as a few Koels.
All in all it was a good outing There is also a good chance to see Asian Paradise FC or the Japanese even which may stop by at this small sanctuary on its way back north.
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