Avian Sighting (March 2018) - Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler

Chestnut-backed Scimitar Babbler

This is my best photo shoot of this rarity thus far. I have shot this bird fewer than 3 times since started  birding in 2006. Most of the time it was  a chance sighting  in passage thru the trail we bird. Scimitar Babbler are most often seen  in  hill/ high altitude jungle like Maxwell Taiping, Awana and The Gap  Fraser Hill at about 600m ASL. 

The encounter in Awana lasted a good 10-15 minutes ..... I think . I guess we lost track of time as everyone were frantically sorting out the bird which was flying around us. Scimitar Babbler  have a nomadic large range and do not stay at a single locale. It do tag along birdwave  but most of the time they are on their own in a pair. I would conclude they pair for life as my encounters are always in a family of 2-4.

Amongst my buddies there were some new acquaintance  Nur Azi  I think with Francis  (not in picture) ,  David  & Brian  in the moment.  Everyone managed some good shots of the pair of Scimitar Babbler I hope. If only the White-hooded Babbler also showed up it would made everybody even more  happier.........................

Eventhough there was good lighting and in the open I struggled to get a balance exposure on my Fuji XT-2 because of the bird's white chested feathers. I only manage a few decent photos without burning the details when the sun was behind some cloud.  I don't shoot in RAW file but Jpeg which Fuji excel.

The angry bird look...............

Awana was happening in Mar-April as trees and creepers are flowering and  fruiting bringing out the birds and  fluttering butterflies. 

Wintering birds to Malaysia - Hooded Pitta & Siberian Blue Robin

This two visitors were still around when I visited Lancang in the third week of March 2018 since sighting them at the port in October last year. I wonder when they will start their journey home to the northern hemisphere. In April I will be going up north for ChingMing and I hope the Taiga Flycather is still around..... keeping my finger crossed.

The  Blue Robin  is  a Male after all as the blue color is slowly take shape starting from its head and cheek............. I thought it would have moved to higher ground but have remain at this 300m ASL site for some time now. Can it ever stop wagging its tail??? .......you are not a Wagtail la

FERAL 3/10 - Guinea Fowl

Guinea Fowl
This is a feral or domesticated bird from Africa ...................reared as pets for their beauty and eggs. Do not see them been eaten here in Malaysia maybe for their eggs ..........

It can be seen kampong and village

New photo uploaded 130318 Free range birds in Janda Baik Pahang. A dozen or so roaming the resort Bidai Sari compound and its jungle fringe.

Avian Sighting - Mandarin Duck

Male above ...........Female below

Last weekend I visited Janda Baik  outback and the many homestay and village resort I was hoping to see the  rare Asian Emerald Cuckoo or its like at the many fruit farm there. I ended in Bidai Sari Resort where they have some open range ponds where they keep a collection of ducks . There  are 2 pair of Mandarin duck which you can shot in full frame in open enclosure. I think you can also see it in Perdana Bird Park KL.

It is a bird of South East Asia and recorded as a vagrant in Central Thailand but  very unlikely to see in the wild in Malaysia except in  captivity reared by private individual for its beauty......