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.